Fed CEO On What This Country–Texas–Really Needs

Might Gov. Rick Perry–who’s given aid and comfort to Texas secessionists lately–have a kindred spirit in Richard W. Fisher, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas? OK, so that’s stretching a little. But it sounded for a second like it when the Fed honcho and two other CEOs conversed on stage today with KERA-TV’s Lee Cullum at a luncheon marking the 100th anniversary of the Dallas Regional Chamber. Reminded by Cullum that he’d once called Texas the “most dynamic state,” Fisher said: “We’re pro-business, and competition is key. We have a low-tax environment. The one thing we’re lacking in the state is that we need oodles of Tier 1 universities. If we can win that race, we’ll win, period.” Then he corrected Cullum: “I didn’t say Texas was the greatest state. I said Texas was the greatest country!” Also appearing on the panel at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel were Thomas J. Falk of Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Terdema L. Ussery II of HDNet and the Dallas Mavericks.