Texas is once again ranked at the top state in the U.S. to do business. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says it will get even better in the coming years. The ranking was made by Chief Executive’s 2015 Best and Worst States to Do Business report. The magazine surveys top CEOs from 511 companies across the nation. This is the eleventh year in a row that Texas has topped the list.
“Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our business climate,” said Governor Abbott in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Despite being the number one state to do business for 11 consecutive years, Texas will do even more to empower businesses and increase economic expansion. That’s why I’m promoting policies to cut the business franchise tax, further rein in regulatory regimes and elevate our higher education system to bolster our workforce so that Texas keeps creating jobs and opportunity.”
Abbott made the tax cuts for businesses an major item in his State of the State Address in February. He began that speech by laying down the foundation of Texas’ success upon which he and the Legislature will build “an even better Texas.” Abbott stated, “We are at the pinnacle of America’s economy. Texas has been number one in the nation for creating jobs for so many years, it’s hard to keep count. But in 2014 we literally outdid ourselves. We created more jobs than any year in the history of Texas.”
Improving education and sensible regulations on businesses were also on the Governor’s list of items to help grow the state’s economy.
Abbott appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box Friday morning to discuss Texas’ continuing success as a business building state.
Texas is followed on the list by Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia to round out the top five states. California ranked number 50. North Carolina and Tennessee actually swapped positions on the list while Georgia moved up five positions to make it into the top five ranking. Idaho was the biggest mover. The potato state moved from 28 to number 18.
The states are measured by taxes and regulations; quality of the workforce; and living environment. It also includes consideration of cost of living, affordable housing, quality of education, social amenities, and crime rates.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.