Federal Stimulus Created or Saved Over 250,000 Jobs in Texas

An economic study commissioned by TPJ concludes that federal spending through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) saved or created at least 264,459 Texas jobs by the end of 2010. The economic modeling study generally confirms the Texas job creation figures reported directly to the federal government by ARRA grant recipients (243,814). The study refutes Governor Rick Perry’s pronouncement that the stimulus “created zero jobs.”

This is not surprising; however, the Rick Perry’s Republican mantra that this money was a giveaway that produced nothing took hold of the Texas media. And this really speaks to my disgust at the Texas media’s continued love affair with Rick Perry–even after a failed presidential campaign and a failed tenure as governor.

Thanks to Texans for Public Justice for this comprehensive report.

Without $7.7 billion in federal stimulus funds, Texas employment would have taken a dive, the study finds, imposing far more pain on hundreds of thousands of Texas families.

Could you imagine how many more jobs Texas could have saved if it had not cut off education, public health and more from Texans?