Rick Perry’s Op-Ed onenergy production and job creation
Texas Spending and
Debt
Spending
Since becoming Governor,
Rick Perry has cut taxes by more than $14 billion through 67 pieces of
legislation.
As governor, Rick Perry
has signed six balanced budgets and is the first Texas governor since World War
II to sign budgets that cut general revenue spending.
Under Governor Perry’s
leadership, Texas has earned the highest possible debt rating, AAA, and Texas’
per capita debt has gone from 6th lowest to 2nd lowest
among the 50 states.
For more information on
the Texas state budget,
Gov. Perry’s tax cuts, visit
Mitt Romney’s Chief
Economic Advisor: Romneycare = Obamacare
Romneycare “Imposed a
Very Large Burden on Small Businesses and Their Employees”
According to a 2010
study co-authored by Mitt Romney’s chief economic advisor, Glenn Hubbard [1]:
–Romneycare is the same
as Obamacare.
–Romneycare increased
single-coverage employer-sponsored insurance premiums in Massachusetts by about
6% more than national rates, or $262, in just two years.
–Romneycare “imposed a
very large burden on small businesses and their employees.”
–“Because the Plan’s
[Romneycare] main components are the same as those of the new health reform law
[Obamacare], the effects of the Plan provide a window onto the country’s
future.”
–“Policy makers should
be concerned about the consequences of health reform for the cost of private
insurance.”
According to the study,
in the years since the implementation of Romneycare
–Premiums for single
coverage at private sector employers in Massachusetts rose by 5.9% more
than national rates.
–Premiums for family
policies in Massachusetts rose by 1.5% more than national rates, but in
the Boston MSA, those premiums rose by 8.1% more than premiums in the 19
largest other MSAs in the country.
–Family premiums for
small employers in Massachusetts rose by 14.4% more than national rates.
SOURCE:
[1] “The Effect ofMassachusetts’ Health Reform on Employer-Sponsored Insurance Premiums,” 2010,
Hubbard Report on Romney Care
Hubbard Report on Romney Care
Mitt Romney was a
failure at creating a job climate in Massachusetts as governor. From 2003 to
2007, during a time of robust economic growth nationwide, the state saw a mere
1.4 percent job gain under Gov. Romney while the nation’s jobs grew at 5.3
percent.
[1] Massachusetts ranked 47th nationally in job creation while Romney was governor.
[2] Romney also failed to make a dent in the state’s unemployment figures:
[1] Massachusetts ranked 47th nationally in job creation while Romney was governor.
[2] Romney also failed to make a dent in the state’s unemployment figures:
In December 2002, as
Romney prepared to step into office, Massachusetts unemployment rate stood at
5.6 percent, slightly lower than the national unemployment rate of 6 percent.
By December 2006 –
Romney’s last full month in office – national unemployment had fallen to just
4.5 percent while Massachusetts unemployment numbers had inched down to 5.2
percent.
[3] SOURCES
[3] SOURCES
- 1. U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, total nonfarm seasonally adjusted jobs data.
Massachusetts jobs in Jan. 2003: 3,224,600.
Massachusetts jobs in Jan. 2007: 3,270,400. Change: +45,800 (1.4%).
United States jobs in Jan. 2003: 130,016,100.
United States jobs in Jan. 2007: 136,862,000. Change: +6,845,900 (5.3%). - 2. “Mitt Romney’s Job-Creation
Record,” National Review, 9/8/11, http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/276684/mitt-romney-s-job-creation-record-katrina-trinko
- 3. “Romney’s economic claims
challenged,” USA Today, 2/4/08, http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-02-04-859786718_x.htm
Uninsured in Texas
Under
Governor Perry’s leadership, Texas has implemented numerous reforms intended to
increase access to health insurance. Gov. Perry has signed legislation
allowing single employee businesses to join a health care cooperative, creating
access to less expensive insurance, and he signed legislation allowing for consumer
choice health plans that exclude certain mandates that can drive up the cost of
insurance.
According
to a national report from the Commonwealth Fund, Texas’ premiums for employer
sponsored coverage for individuals are lower than 34 states and the national
average, and premiums for Texas families are lower than 17 states, including
Massachusetts and Minnesota.
From
2003 to 2009, Texas premiums for employer sponsored coverage have increased at
a lower rate than the national average and 27 other states.
All awards from the
Texas Emerging Technology Fund must be unanimously approved by the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House. Awards are only recommended after
a rigorous vetting process, assessments from outside experts and are based on the
merits of each project. The program has strong contract provisions, is reviewed
every two years by the Texas Legislature and was recently and successfully
audited.
Economic development
incentives are useful tools for states competing with one another to create
jobs. There are similar programs in states like Utah, Massachusetts and
Florida.
Governor Perry does not
support these kinds of incentive funds at the federal level. We will encourage
job creation in the U.S. through lower taxes, a fairer, more predictable
regulatory environment and reduced spending.
More than 95% of funds
granted by the TETF were awarded to companies connected to investors with no
history of giving to the governor’s campaign. Grants have gone to companies
with investors who have donated to his political opponents.
Mitt Romney Supported
President Obama’s $800 Billion Stimulus
Romney wrote, “The
‘all-Democrat’ stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the
timing of the start of the recovery.” [1]
Romney flip-flopped
and called the stimulus a “failure” when his book was re-released in paperback
this year. [2]
Romney also wrote in
2008 that “this is surely the time for economic stimulus” and “a stimulus plan
is needed without further delay.” [3]
SOURCES
- 1. “No Apology,” Mitt Romney,
hardcover edition, 2010, page 144.
- 2. “No Apology,” Mitt Romney,
paperback edition, 2011, page 158.
“A Republican Stimulus
Plan,” Mitt Romney, National Review, 12/19/08, http://www.rickperry.org/news/obamacare-undermined-by-study-that-romneycare-killed-18000-jobs-cost-8-billion/
