Austin - The Texas Association of Manufacturers today released its “TAM Top Ten,” which details the association’s policy priorities for the 2016 interim and the 85th Legislature in 2017.

“Manufacturing is a driving force of our economy and a wide range of policy issues can impact our ability to grow jobs,” said Tony Bennett, president of the Texas Association of Manufacturers. “Texas is the #1 state for exported manufactured goods. Texas is the #1 state to do business. We look forward to working with Texas lawmakers to keep Texas on top.”

TAM’s Top 10 policy priorities include:

1. Mitigate Major Electricity Rate Hikes

2. Maintain Competitive Pro-Growth Jobs and Tax Wealth Policies

3. Oppose Property Tax Value Shifts to Industry

4. Equality in Business Taxation

5. Business Inventory Tax Reform

6. Career & College Education Reform Implementation

7. Water Supply and Conservation

8. Competitive Truck Weight Reform

9. Pro-Growth Policy for Aerospace Jobs

10. Austin Energy’s Non-Competitive Industrial Electricity Rates

For more information on each of the priorities above, please visit www.manufacturetexas.org/resources

Follow TAM on Twitter (@TXManufacturers) and Facebook/TXManufacturers.

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Texas Association of Manufacturers represents more than 500 companies of all sizes. Texas manufacturers account for more than 15 percent of the total output in the state and employ more than 890,000 Texans who earn an average compensation of more than $78,000 a year.

Media contact: Gretchen Fox, gfox@gfoxconsulting.com, 512-694-4326