Gov. Rick Perry toured Cedar Park-based Corvalent on May 9.
Corvalent President and CEO Ed Trevis showed Perry around the electronics manufacturer's headquarters. The company relocated to Texas in 2009 from California.
They were joined by Cedar Park Councilman Tony Dale and state Rep. Charles Schwertner, R-District 20, who are running for state representative and senator, respectively. Perry endorsed them both later in the event, as well as incumbent Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley.
Trevis said it was an honor to host the governor, explaining how he never had any local or state politicians visit his former headquarters in Silicon Valley. Since Corvalent transferred its operations to Cedar Park, the company has grown 30 percent annually, he said.
"Since moving to Texas, I have learned that our state government works to enable business—not to rule over it," Trevis said.
Perry said he appreciated Trevis' suggestion that the state change its official slogan to "Texas Works."
"I ask for one favor: Just let us have that new motto so we can copyright it," Perry said. "I love that. Texas Works—isn't that awesome?"
The governor also used the visit as an opportunity to tout his Texas Budget Compact, a five-point plan for improving the state's financial stability. The proposal stresses the need for placing a constitutional limit on spending, opposing any new tax increases and preserving the state's Rainy Day Fund, among other items.
"Let me just be really clear about something—there is no such thing as government money. That money belongs to the taxpayers," Perry told the crowd of approximately 100. "We must reform the budget process and control the appetite for spending."