We’ve covered the California - Texas differences (HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE) on this blog quit a bit. As California continues to raise taxes, regulate industries and put in roadblocks to business, Texas took a right turn in the early 2000’s. Texas did did crazy things like tort reform, reduced regulatory requirements and upgraded their tax system. As California loses business Texas is adding them.
The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion peice today about trial lawyers attempt to push back on tort reform gains. After spending $9 million and introducing 900 bills into this years legislature the lawyers haven’t been too successful.
The best line in the article is:
Speaking of the economy, it’s notable that Texas created more new jobs last year than the other 49 states combined. Texas’s low tax burden is one reason. But also important is a fairer legal environment in which companies are less likely than they were a generation ago to face jackpot justice.
This article certainly drives home the point. We should follow Texas’ lead.
It does not surprise me that my fellow Texans have done this. It is a “Can Do” attitude instead of a “You Can’t Do That” attitude we often have here. They are not afraid that someone is legitimately making money, as that money flows through the community. We in Tucson have too much infighting and too much fear that someone might make a profit off their efforts to ever pull together right now. I have hope that this will change, but I have not seen signs of that happening.
[...] growth has stagnated. Companies are moving out of California, while in one recent period, Texas gained more jobs than the other 49 states [...]