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If I Were Governor

September 15, 2014

If I Were Governor
By Greg Abbott
Texas CEO Magazine

The Texas economic model has led to the best business and job growth in America. I have a plan to make it even better.

There are two competing economic models in the United States today, and their comparative success can be measured by a 14-foot moving truck. The cost for a one-way rental from Detroit to Austin is almost twice that of the opposite route from Austin to Detroit.

Why? Because higher relative demand for a limited commodity, in this case moving trucks, drives higher market prices.

In other words, more people are heading to Texas.

We need only look to Detroit, to California, to the nation’s capital to see that Big Government economic policies cannot succeed.

Detroit was once described in terms that sound like Texas cities today: “A City on the Move.” It was one of the fastest growing and most prosperous cities in America. The center of industry and innovation, Detroit attracted investments and workers from around the country. But after decades of Big Government policies and increased spending, businesses fled, and Detroit hit a downward spiral that led to bankruptcy.

In contrast, Texas is booming. Jobs are growing here – in our big cities and small towns. In fact, half of Forbes top ten cities for future job growth are in Texas, including Austin, McAllen, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

The Texas model is proof that limited government encourages unlimited opportunity for all.

Texas is the best state for doing business as rated by CEOs around the nation for the tenth year in a row.

Texas is No. 1 in job creation. Businesses here created over 1.9 million jobs in the last 10 years. That’s more than California, New York and Florida combined. And that job growth crosses multiple industry sectors and all pay levels, with the most growth in the two top wage quartiles.

Texas is also No. 1 in oil and natural gas production, continuing a nearly five-year growth trend fueled by advances in technology.

And, Texas is No. 1 in exports for the 12th year in a row.

Less government, low taxes, smarter regulations and right-to-work laws – not government mandates – these are the pro-growth economic policies that help free enterprise flourish and attract more major employers to Texas every day from states that over-tax and over-regulate.

Read more at texasceomagazine.com…

Greg Abbott Unveils “Healthy Texans” Policy Plan

September 10, 2014

HOUSTON – Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott today unveiled his “Healthy Texans” policy plan in Houston, TX. In remarks delivered at St. Joseph’s Women’s Medical Center, Abbott offered specific reforms that will expand access to quality healthcare for Texans.

“Texas has an economic model that has made us number one in the nation for jobs,” Abbott said in his remarks. “But despite our success there are still some who struggle in part because of healthcare challenges. I have a plan for a healthier tomorrow for more Texas families. My ‘Healthy Texans’ plan will expand access, improve care and keep costs from continuing to spiral so even more Texans can access quality healthcare.”

In his proposals, Abbott outlines the need to:

  • Increase funding for women’s health programs by $50 million and add optional screening and treatment for postpartum depression through CHIP Perinatal and Medicaid.
  • Increase funding to provide more residency positions for medical school graduates so more doctors trained in Texas stay in Texas.
  • Compensate doctors for being available to their patients via telephone consultations.
  • Extend loan forgiveness to mental health professionals in underserved areas.
  • Raise wages for personal care attendants for seniors and people with disabilities.
  • Provide no-cost mental health screenings to veterans and service members.
  • Request Medicaid funds in the form of a block grant to allow for more efficient and effective use of funds.

To learn more about the plan, visit Townhall254.GregAbbott.com.

“Healthy Texans” Policy Speech:

*Greg Abbott often deviates from prepared remarks. The following has been condensed for purposes of brevity.

[…]

I have a plan for a healthier tomorrow for more Texas families. My Healthy Texans plan will expand access, improve care and keep costs from continuing to spiral so even more Texans can access quality health care. 

[…]

As governor, I will increase funding for women’s health programs by $50 million and I’ll help get more women enrolled in the program by coordinating outreach efforts at the Health and Human Services Commission and Department of State Health services. That’s a 20 percent increase to provide more access for care like family planning, well-woman care and cancer screenings.

