By Speaker Joe Straus
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas I recently traveled to Abilene to visit with west Texans & hear what was on their minds. I listened to business owners telling me about their challenges & opportunities; their struggles to make ends meet and create jobs coupled with the freedom of being an entrepreneur and owning your own future. I hear the same thing again and again: Texas is a land of opportunity.
I met with leaders in the medical and education communities who impressed upon me the importance of an educated workforce to lead the next generation.
As Speaker Ive spent a lot of time criss-crossing the state this year visiting with Texans in rural counties and urban areas alike.
Ive met with the hard-working Texans who keep our economy humming:
- Farmers & Ranchers
- Teachers
- Doctors
- Bankers and
- Business leaders.
Because our state is governed by the conservative principles of smaller
government lower taxes and less government intrusion:
- People come to Texas because of the great opportunities we afford.
- Students come to Texas from around the world to study in one of our premiere institutions of higher education.
- Leading industry executives headquarter their companies in Texas to take advantage of our states business-friendly climate.
- Entrepreneurs launch their start-ups in laboratories and at breakfast tables across the state because here they are free to try to test to fail.
I met one such entrepreneur in Abilene a Chinese-American business owner who started a very successful business. His business is growing and thriving because Texas is a place that sets business free; not tethers them with taxes and regulations.
Our job in the legislature is to keep entrepreneurs coming to Texas. In January the 82nd legislature will convene with some big issues on its plate: a significant budget shortfall and the critical issue of redistricting among them.
As we navigate these issues we must do so while maintaining an environment open to business even while making the tough choices that we know are before us.
I look forward to leading the Texas House through these challenges taking advantage of our expanded conservative majority and working together to keep Texas as the land of opportunity for future generations.
A 5th-generation Texan Joe Straus represents House District 121 and was elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives by his peers at the commencement of the 81st Regular Legislative Session January 13 2009. Straus has been a leader on economic issues common sense tax relief & energy efficiency measures and is a San Antonio native.
