Bush's Record as Governor

On another *thread, someone questioned the reasons behind my 'blind hatred' for President Bush. I tried to explain (*comment #14) that my opinion went beyond politics and his actions as President; that, as a Texan and journalist for a local weekly 'alternative' newspaper, I was well aware of Bush's privileged past, his results as Governor, and his many suspicious business dealings prior to becoming President.

During the 2000 election, most of the major national media shamefully chose to ignore his record as Governor of Texas, so I thought you might be interested in knowing just what he accomplished during his tenure in my home state.

The following data were valid as of the end of his first term, and are taken from the Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, the EPA, and the Congressional Quarterly. They rank Texas in relation to the other 49 states.

To be fair, Texas was at the top of some ratings:

* 1st in pollution released by manufacturing plants;
* 1st in pollution by industrial plants in violation of the federal Clean Air Act;
* 1st in greenhouse gas emissions;
* 1st in number of working parents without health insurance;
* 1st in percentage of children without health insurance.

* 2nd in number of children living in poverty;
* 2nd in percentage of population without health insurance;
* 2nd in number of children without health insurance (1st in percentage)

* 3rd in percent of non-elderly population without health insurance

* 5th in poverty rate;
* 5th in teen birth rate.

Here's a listing of where Texas is at or near the bottom relative to other states:

* 50th in teacher salaries plus benefits ("No Child Left Behind"? you've got to be kidding!)
* 50th in per-capita spending on government administration;
* 50th in per-capita interest paid on state's general debt;

Article Author: Shark

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