My plan also includes increased funding to address the challenge of postpartum depression. As many as one in five women experience symptoms of depression after childbirth. My plan adds optional screening and treatment for postpartum depression through both CHIP Perinatal and Medicaid. This expanded access improves the health and safety of the mother and her family.

Looking more broadly, to achieve better healthcare we must improve access to more doctors and healthcare providers…Doctors who complete their residency in Texas are more likely to remain in Texas to practice medicine. I am calling for an increase in funding to grow the number of residency positions available in Texas for medical school graduates.

We also need to make it easier for patients to see doctors. With advances in technology, we can quickly expand access and bring care closer to the patient especially in underserved rural areas. Telemedicine allows for virtual house calls by phone or videoconference. My plan calls for the safe expansion of telemedicine services with the same high standards of care as an in-person visit and it calls for compensating doctors for being available by phone. Meeting with your doctor by phone or video for basic care or after hours care means more timely checkups and treatments and fewer, more costly emergency room visits.

We must also do more to address mental health needs of Texans. Some 20 percent of Texas adults suffer from a mental illness. And 300,000 Texas children have been diagnosed with a serious mental health condition. We must expand access to mental health services. One way to do that is to attract more professionals in the mental healthcare field. Just as the state offers loan forgiveness to physicians and psychiatrists in underserved areas, I am recommending loan forgiveness be extended to include other mental health providers such as licensed professional counselors, clinical social workers and licensed psychologists. 

[…]

My Healthy Texans plan calls for a partnership with qualified private providers and hospitals in the areas nearest our major military installations at Fort Bliss, Fort Hood and those in San Antonio. Mental health screenings will be offered to our veterans at no cost.

Improving access to care is also critical for the disabled and our seniors. In-home care is increasingly in demand as patients want to maintain dignity and independence, and families need peace of mind. We must do more to recruit and retain personal care attendants and increase the pay of those employed by the state so more Texans can access this more personalized care. 

Perhaps the most effective way to control the spiraling costs of health care is to reform Medicaid…A proven way to improve Medicaid is through block grants to the states. Recent examples in states like Indiana and Rhode Island have shown that block grants lead to greater policy innovation, greater customer satisfaction and savings of taxpayer dollars. As governor, I will request Medicaid block grants so we can provide more and better healthcare to those who need it the most.  

A healthier tomorrow for more Texas famimlies is within reach. By spending wisely and investing in innovation, we can expand access to quality healthcare for those who need it most. My plan helps us get there. Thank you.

Greg Abbott Unveils Higher Education Plan

September 2, 2014

DALLAS – Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott today unveiled the fourth and final phase of his “Educating Texans” policy plan in Dallas, TX. In remarks delivered at the University of Texas at Dallas, Abbott emphasized the importance of increasing the affordability and accessibility of higher education. Abbott offered reforms that will ensure more students graduate on time, hold public colleges and universities accountable for student outcomes and leverage technology and online learning, ultimately allowing Texas universities to become among the very best in the nation.

“We must help every Texan climb the ladder of success,” Abbott said in discussing his vision for Texas’ higher education system. “We do that by making higher education more affordable for more Texas families, graduating more students on time and by elevating our colleges and universities to the top ranks in the nation. If Texas is to continue to lead the nation in job creation, we must also lead in education – from pre-k through twelfth grade and to college and beyond. My ‘Educating Texans’ plan is the first of many steps to get us there.”

In his proposals, Abbott outlines the need to:

  • Implement outcomes-based funding at four-year institutions.
  • Establish block scheduling for two-year associate degree programs.
  • Adopt a statewide AP credit-by-exam policy requiring public institutions to award college credit to high school students scoring a three or above on AP exams.
  • Expand access to online courses and count them toward degree requirements.
  • Fully fund tuition and fees for military families who qualify for Hazelwood act exemptions.
  • Increase state support for emerging research universities by increasing appropriations to the Texas Competitive Knowledge Fund.

