Texas is the place to be to cope with the current economic storm, State Rep. Betty Brown told the crowd at the December Athens Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday.

Speaking at the Athens Country Club, Brown said the state is in great shape compared with the rest of the country.

“CNBC said Texas is one of five states to lead us out of the recession,” Brown said. “Time magazine says Texas is the No. 1 state where jobs are going. “

More jobs were created in Texas last year than in all the other states combined, Brown said. Texas benefited from companies like Toyota, which looked at economies and opportunities around the nation, then chose San Antonio to house one of its plants. Though the Texas unemployment rate now stands at 8.3 percent, that’s easily better than the U.S. rate of 10.2 percent.

“I realize how devastating losing a job can be for a family,’ Brown said.

Brown cited California as a state that is reeling with debt, which is growing by about $25 million per day.

“Texas has a surplus, “ Brown said. “I’ve voted repeatedly to keep it that way.”

The Texas rainy day fund holds money that can be used to help the state through the next biennium, Brown said. She acknowledged, however, that the fund is it not as fat as it used to be.

Athens has two great assets that help the local economy, Brown said. They are Trinity Valley Community College and East Texas Medical Center.

“No other city this size in the state of Texas have these job creators and good neighbors,” Brown said. “I’m thankful and I’m sure you are as well, that they are here in our community.”

Brown took the opportunity to speak about illegal immigration, which she considers a threat to the Texas economy. She also sees illegal voters as a threat to the electoral process, with non-U.S. citizens perhaps swaying our elections.

Her voter ID bill failed to come to the floor for a vote in the last legislative session. Brown blames that on political maneuvering of those opposed to the bill.

“Not only did that bill not come out, but several others that are crucial to our state,” Brown said.

Brown plans to file another immigration bill in November, 2010.

“We’ll never have secure elections without it,” Brown said.