October 06, 2011
— Dave in Texas This isn't even getting much local coverage.
AUSTIN — Texas tax revenues have bounced back to levels nearly equal to pre-recession levels, indicating that the economy is in recovery, the state's chief revenue estimator said Wednesday.John Heleman said taxes on retail sales, motor vehicles and oil production are near 2008 levels, the last year before the recession. Only natural gas taxes are lagging, mostly because of low prices, he said during a quarterly briefing to the state House Ways and Means committee.
"The sales tax collection in 2008 was our all-time high, and then it went down in 2009," Heleman told the committee. "It's back up in 2011, and we're essentially back to where we were in 2008 in terms of sales tax collections."
Texas has no state income tax, sales taxes are the largest revenue generator in Texas. Oil production revenues are higher, even though the price per barrel trend peaked a month ago and is heading back down. These feed the Texas "rainy day fund", which is now projected to climb back up to $7BB in 2013.
People (and companies) spending more money, leading or lagging indicator?
UPDATE: We're not trouble-free in Texas
Yeah but they got this racist rock there or something so none of that matters.Posted by: Bosk at October 06, 2011 08:09 PM (n2K+4)
Posted by: Dave in Texas at
04:00 PM
| Comments (94)
Post contains 225 words, total size 2 kb.
Posted by: buzzion at October 06, 2011 04:10 PM (GULKT)
Posted by: Bosk at October 06, 2011 04:11 PM (n2K+4)
Talking about "indicators" is racist.
Posted by: Truman North at October 06, 2011 04:12 PM (I2LwF)
Posted by: The MFM at October 06, 2011 04:12 PM (Zxn2F)
"I'm pleased to announce that, based on tax revenues, Texas is now in a recovery.
"And the President is still a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure."
Posted by: Meiczyslaw at October 06, 2011 04:13 PM (bjRNS)
Posted by: robtr at October 06, 2011 04:14 PM (MtwBb)
Posted by: The Miami Dolphins at October 06, 2011 04:16 PM (le5qc)
Posted by: John at October 06, 2011 04:17 PM (HmTkU)
Posted by: Hollowpoint at October 06, 2011 04:17 PM (SY2Kh)
Posted by: The Miami Dolphins at October 06, 2011 04:18 PM (le5qc)
Posted by: Mr. Blue at October 06, 2011 04:19 PM (4t9J5)
I have friends and family that live in Longview and Clearwater who have been encouraging me to move there.
I'm thinking of taking Texas over Florida.
Posted by: ErikW at October 06, 2011 04:19 PM (wui0r)
Cut taxes and watch revenues increase. Oh yeah - democrats don't care about that. They only care about punitive taxation that cripples business in the name of some bogus illusionary bullshit "fairness".
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at October 06, 2011 04:21 PM (0fzsA)
Posted by: jeanne! with two N's and an E at October 06, 2011 04:21 PM (wzy4J)
Posted by: Mr. Blue at October 06, 2011 04:22 PM (4t9J5)
Hey, whatever works.
Posted by: real joe at October 06, 2011 04:24 PM (w7Lv+)
Posted by: steevy at October 06, 2011 04:24 PM (fyOgS)
Posted by: moki at October 06, 2011 04:25 PM (dZmFh)
Cut taxes and watch revenues increase. Oh yeah - democrats don't care about that. They only care about punitive taxation that cripples business in the name of some bogus illusionary bullshit "fairness".
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at October 06, 2011 08:21 PM (0fzsA)
Posted by: SCoaMF at October 06, 2011 04:30 PM (KI/Ch)
NOOO!!! Stop telling people how good Texas is!
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
I remember 1980 - TOO MANY YANKEES came to Texas and started telling us how "We did things back home, up north." Shut up and go back then! Guess why you're here! Your way sucked so much you had to move to where they did things right! Shut up, listen and learn! Your Yankee (Detroit Democratic) ways suck!
Conservatives got watered down with the influx of morons.