To learn more about the plan, visit Townhall254.GregAbbott.com.

Educating Texans Phase 4 Policy Speech:

*Greg Abbott often deviates from prepared remarks. The following has been condensed for purposes of brevity.

[…]

The first three phases of my “Educating Texans” plan focuses on building a solid foundation of excellence in pre-k through third grade, returning genuine local control to our schools and empowering teachers with more tools to help our students succeed in reading and math.

This – the fourth part of my “Educating Texans” plan – focuses on making higher education in Texas more affordable by reducing the crushing burden of student loan debt. It focuses on getting more students graduating on time and holding public colleges and universities accountable to that goal. And it helps our universities become among the very best in the nation.

One way to make college more affordable is to give students college credit for successful AP courses. These early college credits can help students graduate quicker, saving tuition dollars for the student’s family and lessening the need for grant and loan dollars. 

[…]

For many high school students and returning adults, community college is the next step up the ladder. But these students sometimes spend an additional year taking courses that don’t transfer to four-year universities. That’s a waste of their time and it unnecessarily adds to their tuition expense and debt burden. To lower the cost of higher education and to expedite it, we must make core freshman and sophomore courses more consistently transferable between our community colleges and our public colleges and universities. 

We must also do more to help students who work their way through college. About half of all college students in Texas attend school part-time while working jobs to help pay for their education. To help more students attain a two-year associate degree while working or raising a family, I propose block scheduling for all two-year degree programs. Students can take their classes in blocks of time – morning, afternoon or evening blocks – so they will have more time available to work.

Another cost saver is more online learning opportunities. The current model of higher education is still largely centered around brick-and-mortar classrooms where an educator teaches a limited number of students for a specified amount of time on a specific schedule. Digital learning allows students to progress based on competency rather than seat time, saving time and money. We must increase online college learning opportunities and count successful completion of those courses toward degree requirements.

To ensure we get more students graduating on time with less debt and with the skills employers need, we must hold colleges and universities accountable for the product they are providing. I’m proposing a portion of funding for public four-year institutions be based on outcomes. These outcomes should include on-time graduation. But we also need to look beyond just the number of degrees awarded. We also need to look at the number of degrees awarded in critical fields, the cost of those degrees and even the employment rate of graduates. 

Finally as much as Texas rightfully brags that we’re better than California, there is one area where California ranks above Texas. Four of the top ten ranked public universities are in California. None are in Texas. That must change. We have the resources, the business partners and the people to elevate higher education in Texas to the best in the nation. We just need commitment. I’ll make that commitment.

The flagship universities at UT and Texas A&M should be two of the top three public universities in the country. The University of Houston, Texas Tech and UT-Dallas should join their ranks as top tier public universities. Texas State University, The University of North Texas, plus UTSA, UT-Arlington and UT-El Paso all are emerging research universities poised for greatness.

I will work with all of them to recruit the best talent, to develop partnerships with the private sector and to elevate their national research standing.

[…]

We must help every Texan climb the ladder of success. We do that by making higher education more affordable for more Texas families by graduating more students on time and by elevating our colleges and universities to the top ranks in the nation. If Texas is to continue to lead the nation in job creation, we must also lead in education from pre-k through twelfth grade, to college and beyond. My “Educating Texans” plan is the first of many steps to get us there. Thank you. 

