Texas Association of Realtors Endorses Gov. Perry for Re-election

Hundreds of Texas Realtors® Attend in Support of Gov. Perry

SAN ANTONIO – Gov. Rick Perry today accepted the endorsement of the Texas Association of Realtors® (TAR) for the 2010 general election. Hundreds of Texas realtors attended the TAR rally in support of the governor’s vision for Texas’ future.

“I spend a lot of time talking up Texas, spreading the good news about the quality of life in our state and the strength of our economy,” said Gov. Perry. “I’m honored to earn the endorsement of folks who do their share of promoting Texas as they help their clients find homes in a state where the American Dream is alive and well.”

TAR Chairman Bill Jones commended Gov. Perry’s long-standing commitment to the interests of Texas homeowners, noting the governor’s record of implementing policies that have reduced the state’s reliance on property taxes and kept homeownership affordable. Currently, Texas has one of the lowest foreclosure rates of the 10 largest states.

“Throughout his time in office, Gov. Perry has been a dedicated champion for Texas homeowners,” said Jones. “He has shown clear vision for supporting the best interests of property owners and has demonstrated true leadership in bringing that vision to reality, making him a true friend to Texas homeowners.”

In his remarks, Gov. Perry highlighted the strength Texas’ economy has maintained throughout the national economic downturn due to its focus on fiscal discipline and job creation. He credited our state’s record of reining in spending and keeping taxes low and regulations reasonable as the key to Texas’ successful economic development and job creation efforts. These priorities are what have allowed Texas to create jobs at double the rate of any of the largest 10 states in the last year and what has kept Texas’ unemployment rate more than a point below the national average.

The governor also outlined the education proposals he has announced throughout the course of his campaign in an effort to strengthen Texas education, keep kids in school and ensure Texas students are prepared for the challenges of higher education and the workplace. Efforts to strengthen education are crucial to creating the equipped workforce that Texas needs to remain competitive in the global and national economies. Gov. Perry’s education proposals include:

• A newly announced partnership with Apple to create the iTunes U Texas project, which offers a modern approach to keeping teachers and students engaged and informed by providing free, supplementary educational content that can be accessed anywhere.

• A program that will make employers who grant their employees two hours a week of paid time off to return to school or study for their GED eligible to receive $1,500 per student in credit toward sales tax liability.

• Requiring that students be enrolled in school or working towards a GED to get and keep a driver’s license; students who drop out will lose the privilege of driving.

• An expansion of the Virtual School Network so students have access to classes their schools may not offer and dual credit opportunities. It also allows students who have dropped out the chance to earn their high school diploma without returning to a bricks and mortar school.

• A $160 million expansion of the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) program, to double the number of T-STEM Academies and fund STEM scholarships to help ensure students receive a competitive education in these subjects.

With more than 85,000 members, the Texas Association of Realtors is one of the largest professional membership associations in the state and represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. Texas Realtors have championed a number of legislative issues enhancing the lives of Texans, including playing a role in the passage of meaningful property tax appraisal reform, ensuring consumer protection in home equity lending laws and advocating for billions in property tax reductions. To learn more about Texas Realtors’ legislative advocacy on behalf of its members and homeowners, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

Texas Association of Realtors joins the following organizations in their endorsement of Gov. Perry in the general election:

Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas PAC
Associated General Contractors of America Texas Building Branch PAC
Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas
Automotive Parts and Services Association
BEEF-PAC of Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Boating Trades Association of Texas PAC
Career Colleges and Schools of Texas
“C” Club of Houston
Exotic Wildlife Association
Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas
Pasadena Police Officer’s Union
Sheriff Arvin West, Hudspeth County
Sheriff Clint McDonald, Terrell County
Sheriff Danny Dominguez, Presidio County
Sheriff Eusevio Salinas, Zavala County
Sheriff Rene Fuentes, Starr County
Sheriff Rick McIvor, Jeff Davis County
Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Brewster County
Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., Zapata County
Sheriff Thomas Herrera, Maverick County
Southwest Movers Association
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Alliance for Life PAC
Texas Allied Poultry Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC
Texas Apartment Association
Texas Association for Interior Design
Texas Association of Business BACPAC
Texas Association of Dairymen PAC
Texas Association of Licensed Investigators
Texas Beverage Association
Texas Broiler Council
Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
Texas Chiropractic Association
Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association PAC
Texas Economic Development Council PAC
Texas Egg Council
Texas Forestry Association Forestry PAC
Texas Home School Coalition PAC
Texas Locksmiths Association
Texas Municipal Police Association
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association PAC
Texas Ophthalmological Association
Texas Optometric Association PAC
Texas Pest Control Association
Texas Pharmacy Business Council
Texas Podiatric Medical Association
Texas Poultry Federation
Texas Poultry Improvement Association
Texas Process Servers Association
Texas Quarter Horse Association
Texas Recreational Fishing Alliance
Texas Recreational Vehicle Association
Texas Retailers Association PAC
Texas Right to Life PAC
Texas Society of Anesthesiologists PAC
Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Texas Travel Industry Association
Texas Turkey Federation
Texas Wildlife Association
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas PAC