Priorities

Education

Education reform has been a top priority for Governor Perry during his 20 years of public service. He has worked to increase state spending on education by nearly $7 billion in the last six years; has focused on improving learning in core subject areas like math, reading and science; and has proposed targeted incentives tied to achievement in the classroom.

Jobs

Gov. Perry has made job creation a key focus of his administration, and employment in Texas has soared to all-time highs. Our business climate is ranked the best in America, we are the number one exporting state in the country and in 2004 Texas landed more job expansion and relocations than any other state. Our economy is growing at a tremendous pace because Gov. Perry has worked to create a climate that welcomes the entrepreneurial spirit and every employer who seeks to create new jobs for our people.

Health Safety

Gov. Perry recognizes that government’s first responsibility is to ensure the safety of its citizens. He led a sweeping overhaul of state protective services to guard vulnerable Texans from abuse and neglect, fought to protect doctors and hospitals from frivolous lawsuits, and helped local governments plan and prepare for public emergencies. He has also worked to improve access to healthcare for all Texans, from making private insurance plans more affordable for small businesses to ensuring the Children’s Health Insurance Program works for those who need it most.

Transportation

Gov. Perry has worked hard to make Texas’ transportation system the best in the nation. Improving transportation is essential to the safety of our families, a cleaner environment and the long-term health of our economy. The governor believes we must address immediate transportation challenges by improving and expanding existing roads, while also working to meet future needs that will come with a rapidly growing population.

Tax Reform

Gov. Perry is a strong advocate for lower taxes and fiscal responsibility in government spending. He has helped eliminate more than a dozen state agencies, boards and commissions to save taxpayers’ dollars, and ordered government agencies to increase efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. In 2003, Perry insisted that government reduce spending to overcome a record $10 billion budget shortfall instead of raising taxes. Perry signed a budget that year that reduced state spending for the first time since World War II. The Wall Street Journal called Perry's successful efforts "heroic."

Other

In a state as big as Texas, there are thousands of challenges we must address each day. Here are a few of Gov. Perry’s other priorities.