Greg Abbott Unveils Jobs For Veterans Initiatives

July 12, 2014

MCALLEN – Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott today unveiled a new set of policy proposals that will expand job opportunities for Texas veterans. Speaking to The American Legion in McAllen, Abbott emphasized the importance of encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship among Texas veterans. In discussing his proposals, Abbott offered the following recommendations:

  • Facilitate employment of skilled veterans by waiving examination and fee requirements for veterans obtaining licenses issued by state agencies.
  • To increase employment of veterans, allow for a local option property tax exemption for each newly-hired veteran by a commercial property owner.
  • To increase entrepreneurship among veterans, exempt newly-created, veteran-owned businesses from the Texas Franchise Tax (margins tax) for the first five years that the business is in operation.
  • Exempt newly-created, veteran-owned businesses from business registration fees.
  • Implement strategic planning to prevent base closures in Texas during the next phase of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

In the included remarks, Abbott discussed his vision for Texas veterans, saying, “As governor, I have a plan to get vets back to work in Texas. I will work with community and military leaders to develop a plan that will improve infrastructure, job training and educational opportunities for military families. No state offers greater support for the mission of the military and its servicemen and women than Texas. I will keep it that way.”

You can find detailed information on Abbott’s proposals at Townhall254.GregAbbott.com.

Obama’s Failure To Enforce Law Caused Humanitarian Crisis, Says Abbott And Cruz

June 23, 2014

Obama’s Failure To Enforce Law Caused Humanitarian Crisis, Says Abbott And Cruz
By Bob Price
Breitbart Texas

MCALLEN, Texas—Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blamed President Barrack Obama’s failure to enforce the law on creating a massive humanitarian crisis on the Texas border. Abbott and Cruz visited the facility at Lackland Air Force Base, near San Antonio, where unaccompanied children who have entered the country illegally are being warehoused by the Obama Administration. Up to 1,200 children are being housed in the dormitory normally used for Air Force military training recruits.

“We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfolding that is the direct consequence of President Obama’s lawlessness,” Sen. Cruz said in a press release obtained by Breitbart Texas. “We just toured this Air Force facility, where up to 1,200 children are being cared for … but they have come through harrowing circumstances.”

“When the President of the United States prevents the Border Patrol from following the law, and enforcing our immigration laws, when the President of United States announces to the world amnesty for those who have broken the law, the consequence is people respond to that, and the way they respond to that is handing over their children to drug dealers and vicious cartels,” Cruz continued.

Breitbart Texas was out on the border last night and witnessed the capture of nearly fifty women and children who had just crossed the Rio Grande River after beginning their dangerous trek in Honduras and Guatemala. Many other children are also coming from El Salvador.

“It is unacceptable to have children housed in facilities like this,” Abbott said according to the Texas Tribune. “Equally unacceptable, though, is to have a president promoting policies that entice children to navigate more than a thousand miles away from home, going through the most treacherous conditions, facing things like human trafficking and sexual assault.”

Both Abbott and Cruz called the situation a “humanitarian crisis” and blamed the Obama Administration for failing to secure the border. General Abbott and Sen. Cruz have called on the federal government to reimburse Texas for the costs borne by Texas taxpayers for having to use state resources to secure the border.

Last week, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus announced a new Texas border surge to apply more state and local law enforcement resources to respond to the growing border crisis.

“We are dealing with a heartbreaking humanitarian nightmare here in Texas, but it is clearly a man-made crisis,” Abbott said in a press release obtained by Breitbart Texas. “The Obama Administration’s inconsistent policies and failure to enforce the rule of law have created this crisis at the border. President Obama’s failure to secure the border has empowered transnational gangs and cartel to smuggle people into our state from around the world – including members of deadly gangs like MS13.”

“Inaction by the federal government has left Texas with no other choice but to activate the immediate deployment of the Texas Department of Public Safety.” Abbott continued. “Even though the federal government is not fulfilling its responsibility, the State of Texas will continue its operations while pushing for the feds to foot the bill. We will continue to push for the federal government to live up to its responsibility and fully fund the surge and resources deployed along the Texas border.”

Senator Cruz concluded his remarks stating, “This is heartbreaking, but we need to act to stop it by number one finally securing the border and number two, by not offering amnesty which only incentivizes more and more people to violate the law and in this instance endanger the safety and lives of their kids.”