Most popular bumper sticker in Dallas from 1981-84? (heart) NY? Take I-30 east!
Posted by: Dadof3 at October 06, 2011 04:30 PM (ksDto)
Posted by: logprof at October 06, 2011 04:32 PM (QaKuj)
Posted by: The Miami Dolphins at October 06, 2011 04:33 PM (le5qc)
Posted by: Rick Perry's BFF, the Racist Rock at October 06, 2011 04:34 PM (KI/Ch)
Yeah but they got this racist rock there or something so none of that matters.
Posted by: Bosk at October 06, 2011 08:09 PM (n2K+4)
Ya know, I wish perry would come out and say, the rock was not his to get rid of. It was not his property.
Our country is coming apart at the seams, and the dems are voting on a fucking rock.
I really dont see any good outcome for America. People are fucking stupid.
Sorry, ot. Done bitching..
Posted by: lou at October 06, 2011 04:35 PM (R21xD)
Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at October 06, 2011 04:35 PM (jx2j9)
Posted by: Heartless SOB Hobbit at October 06, 2011 04:36 PM (EL+OC)
NOOO!!! Stop telling people how good Texas is!
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Posted by: Dadof3 at October 06, 2011 08:30 PM (ksDto)
Hey, we're friendlies!
I'm a beer drinking, guitar strumming, God fearing, hard working dude.
Yankee? Maybe technically but I'll fight anyone who questions my patriotism.
Posted by: ErikW at October 06, 2011 04:37 PM (wui0r)
Yes. Thems the words we need to get out there. Keep the damned carpetbaggers out.
Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at October 06, 2011 04:38 PM (jx2j9)
Posted by: billypaintbrush at October 06, 2011 04:39 PM (VF/2p)
Posted by: Heartless SOB Hobbit at October 06, 2011 08:36 PM (EL+OC)
Tell me about it. The last cross Rick and I set afire ended up burning half the damn state down!
Posted by: Rick Perry's BFF, the Racist Rock at October 06, 2011 04:39 PM (KI/Ch)
Posted by: moki at October 06, 2011 04:39 PM (dZmFh)
If I were to comment at KOS or DU (ugggghhh, sorry, cooties there) I would definitely tell them that Delaware was the best place ever.
We don't have any racist rocks because we don't have a single rock in the state! Now that my head is in DC.
Posted by: Joey B. at October 06, 2011 04:41 PM (XdlcF)
<Waves from 'bout 60 miles east of there>
Posted by: Happy Mama AJ at October 06, 2011 08:38 PM (XdlcF)
Really? The cook-offs would be diabolical. 
And why are you happy? I like happy!
Posted by: ErikW at October 06, 2011 04:43 PM (wui0r)
Posted by: Michael Richards at October 06, 2011 04:44 PM (KI/Ch)
Holder is currently making plans for his soon to be announced journey under the bus.
The SCOAMF has the anti-midas touch; everything he touches turns to sh!t.
Posted by: Valar Morghulis at October 06, 2011 04:47 PM (cA6/i)
Posted by: Willy at October 06, 2011 04:47 PM (Gm/A+)
Posted by: The Dovekeepers Epub at October 06, 2011 04:47 PM (1Sw89)
Longview
<Waves from 'bout 60 miles east of there>
Posted by: Happy Mama AJ at October 06, 2011 08:38 PM (XdlcF)
Has masturbation lost its fun?
Posted by: Green Day at October 06, 2011 04:50 PM (QaKuj)
More than enough liberals have moved to Texas since JEF took office.
I'm sick of them already. Texas should post our very own border patrol to the state lines.
Posted by: Pecos at October 06, 2011 04:50 PM (2Gb0y)
Posted by: steevy at October 06, 2011 04:51 PM (fyOgS)
More than enough liberals have moved to Texas since JEF took office.
I'm sick of them already. Texas should post our very own border patrol to the state lines.
