AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — As Gov. Rick Perry visits New York trying to lure more companies to Texas, lawmakers back home are getting ready to again scrutinize his signature job-creating programs.
A House committee on Thursday is to review funds in Perry’s office that award hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to private companies. Perry says the Texas Enterprise Fund and Emerging Technology Fund have brought jobs and fostered economic growth.
But the popularity of the programs has waned among some Texas Republicans. Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is the favorite to succeed Perry next year, has signaled unease with what he says amounts to the state picking winners and losers.
Perry arrived in New York this week to meet with business owners and encourage them to move to Texas.