Read on Breitbart.com…

McAllen Monitor: A Healthier Texas Via A&M South Texas Project

June 23, 2014

What will the Texas of tomorrow look like for a child born in McAllen today?

While Texas leads the nation in jobs, energy and exports, the health of our economy and the health of our children are at risk.

Two out of three adults in Texas are considered overweight or clinically obese. The resulting higher risks of diabetes, heart disease and other weight-related health problems increase healthcare costs for many families and employers in South Texas and throughout the state.

If trends continue, projections show this obesity epidemic will cost Texas employers more than $30 billion annually in increased health care, disability, sick leave and lost productivity costs by 2036 — the year a child born today will graduate from college. And an unhealthy workforce will discourage businesses from expanding here in the future.

Read more at themonitor.com.

Click here to join the Healthy Texans conversation.

Greg Abbott’s Blueprint for Texas

June 12, 2014

Texans for Greg Abbott today released a new web ad highlighting Greg Abbott’s speech at the recent Republican Party of Texas Convention, where he unveiled his Bicentennial Blueprint, a series of policy proposals focusing on jobs, education, roads, water and securing the border in order to create a better and more prosperous state as Texas approaches its bicentennial in 2036.

“The Bicentennial Blueprint will ensure that Texans born today will live in a state with better schools…it will allow Texas to live to up our promise of greater opportunity for absolutely everyone,” said Greg Abbot in the speech footage included in the web ad, “Together, we will win the next generation and I will never stop fighting for their future.”

Greg Abbott Outlines his Bicentennial Blueprint for Texas

June 6, 2014

FORT WORTH – Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott today delivered remarks at the Republican Party of Texas state convention. Following an introduction by his daughter, Abbott outlined his Bicentennial Blueprint for the future of the state of Texas.

In the included remarks, Abbott detailed his vision, saying, “The Bicentennial Blueprint will ensure Texans born today will live in a state with better schools, better healthcare, safer communities, and – of course – the best job market in the country.

“Our fight is not with another candidate or party. It’s a fight for the future of every Texan. And I will never stop fighting for their future. To Texans looking for leadership that doesn’t take them for granted – that speaks to their highest hopes and deepest concerns – I am your candidate. To Texans wary of modern day politics who want candidates to say what they are for – not just what they are against – I am your candidate. And for Texans looking for a champion of Texas values – for a leader who won’t back down from the fight for liberty – I am your candidate.”

Republican Party of Texas State Convention Speech:

*Greg Abbott often deviates from prepared remarks. The following has been condensed for purposes of brevity.

Thank you Fort Worth. Thanks to my daughter Audrey for her introduction. From the moment I held her on the day she was born, I’ve thanked God for the precious gift of her life.

I’m proud to be joined by my beautiful wife Cecilia. She has a heart as big as Texas. But it’s her soul where you see her real strength. We were married for just two years when a huge oak tree crashed down onto my back leaving me paralyzed and forever changing our lives. It is so easy for brides and grooms to recite the wedding vow– for better for worse, in sickness and in health. But it is awesome to see your spouse truly embrace those vows like Cecilia has. Two months from now, we will celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary. That shows the character of the next First Lady of Texas.

[…]

We gather today under the promise that sets this state apart: That through hard work and big dreams each of us can succeed and each generation can surpass the previous one. Texas is the place where that promise still remains true. We’re here today because we love this state too much to let the next four years in Texas look like the last six years under Barack Obama. I refuse to let our children be condemned to liberal policies that saddle them with debt, where the middle class is burdened with regulations that drive up costs and kill jobs, where government power overtakes individual freedom. I will not let them California our Texas.

Barack Obama and his operatives have set their sights on Texas. Liberal elites from the East Coast to the West Coast have fawned over and financed my opponent to try to remake Texas in their image. We’ve already seen that image. The President showed disdain for Texas values when – at a San Francisco cocktail party – he belittled Americans who “cling” to guns and God.

