InstaVision Talks With Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Who Makes a Lot of Economic Sense

Over at PJTV, Glenn "InstaVision" Reynolds interviews Texas Gov. Rick Perry on why the Lone Star State is doing relatively well compared to other giga-states such as California, which is in full-on breakdown mode. The secret, says Perry, is low taxes, predictable and minimal business reg climate, keeping spending low, and the like. About the best-kept secret: Texas's legislature meets for only 140 days every other year.

As a former resident of both California and Texas, I can attest to the many differences in the states (especially the weather). I don't think Texas is any sort of paradise, but when you stack the place up compared to virtually every other state in the U.S., it's got a helluva lot going for it.

Watch the interview below. It's about 15 minutes long and while Perry is pure politician (and I mean that in a bad way!), he makes pretty damn good economic sense (while being awful on any number of other issues, such as border enforcement, social freedoms, the drug war, and more).

Comments

[zoltan]

This douchebag thinks otherwise.

Also, I work at a four-star hotel downtown (a few blocks from our dear Capitol) and seeing those legislative scumbags with their government credit cards staying here instead of the Holiday Inn gets my blood boiling.

[Oatwhore]

I hear Nebraska is also a state that has it's shit together financially speaking. One reason, people say, is that it has a unicameral legislature.

Also, there is no party affiliation associated with members and none of this "majority/minority" nonsense.

The way Nebraska runs its legislature is the way it should be done.

I just wouldn't want to live there. It's freaking Nebraska.

(And it's got an income tax, etc.)

[hammeredHead]

Yes, the TABC likes to arrest people in bars because they might drive, but otherwise, it is a great place to live.

[24AheadDotCom]

The hilarity continues!

Back in 2007, Perry stated his opposition to the border fence... while speaking in Mexico. He also supports letting foreign citizens take college educations away from U.S. citizens. And, of course, he pushed the TransTexas Corridor.

The only question now is whether Gillespie was fooled, or whether Gillespie is trying to fool you.

P.S. Anyone here in Knoxville?

[Jefferson]

We've set the bar awfully low when it comes to TX Governors.

[Brendan Perez]

NV's legislature meets every other for 120 days, yet hey managed to pass a sweeping tax package-business license increases, increases in room, sales, car rental taxes, etc.

I think it should be 30 days per year with a limit of 60 bills.

[hitnrun]

ShutTheFuckUpLoneWacko.

[Texas Libertaricon]

The Trans Texas Corridor is great. Reason has been pushing transportation privatization for years, which is one reason why I have given to Reason in the past.

[LarryA]

About the best-kept secret: Texas's legislature meets for only 140 days every other year.

Lots of folks think it should be just the opposite. Two days every 140 years.

I just wouldn't want to live there. It's freaking Nebraska.

I spent two years in Grand Island, and enjoyed it. Sure, there were tornados, ground blizzards, and no hills, but the government was friendly.

OTOH it gets hot in Texas, but you don't have to shovel heat.

Back in 2007, Perry stated his opposition to the border fence... while speaking in Mexico. He also supports letting foreign citizens take college educations away from U.S. citizens. And, of course, he pushed the TransTexas Corridor.

Features, not bugs.

[joshua corning]

while being awful on any numer of other issues, such as border enforcement, social freedoms, the drug war, and more

Are we back to the point of:

Dems = bad everything

Reps = good at most Economic freedom bad at everything else

yet??

also:

Back in 2007, Perry stated his opposition to the border fence... while speaking in Mexico.

Wouldn't someone who is against illegal immigration and not an idiot (read Lonewako) be against a fence as it would be more expensive and less effective then simply patrolling the boarder better?

Seriously it is an open desert....you see them coming from miles away.....and if the fence is not patrolled what is stopping people from simply climbing it or cutting through it?

[thew83]

Seriously it is an open desert....you see them coming from miles away.....and if the fence is not patrolled what is stopping people from simply climbing it or cutting through it?

According to the patched holes in existing border fence displayed in some John Stossel thing I saw, nothing.

