Texas Gov. Rick Perry is proud of his state and is unafraid to say so.

Economically, if not politically, I have to agree that Texas has outshone much of the rest of the nation. Does the governor deserve credit for the successes? Partly, yes.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2013/11/rick-perry-texas-wins/

Perry recently got a glowing report on his state from Arthur Laffer, the godfather of supply-side economics, who says the state’s low-tax, business-friendly and low-regulation environment has helped businesses prosper while other states have languished in recent years.

Fair point.

What’s not accurate is for Laffer to say that Perry “is the person who is responsible for the Texas miracle.” Texas government is full of individuals who believe they deserve credit as well. The governor isn’t a one-man job-creation machine.

Still, for the governor to boast at a Texas Public Policy Foundation event in Austin is totally appropriate. It reminds, conversely, of how crass it has been for the governor to take that message into other states’ territory on these highly publicized and — in my view — questionable job-poaching excursions. He’s gone to places like California, Illinois and New York to declare to business executives that they should relocate to Texas, a move that would deprive other states of economic benefit.

Perry has been met with derision by governors of those states. Of course, it’s a highly partisan effort, given that all the states mentioned here are governed by Democrats — as opposed to Republicans, such as Perry.

Indeed, Texas’s economic success is well-known around the world. The governor can brag all he wants about how well the state is doing. I promise, the word will get out.