My opponent shares Barack Obama’s mindset. She’s voted to restrict 2nd Amendment rights and even said she would “happily” sign gun restrictions into law. She took action against keeping God in our Pledge of Allegiance. And she stood for 13 hours to advocate abortion – even after five months. Of all things she then said she was pro-life because she wants every child to have a better chance in life. But for a child to have a chance in life – a child must first have a chance at life. I have news for the Obama Democrats: Texans value life. We trust in God. And Texans know the 2nd Amendment and the 10th Amendment are not suggestions – they are guaranteed rights.

My opponent even went to New York City and trashed Texas policies – calling our policies toxic. Toxic? Tell that to the leaders of Toyota who are moving their headquarters to Texas. Tell that to Catholic Latinas who praise Texas for protecting life. And tell that to the millions of middle class Texans who’ve landed a job in the state with the best business climate in America.

Talk about toxic – it’s my opponent’s record that’s toxic to Texas. She didn’t just vote to raise taxes. She specifically targeted seniors and the disabled for higher taxes. She supports President Obama’s EPA war on the Texas energy industry. And she’s already said she would expand ObamaCare in Texas. Her prescription for Texas – is more government. My prescription? More freedom. You deserve a governor who will fight for freedom, for our future, for real Texas values. That’s why I’m proud to be your nominee for Governor of Texas.

This election is about two very different visions for Texas. What’s at stake is what kind of Texas children born today inherit when they graduate from college in 2036? 2036 is more than just 22 years from today. In 2036, we celebrate the bicentennial of Texas independence that put us on a pathway to become the greatest state in the nation. In 2036, we will look back at 200 years of accomplishments. At a victory at San Jacinto that gave birth to a Republic – and eventually the 28th State. At a frontier spirit that inspired generations of Texans to pioneer the way in the oil patch, on ranch lands and ultimately into outer space.

[…]

The bicentennial blueprint will ensure Texans born today will live in a state with better schools, better healthcare, safer communities, and – of course – the best job market in the country. My blueprint limits the size of government. It stimulates the private sector to create more jobs and lets you keep more of your money. My plan sets real spending limits in the Constitution. Your family has to live within a budget – government should too. My plan protects the Rainy Day Fund from being used like an ATM to pay for government operations. And my plan stops diverting transportation funding away from building roads. Money raised for roads should be spent on roads.

[…]

But Texans cannot prosper if they aren’t safe. My bicentennial blueprint offers new programs to crack down on horrendous crimes like human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. And it makes schools safer for our children. And my plan will do what the federal government has failed to do: It will secure our porous border from the drug cartels and gangs that import crime to our state. This is more than just a border issue. We’ve seen the deadly danger of cartel activity infiltrate our schools and contaminate communities across the state. Our priorities are wrong when we live in a state that stops a valedictorian from mentioning God at a graduation speech but doesn’t stop drug cartels from crossing our border. As Governor, I will provide the tools and manpower we need to secure our border and I will enforce the rule of law.

The border is not the only thing the federal government is failing at. Just look at federal run healthcare. ObamaCare and VA care make one thing clear: the federal government doesn’t have a clue how to run healthcare. We need to get government out of healthcare and allow doctors and patients – not bureaucrats – to decide what’s best for our health. I’ve heard too many stories of patients losing their trusted doctor, seniors being excluded from the best hospitals, families being stuck with hefty bills, and doctors not only leaving their profession but leaving America with a shrinking supply of doctors. As Attorney General, I sued to stop ObamaCare. As Governor, I will continue to fight for a healthcare system that puts patients first and bureaucrats last. We need to look no further than the VA to see the future under Obamacare. No veteran who has fought for this country should suffer the indignity of being denied care due to bureaucratic bungling. It is time to renew this nation’s commitment to our warriors. Having served on the frontlines, they should go to the front of the line.

