The Chicago Tribune editorial page gives a column to Texas Governor Rick Perry and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to explains what's so great about each of their states. Here's Rick Perry:
Illinois raised taxes.
Today you can see how those decisions have played out.
Texas was able to restore in 2013 what was trimmed in 2011, provide major tax cuts to employers, and still have money left on the table. Our rainy day fund is projected to hold roughly $8 billion, even after deductions to fund water projects and beef up our transportation infrastructure.
Illinois still has a budget that's far from balanced, with billions in unpaid bills. It's uncertain how the courts will rule on one of the worst-funded state pension systems in the nation. The Illinois legislature was wise enough this year to turn away appeals to extend the 2011 tax hike, but it still hasn't made the tough decisions necessary to bring spending under control.
There are very real consequences of each state's actions.
In 2014, Texas attracted Toyota's world headquarters from a blue state, California.
There's more:
Most important, by December of 2011, Texas had replaced all the jobs it lost during the recession. As of May, we had 880,000 more jobs than we had at the peak level before the downturn.
Illinois still needs to add 190,000 jobs just to reach the level it had in 2008.
Jobs really are the most important part of any equation involving government. Quality jobs are the foundation of strong communities; and strong communities are at the core of strong states.
Over the past decade, Texas has added more than 2 million jobs. During that span, Illinois has lost 7,000. Texas grew jobs at a rate of 3.4 percent over the past year — fastest among the biggest states. Illinois' rate of job growth was just .3 percent — slowest among the biggest states.
Facts are stubborn things that Blue America would wish away.