[zoltan]

Reps = good at most Economic freedom bad at everything else

Yeah, that's what we're back at

[libertymike]

Don't forget Parry's support for forced vaccinations. Such support is anti-economic freedom. Typical GOP gibberish.

[Steve Smith]

If "doing rather well" only means having a balanced budget, we're setting the bar pretty low. If Texas had a particularly low murder rate, or a super-rad public schools system, that would be one thing. But eventually the recession is going to end, and Texas is still going to be America's version of Benin, balanced budget or no.

[zoltan]

What happened in 1990-1991 that started the decrease in the murder rate?

And considering Texas shares a massive border with a) a country whose military defected to the drug cartels, and b) a country whose immigrants (be they illegal or no) often don't speak English, I'm surprised how well Texas is doing on both counts, especially considering the amount of money spent here compared with other states on public schooling--uh, I'm not seeing a big difference in California or the District of Columbia.

[Will Franklin]

According to Mercatus, Texas is the #5 overall freest state in the country, all things considered. Not just economically-speaking:

http://www.willisms.com/archives/2009/05/trivia_tidbit_o_600.html

[TerryP]

I live in Nebraska and it isn't to bad here. We actually have seasons here. It gets pretty hot in the summer and reasonably cold in the winter. As far as our gov't goes, it could be far worse. I think our Unicameral is a good idea, but there are those who are trying to get us to be just like everyone else and have more politicians and two legislative bodies. I also agree that one good thing is that it is non-partisan. When you run many people know what party you are affiliated with if they are paying attention but it is not on the ballot. I just wish other elections such as local offices were the same way.

Regulatory speaking we aren't to bad, though some cities can try to pass some bad laws. Taxes are a little high in our state, mainly because we don't have tourism or other things such as coal to offset some of that revenue. We spend way to much just like every other state. Our schools are pretty good but have taken a turn for the worse as we have lost out Class I schools that helped compete against the larger public schools. Without the competition our schools will likely start faltering some.

We are doing well through this recession for a couple of reasons. First, our main industry is agriculture and that has fared pretty well in the last couple of years. Second, we had a large rainy day fund that has helped cope with lower gov't revenues. Third, housing prices have just steadily moved up so we haven't crashed like some of the states where prices moved up far more rapidly. In fact housing prices in many areas are still climbing or at least held steady. Our cost of living (especially housing) is far less then many of the states that are having the worst problems. Lastly, for the most part we are still a group of people that believe in working hard, have an individualistic/community attitude, and only as a last resort look to gov't for help, though our bigger cities are starting to lose this attitude.

[Brett Stevens]

East coast and West coast good, Texas bad ignorant.

At least that's what my TV tells me.

[Bob Smith]

Texas' enactment of its ridiculously complex business gross receipts tax (Margin Tax) was, unfortunately, a big step backwards on the "keep taxes low" front.

[R C Dean]

If "doing rather well" only means having a balanced budget, we're setting the bar pretty low.

Its a bar many states can't clear these days.

But eventually the recession is going to end, and Texas is still going to be America's version of Benin, balanced budget or no.

Then I suggest you don't move here, and otherwise leave us alone.

[zoltan]

Yeah! (echoing RC Dean)

There are too many damn Californians moving here who want to up our spending like Patty Barreiros.

[jsh]

Then I suggest you don't move here, and otherwise leave us alone.

But we need him to come here and show us idiots the error of our ways after he's forced to flee his home state because the tax burden is too high.

[EJ]

"About the best-kept secret: Texas's legislature meets for only 140 days every other year."

Likewise, Virginia is riding out this storm relativly well... and it's legislature is only in session for 6 weeks a year.

[Jonas]

I love how Rick Perry is dressed like he's ready to take command of the Death Star in this video...

[J]

"There are too many damn Californians moving here who want to up our spending like Patty Barreiros."

This is exactly what is happening to New Hampshire.. all the retards in Massachusetts move to New Hampshire to pay lower taxes and get jobs... then they vote in polaticians that raise their taxes and destory their jobs. Tax and spend liberals are like locust... they move to the low tax, [relativly] economically free areas (ie. New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia), then destory the reasons why they moved there in there in the first place. Then move on and repeat