The cornerstone of my bicentennial blueprint is education. My wife has been both a teacher and a principal. We’ve seen how education can transform young lives so children can achieve things their parents couldn’t even dream of.

The job of the Governor is to set the vision. Here’s mine: Texas proudly ranks number one in the nation for job creation. We’re number one for energy. We’re number one for exports, for farms, for so many things. The time has come for Texas to set its sights on another number one ranking. Texas should be number one in the nation for educating our children.

[…]

My bicentennial blueprint focuses on helping every child learn to read and do math –at grade level – by third grade. My plan returns genuine local control to schools by allowing schools to opt out of mandates from Austin. Teachers and parents know far better how to educate our children. than do a bunch of bureaucrats in Austin or Washington. And my plan will stop forcing teachers to teach to so many high-stakes tests. When Texas reaches its bicentennial – it won’t matter how any child did on a four hour test. What will matter is if our children are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. My bicentennial blueprint ensures Texas children will be ready for those challenges.

[…]

Our fight is not with another candidate or party. It’s a fight for the future of every Texan. And I will never stop fighting for their future. To Texans looking for leadership that doesn’t take them for granted – that speaks to their highest hopes and deepest concerns – I am your candidate. To Texans wary of modern day politics who want candidates to say what they are for – not just what they are against – I am your candidate. And for Texans looking for a champion of Texas values – for a leader who won’t back down from the fight for liberty – I am your candidate.

Let me close by sharing a lesson I learned in a different kind of race. Running track. After practice was over and we had run all the required laps, we decided to run just one more. That extra work helped me go undefeated in the regular season. I’ve applied that lesson in everything I do. After the accident that left me in this wheelchair, I had to find a way to rebuild my strength. After work – long after the sun had set – I would come home, change clothes, and roll four blocks down the road to an 8-story parking garage. To work out – I would roll up that garage repeatedly. The first floor of the parking garage was easy. With each floor, it seemed like the garage got steeper and harder to climb – but I wasn’t about to quit. As I pushed harder and harder – ignoring the pain – I just kept saying to myself: just one more, just one more, just one more.

I apply the same lesson to this campaign. When I finish making all my calls for the day, I make just one more. When I go to events and shake hands before I leave, I shake just one more.

My friends, we have more than a track meet to win; more than a parking garage to climb – we’re fighting for the very future of Texas. If we’re going to make Texas freer, stronger and better, then I need you to join me in doing just one more. If every day you can knock on just one more door, make just one more call, send just one more email, take just one more person to the polls – then we will do more than win just one more election – we will win the next generation.

Thank you.

God Bless you all.

And may God Bless Texas.

Texas Named Best State for Business for 10th Year in a Row

May 10, 2014

Adding to the long list of national recognition for the Texas economic model, Chief Executive Magazine has named Texas the best place for business in their annual survey of CEOs – for the 10th year in a row!

As one CEO put it:

“Texas is the best state for business and I don’t see anything to slow TX down. The education and quality of eligible employees is excellent right now. Business is booming and growing quicker and more rapidly in 2014 than any other year. It’s an exciting time in Texas.”

The Texas economy continues to thrive because, unlike other states like California and Illinois, we understand that for businesses to succeed, government has to get out of the way. We understand that free market principles, low taxes and reasonable regulations allow businesses to create jobs and opportunity for all Texans.

The foundation of a strong economy ensures that entrepreneurs, job creators and hard-working Texans have the freedom to aspire, to innovate, to grow and to prosper. Read Greg Abbott’s “Working Texans” plan:

Read the Plan Write Your Blueprint

Final Phase of Educating Texans Unveiled

May 9, 2014

Greg Abbott today unveiled the fourth and final phase of his “Educating Texans” policy plan. The first three phases focus on pre-K, local control and digital learning. The final phase centers on higher education.

This completes his policy plan to elevate Texas as the best state for education in the nation. Read the plans:

Foundations of Excellence
Local Control
Digital Learning
Higher Education
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