ICYMI: Former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady Discusses the “Economic Story of the Decade” on FOX Business

“This is really the economic story of the decade. You know, how many Americans—businesses, young people—are fleeing these very high tax states, highly regulated states.”

In case you missed it, former U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman and Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) Advisor Kevin Brady spoke with FOX Business to discuss the growing exodus of corporations and business leaders leaving blue states. Brady noted that free market states are becoming increasingly attractive to businesses, pointing to policies in blue states like California and compared them with his home state of Texas, where many large corporations have relocated in search of greater opportunity and a better environment for their employees to succeed.

More broadly, many southern states are seeing growth at a level they have not experienced before. Brady emphasized California as a clear example of the opposite approach, pointing to high taxes on both businesses and individuals:

“I don’t know why California continues to tax its businesses and people just so brutally. It’s a beautiful state, it is a dynamic state, but they’re chasing out—again not just the wealthy, not just businesses—but the young people.”

He said this isn’t just happening in one state, but reflects a bigger national shift:

“As the blue states continue to raise taxes, not just on the wealthy, but on the middle class, you’re seeing other states lowering their corporate and individual taxes. You’re seeing this in Georgia for example, and a number of republican states have realized those free markets, those low taxes and balanced regulations really draw economic growth and give their own states a real future.”

Census data supports Chairman Brady’s remarks too: Republican-led states experienced the fastest population growth in 2025, including South Carolina, Idaho, North Carolina, Texas and Utah, while the states that lost the most population were primarily blue states, including Vermont, Hawaii, New Mexico and California.

As noted by Americans for Tax Reform, the data shows that “the top states gaining population through net domestic migration have much lower tax rates and lower overall tax burdens than the top 10 losers.” Another analysis of the census data by the National Review editorial board found that between 2020 and 2025, red states “added 7.7 million inhabitants” while blue states “added only 1.15 million.”

The Chairman noted this isn’t a short-term trend, but rather, a longer-term exodus of people, talent and capital, and states with high taxes and unfavorable business environments are starting to feel the negative impact. Policy choices matter, and free market states prioritizing growth, opportunity and competitiveness are the ones increasingly attracting both businesses and the people behind them. 

Watch Chairman Brady’s FOX Business interview HERE and read the full article HERE.