Texas’ Best State for Business Win Not ‘Rocket Science’

Last week, Chief Executive released our list of the best and worst states in which to do business in 2012. Topping the list—for the eighth(!) time—Texas reigned supreme and Governor Rick Perry wasn’t shy about flaunting the Lone Star State’s successes. Perry went on Fox New with Neil Cavuto to discuss what sets Texas apart.

Perry’s reasoning was clear—low taxes and regulation and confidence in CEOs:

“It’s not rocket science, Neil. It’s having the confidence that the private sector actually knows how to run their own businesses and that they don’t need big government telling them how to run their business, and allow them the freedom to do that.”

In response to California’s last place finish—also for the eighth year in a row—California Congressman Tom McClintock had some choice words for Fox News LA about where the state is going wrong:

“We are sitting here on the Pacific Rim ready to dominate world trade in the 21st century, and yet Californians are finding a better place to live and work and raise their families out in the middle of the Arizona and Texas deserts. I submit that no conceviable act of God could wreak that kind of havoc upon our once beautiful state — only acts of governments can do that much damage. We know how to revive an economy—we’ve done it many times before…Back in the 1960’s we had far lower taxes, we had a far higher quality of services and a thriving economy that was the envy of the country…This state has everything in the world going for it except for one thing — wise public policy.”

Of Maine’s 4-spot gain (from 36 to 32) Governor Paul LePage said, “This survey shows that we have started to put Maine back on the road to prosperity,” LePage said in the release. “However, more work needs to be done if we want to continue job growth and increase overall income, bringing Maine more in line with the national average.”

Below is more coverage of the Best/Worst States for Business 2012:

Read: Governor Perry: “Texas Boom Not Rocket Science”
Read: Saving the California Dream: California Is “Bad For Business”
Read: LePage praises Maine’s increase in business ranking
Read: Time: The Best and Worst States in America to Do Business
Read: WSJ: Number of the Week: Nice Place to Do Business, but Wouldn’t Want to Live There
Read: Chicago Tribute: Do CEOs like high-poverty states?
Read: Sacramento Bee: California needs huge investment to create jobs