
In April, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus appointed Bush School Acting Dean Andrew H. Card Jr., to serve on the Select Committee on Economic Development which was established by the Texas Legislature in 2011. The committee is developing objective criteria in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the state’s economic development policies in encouraging new investment, employment and income, and in retaining existing facilities and jobs. The committee was also charged to evaluate existing state and local incentives and policies and make recommendations regarding their continuation, elimination, or modification. Another area of study was how incentives offered to businesses in Texas compared to those available in other states, and how those differences affected business decisions regarding where to invest. In addition to Card, the 12-person Select Committee includes members of the Legislature and representatives of the private sector. They will present their report to the 83rd Legislature when it convenes in January.
Speaker Straus noted that Card’s extensive experience in government and the private sector were of particular value to the committee. “As a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff, Dean Card has compiled an extraordinary record of public service to our country. I am deeply honored that he agreed to serve his newly adopted home state by sitting on this committee and helping the Legislature make our economic development efforts more effective and accountable to taxpayers,” Straus said.
Card is currently a member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Advisory Board, and has held senior government positions under three US presidents. In addition to his service as Secretary of Transportation and as White House Chief of Staff, he also worked in the Reagan administration as White House liaison to governors, statewide elected officials, state legislators, mayors and other elected officials. “I’m honored to be part of this important policy effort, and have enjoyed working with my committee colleagues from both the public and private sector,” Card said. “I’ve also been fortunate to have access to Bush School faculty who have expertise in economic development and on whom I could call as our work progressed,” he added.