Posted by: Pecos at October 06, 2011 08:50 PM (2Gb0y)
You better hope so, NV used to be all red. Now we are blue because of the idiots from ca moved here and brought their liberalism with them..
Posted by: lou at October 06, 2011 04:52 PM (R21xD)
Posted by: Ron at October 06, 2011 04:54 PM (g+yPx)
I'm hoping some farmer discovers oil in his potato field up their about April of next year.
Posted by: sifty thinks that guy is a fuckin commie at October 06, 2011 04:54 PM (4CSeG)
Posted by: Racist Rolling Stoned at October 06, 2011 04:55 PM (rJVPU)
Posted by: Happy Mama AJ at October 06, 2011 08:50 PM (XdlcF)
Nice! God Bless him and thanks for his service!
Posted by: ErikW at October 06, 2011 04:55 PM (wui0r)
Ah, hell. Who are we kidding. The rock it is!
Posted by: WaPo at October 06, 2011 04:55 PM (6TB1Z)
And why are you happy? I like happy!
Hubby came home yesterday after 200 days away!!
Posted by: Happy Mama AJlolz. Still smiling I see.
Posted by: Retread at October 06, 2011 04:56 PM (hngEI)
Anyway, Margaret Hoover (who may be the dumbest blonde on TV) is standing up for the idiots on Wall St., saying that this generation of people are 'hard working' and don't have an entitlement mentality. She's great.
She also mentioned 'they aren't political lefties'.. and tried to rattle off stats. This woman not only doesn't belong anywhere on TV, but I question how on earth she could have possibly attained this position. She sucked a whole lot of dick (more than the other idiots at least), or had major connections via parents or whatever. I believe I heard she was actually related to Herbert Hoover, so that shows she must be part of the D.C. aristocracy.
Between her preposterous notions that the Republicans need to embrace 'the gays', and 'teh tri-sexuals and stuff' I cannot take it any more. Her bizarre fetish with the new young gay generation is about enough to make me drown myself in the toilet. Oh yeah she also has a book out about the young gays being the future for Republicans. Wonder how many pairs of kneepads she went through getting that gig. geez. O'Reilly is destroying any credibility he still has by having her on his show.
How, for the love of all that is holy, could this idiot be making a great living, while clear thinking smart people all over have a hard time even getting jobs at Jack in the Box.
The world wonders
Posted by: Raising Taxes will get us all jobs!! .. wait, what? derrrrr at October 06, 2011 04:59 PM (LqEzN)
Posted by: sifty is tired, so very tired at October 06, 2011 05:02 PM (4CSeG)
Posted by: The Death Cure iBooks at October 06, 2011 05:04 PM (V7J0u)
Posted by: Bosk at October 06, 2011 05:05 PM (AFcK1)
Posted by: macintx at October 06, 2011 05:06 PM (ucs8Y)
Posted by: Steph at October 06, 2011 05:08 PM (efOx/)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at October 06, 2011 05:15 PM (dIHHd)
Posted by: Capt. W.J. McDonald at October 06, 2011 05:17 PM (86Bzk)
Posted by: macintx at October 06, 2011 05:18 PM (ucs8Y)
Posted by: The Ballad of Tom Dooley AudioBook at October 06, 2011 05:18 PM (SpVD8)
Posted by: Capt. W.J. McDonald at October 06, 2011 05:20 PM (86Bzk)
Posted by: macintx at October 06, 2011 05:26 PM (ucs8Y)
Most popular bumper sticker in Dallas from 1981-84? (heart) NY? Take I-30 east!
Posted by: Dadof3 at October 06, 2011 08:30 PM (ksDto)
In Alaska during the pipeline era, we had one that said, "Happiness is 10,000 Okies headed south with a Texan under each arm."
Posted by: tcn at October 06, 2011 05:35 PM (hQX3k)
Posted by: LAI at October 06, 2011 05:35 PM (AB+aO)
I'm a 45 yr old Fl native with a pretty comfortable place to work so I'm staying put. If I was a young man in my twenties looking for a place to start out and make a life, I'd be on my way to Texas.
