Don't Mess With Texas!

[synseer]

"Texas is a different story. Texas has low taxes -- and no state income taxes -- and a much smaller government. Its legislature meets for only 90 days every two years, compared to California's year-round legislature. Its fiscal condition is sound. Public employee unions are weak or nonexistent.

But Texas seems to be delivering superior services. Its teachers are paid less than California's. But its test scores -- and with a demographically similar school population -- are higher. California's once fabled freeways are crumbling and crowded. Texas has built gleaming new highways in metro Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth."

http://townhall.com/columnists/MichaelBarone/2010/03/08/low-tax_texas_beats_big-government_california?page=2

God bless Texas and our sister republic the United States of America!

[gtrman66]

I know I love living in Texas!

[Motive]

I agree, Texas is great!

I can't even remember when the last time sales tax went up.

[Danv]

Raises a good point, but i dont know why you would be proud that you pay your teachers less, and they do better.

[Motive]

Cost of living is probably less, because our taxes are less.

[coolbreeze]

Raises a good point, but i dont know why you would be proud that you pay your teachers less, and they do better.

I must have missed something. Where did anyone say they are "proud" that Texas teachers make less then Ca. teachers?

Probably more accurate is that Ca. teachers are overpaid.

In any event, I think the story points out that Texas is thriving without a growing overbearing tax and spend state government.

[Danv]

Can the model that Texas has be used by other state governments or do they get a benefit of some industries that others dont, like oil.

[Motive]

I think the biggest obstacle that some other states have is the "small government" part of the TX model. The bigger the government, the more money required to run it...We must be doing something right, Texas is still drawing the California tech businesses from CA.