States are best positioned to deal with state issues, a fact the founding fathers had in mind when they included the 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights.  Over the years, that right has been clouded by ongoing federal encroachments that are reflected in a recent series of attempts by Washington to seize even more control over numerous Texas programs, including some of the most successful initiatives of their kinds in the country.

Action Items

» EPA
Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants, and advancing renewable energy sources all while remaining a leader in the nation's energy production. We have successfully balanced the need for environmental improvements with fostering economic growth, new investment, and job creation. Texas continues to advance new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable regulation, not costly mandates and taxes.

The Obama administration has taken yet another step in its campaign to harm our economy and impose federal control over Texas. With their efforts to take control of a permitting process that the Clean Air Act allows to be delegated to the states, the EPA is on the verge of killing thousands of Texas jobs and derailing a program that has effectively cleaned Texas' air. An increasingly activist EPA is ignoring the progress Texas has made to clean its air over the last decade, and should instead look to our state's successful approach to issues concerning energy and the environment.

» National Health Care Reform
Texas has consistently been at the forefront in innovative efforts to control medical costs, utilizing market-based solutions to improve the quality of treatments and widen access to care for all Texans. Governor Perry has called for a rejection of federal mandates, and instead promoted state-based solutions, such as Texas' successful reform of the medical liability tort system in 2003. Reform has brought critically-needed doctors back to traditionally-underserved portions of Texas, many in specialties – such as obstetrics – that had been largely chased out of the state by out-of-control trial lawyers. Governor Perry has also championed programs to increase the number of nurses in the state and led the effort to invest millions of dollars in biotechnology and the health care of tomorrow, leveraging the Emerging Technology Fund to help get new technology, treatments and cures to market more quickly. Through common sense laws and the spirit of innovation, Texas is well-positioned for the future of health care.

» Women's Health Program
The Texas Women's Health Program provides preventative health care to more than 100,000 Texas women, including screenings for breast and cervical cancer, diabetes and hypertension, among other services. First implemented in 2007, the program is being phased out by the Obama Administration.

Under federal law, state leaders are left to administer the program and set criteria for who is considered a qualified provider. Consistent with state and federal law, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has developed the program to ensure continued access to care by qualified providers across Texas.

The Obama Administration rejected the state's waiver application because Texas law excludes abortion providers and their affiliates, like Planned Parenthood, from a list of qualified providers. This is despite the fact Planned Parenthood represents less than 2 percent of enrolled providers statewide.

Following the administration’s decision, Gov. Perry directed Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek to establish TWHP to continue providing the services WHP provided, until the decision is reversed by Congress or the courts.

News & Announcements

• Friday, October 31, 2008 • Press Release
  Gov. Perry Meets with Industry Leaders to Assess Impact of National Economy on Texas
  
  
  Gov. Rick Perry talks with key industry leaders from across the state about the impact of the national economy on Texas.
  AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today met with leaders of key trade associations to hear first-hand how the current national economic situation is impacting Texas industries. It was the first of several meetings Gov. Perry will hold with industry leaders from across the state.
• Tuesday, October 21, 2008 • Speech
  Gov. Perry Remarks to the Dallas Regional Chamber
  "[W]e are all being affected by the current financial unrest. As a result, Texas businesses and families are tightening their belts, cutting spending, exercising greater discipline, taking a closer look at the difference between a want and a need."
• Thursday, October 16, 2008 • Speech
  Gov. Perry Addresses the Texas Chemical Council
  
  
  "Do I think this is time to panic? Absolutely not, but we need to be proactive in the way we deal with the outside forces affecting our economy. Fortunately, we have been proactive throughout the years, making tough choices that have helped our state attain the overall strength we enjoy today."
• Monday, October 06, 2008 • Press Release
  Gov. Perry Meets with Leaders of Key State Agencies to Assess Impact of National Economy on Texas
  
  
  Gov. Rick Perry meets with leaders of key state agencies for an assessment of the impact of the current national economic situation on their agencies and the people they serve.
  AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today met with leaders of key state agencies for an assessment of the impact of the current national economic situation on their agencies and the people they serve.
  » Read the Speech: Gov. Perry Meets with State Leaders to Discuss Texas Economy
• Wednesday, October 01, 2008 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Statement from Gov. Rick Perry
  Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement: “In a free market economy, government should not be in the business of using taxpayer dollars to bail out corporate America. Congress needs to take off its partisan gloves and work together to bring both short and long term stability to the credit markets. They need to stop blaming each other and start thinking about solutions that put the taxpayers of this country first.”
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