(Of course, if the economy here doesn't improve I may be on my way anyway....)
Posted by: Mr. Book at October 06, 2011 05:36 PM (qe1yY)
Posted by: Capt. W.J. McDonald at October 06, 2011 05:36 PM (86Bzk)
Posted by: Jean at October 06, 2011 05:40 PM (UIE9v)
Posted by: Jean at October 06, 2011 05:43 PM (UIE9v)
Posted by: tcn at October 06, 2011 05:43 PM (hQX3k)
Posted by: Jean at October 06, 2011 05:48 PM (UIE9v)
Posted by: Capt. W.J. McDonald at October 06, 2011 05:49 PM (86Bzk)
Posted by: joeindc44 at October 06, 2011 06:07 PM (u9B7L)
My wife is from Texas. Born in Lubbock, lived mostly in Nacogdoches, but spent time in El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. Her mother is the native Texan, her father is from South Philly (he was in the Air Force). Talk about a wacked-out combo.....
Anyway, we live in Philly. When I make noises about moving to TX she just reminds me of how much I whine when the temperature goes above 90 with high humidity.
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at October 06, 2011 06:32 PM (dIHHd)
The Dem WA Gov asked all department heads to come up with plans for cutting another 10% -- the Education Super said no (too busy brown-nosing teacher's unions?), everyone else did their job... Guess this guy is Senate Dem material -- can't come up with a budget that cuts something because it would cut something...
So it's not just sales tax that is making Texas grow and WA sucky, but it probably helps -- at least that way everyone pays something. My guess is the real differenc is Texas is right to work state and WA isn't... Businesses, if given a choice of where to go, find it's an easy choice -- Texas...
Posted by: drfredc at October 06, 2011 09:38 PM (iNKlO)
@65. Ummm no. UT will not kick ass this weekend.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Are you without sin Mr. Jackson? You race baiting asshole. You and your pal Obama are some of the biggest racists I've ever seen. Take your holy than thou rhetoric and shove it up your ass.
The quality of Texas jobs are questioned? All I can say is, they beat the hell out of the "green jobs" that never got created in the first place. Oh, our tax money was spent, billions, but where are the jobs? Maybe the Washington Post can find them for us. Hell, maybe they can find some ethical integrity too.
Posted by: Case at October 07, 2011 12:01 AM (FD6YW)
And the weather. We've had a tough year.
But we're doing OK because the government tries to stay out of the way for the most part.
I note one reason that is the case is our balanced budget amendment. This leads to a few problems and hassles and drama here and there. It's not smooth sailing. But it basically works very well. Folk should look long and hard at that. The legislature starts and ends with the notion they can spend no more than they take in.
Perry's entire agenda centers around taking this imperfect but successful solution to the US Constitution. One of his trademark causes in Texas was a major reform that requires an amendment and the legislature opposed (Tort reform). He kept fighting for it from before the time he was governor until it finally happened several years later. I think Perry will do the same for the BBA, and that alone is a strong reason to support him.
Posted by: Dustin at October 07, 2011 12:35 AM (fF625)
Yep. And, based on that experience, the idea that a President Perry would actually strengthen the Federal government and force things like in-state tuition waivers on the other 49 (or 56, take your pick) states is ludicrous.
Perry is the only one of the bunch (excepting the unelectable and crazy Ron Paul) who would actually reduce the size and scope of the federal government. He needs to return to the message from his announcement speech about making DC inconsequential in our lives. Perry should start leading with that at every opportunity and hammering it home constantly.
Posted by: Y-not at October 07, 2011 05:08 AM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Citizen K at October 09, 2011 05:54 AM (ecLbt)
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Yeah but they got this racist rock there or something so none of that matters.
Posted by: Bosk at October 06, 2011 04:09 PM (n2K+4)