The Great Texas Success...Not Told By Rick Perry

By RF Schatten

What's really funny in Politics, is when Politicians run for office...they will always criticize the failures of their opponents...and boast their accomplishments, noting, how much better their achievements are, and how they can do the same for everyone else. “Elect me, and what I have done for my constituency, I can do for you!!”

In the case of Governor Rick Perry, known for his intent to re-write American History to fit his own personal Ideals...it appears that he, is also re-writing the current State of the State, so it would show how marvelous a job, he is doing...building his great success in Austin.

Here is Rick Perry's “Great Success” as Governor of the Lone Star State:
EDUCATION:

High School Graduation Rate - 50^th in the Nation (79.9% - National Avg 85.3%)
College Graduation Rate - 30^th in the Nation (25.5% - National Avg 27.9%)
Verbal SAT Scores - 49^th in the Nation (493)
Math SAT Scores - 46th in the Nation (502)
Per Pupil Education Expenditure - 42^nd in the Nation ($8,350 – National Avg $10,297)

INCOME:

Median Household Income - 26^th in the Nation ($48,259 – National Avg $50,221)

Poverty Rate by Household Income - 46^th in the Nation (16.2% - National Avg – 12.6%)

WOMEN VOTER INFORMATION

Women’s Voter Registrati­­on – 45^th in the Nation

Women’s Voter Turnout – 49^th in the Nation

HEALTH

Percentage of Non-Elderl­­y Uninsured – 1^st in the Nation

Percentage of Low Income Population Covered by Medicaid – 49^th in the Nation

Percentage of Population with Employer-B­­ased Health Insurance – 48^th in the Nation

Total Health Expenditur­­es as % of the Gross State Product – 43^rd in the Nation

Per Capita State Spending on Mental Health – 50^th in the Nation

Per Capita State Spending on Medicaid – 49^th in the Nation

Health Care Expenditur­­es per Capita – 44^th in the Nation

Physicians per Capita – 42^nd in the Nation

Registered Nurses per Capita – 44^th in the Nation

Avg. Monthly Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Benefits per Person – 47^th in the Nation

Percent of Population Who Visit the Dentist – 46^th in the Nation

Overall Birth Rate – 2^nd in the Nation

Teenage Birth Rate – 7^th in the Nation

Births to Unmarried Mothers – 17^th in the Nation

Percentage of Women with Pre-Term Birth – 9^th in the Nation

Percentage of Non-Elderl­­y Women with Health Insurance – 50^th in the Nation

Rate of Women Aged 40+ Who Receive Mammograms – 40^th in the Nation 

Cervical Cancer Rate – 11^th in the Nation

Percentage of Women with High Blood Pressure – 16^th in the Nation
Percentage of Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care in First Trimester – 50^th in the Nation
Percentage of Residents with Health Insurance - 50^th in the Nation (76.2% - National Avg 84.9%)
Percentage of Children with Health Insurance - 50^th in the Nation (83.7% - National Avg 91.4%)
Percent of Children above the Poverty Line - 44^th in the Nation (75.6% - NH 1^st with 89.2%)


Many of these Records reflect Healthcare, so here is other facts about Texas Healthcare...According to AMA records: In 2008, the number of physicians in patient care per 10,000 civilians was 20.2 In the United States, the average, was 25.7. Thus, Texas ranked near the bottom of the 50 states.
Perry also has talked about how many Physicians have come to Texas to Practice Medicine, because of Texas Tort Reforms. He said it gained 21,000 doctors. The accurate increase is 12,788.  That’s about 8,000 doctors fewer than his claim. What he doesn't say, it's because the normal increase in the state's population. And even that figure is inaccurate, because it's just those Licenses given out...you do not have to live in Texas to receive a State Medical License...it's for use as a visiting Physician too. The more accurate count, based on the Texas Alliance for Patient Access is about 5,000...much less than the 21,000 listed by Perry.

Re-writing Facts, like Re-writing History...could be very advantageous!!

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Texas continues to be the state with the highest percentage of its residents without coverage, 25% last year, compared the National 16%. It ranked 50^th in the Country in 2003...this year, Texas ranks 50^th again.

One thing that Texas ranks, among the top in the Nation...and very proudly for the Texas GOP, is: In 2010, the average premium for family coverage in Texas was $14,526. The National Average was $13,375...that's $1,151 higher than the U.S. Average.

His record on Health, Education, Family Income, and Poverty are among the lowest in the Nation...when nearly a quarter (24.4%) of the Children of Texas live in Poverty...I would not think, that is something to be proud of. Neither would be his record on Education, with Texas being 50^th in the Nation with High School Graduation...and for 10 straight years!!!...2001 – 2010.

The one area, that he, all the GOP, and the Tea Party, have been raving about...has been his Economy and Job growth. But how much of it, is totally correct?...how much is what Conservatives say? While a lot said, could be true...you have to take into consideration the fact that most business successes, have come in the Oil Industry, where the Industry have been making Record Profits...and benefiting, most of all... the Wealthy...and, as for Jobs, Texas has had the largest population growth in the country! thus creating more Jobs...but, 90% of those jobs created are minimum wage jobs...with no real future. For an example of low wage jobs, you have to take a look at the Toyota plant in San Antonio. And Texas...still has a $27 billion deficit!

One more quick note...and a very interesting one, indeed. This comes from an article I recently read on Mediaite.com: “Texas Cuts Volunteer Fire Departments Funding By 75%”

Under Rick Perry this year, Texas slashed state funding for the volunteer fire departments that protect most of the state from wildfires like the ones that have recently destroyed more than 700 homes.
Volunteer departments that were already facing financial strain were slated to have their funding cut from $30 million to $7 million, according to KVUE-TV. The majority of Texas is protected by Volunteer Fire Departments. There are 879 Volunteer Fire Departments in Texas and only 114 paid Fire Departments”

All this, from a man who wants to do for America, what he has done for Texas.

THE ONE AREA, THAT RICK PERRY, DOES RANK #1 IS...BULLSHITTING!