News Room

SENATOR SHAPLEIGH RELEASES "TEXAS ON THE BRINK: HOW TEXAS RANKS AMONG THE 50 STATES
January 31, 2007

"Without the courage to invest in the minds of our children, and steadfast support for great schools, we face a daunting prospect. Those who value tax cuts over children and budget cuts over college have put Texas at risk in her ability to compete and succeed."

Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org

Capitol

AUSTIN –  Senator Shapleigh hosted a press conference today to release and discuss Texas on the Brink: How Texas Ranks Among the 50 States.  Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin), as well as Dr. Ana Malinow with the Baylor College of Medicine, joined Senator Shapleigh.

Texas on the Brink shows the hard facts about where Texas is today, our opportunities and challenges.  "In the past, it was women and children first.  Today, it's women and children last," Senator Shapleigh said. "Leadership means dealing with the facts today to inspire all of us to make a difference tomorrow." 

This is how Texas ranks among the 50 States today:

  • Percentage of Uninsured Children

1st
  • Income Inequality Between the Rich and the Poor           

2nd
  • Percentage of Population without Health Insurance        

1st
  • Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Scores

47th
  • Percentage of Population over 25 with a High School Diploma

50th
  • Percentage of Non-Elderly Women with Health Insurance

50th
  • Rate of Women Aged 40+ Who Receive Mammograms

44th
  • Rate of Women Aged 18+ Who Receive Pap Smears

47th
  • Cervical Cancer Rate    

5th
  • Women's Voter Registration

43rd
  • Women's Voter Turnout

49th
  • Percentage of Eligible Voters that Vote

44th

So, with a multi-billion surplus in the state budget, where do we invest? 

"First, let’s honor our commitment to lower property taxes," said Senator Shapleigh.  "Too much family income goes to pay a rising tax for which there is no rising paycheck.  Next, let’s put every Texas child who qualifies into the CHIP program. With a few changes to our CHIP funding, we can cover all these Texas children.  In public education, let’s fully fund the growth in Texas and educate the 70,000 new students who will come into our public schools in the next year. And finally, let’s restore funding to Texas colleges and tuition funds, so more of our best and brightest can get a college degree."

"Without the courage to invest in the minds of our children, and steadfast support for great schools, we face a daunting prospect.  Those who value tax cuts over children and budget cuts over college have put Texas at risk in her ability to compete and succeed."

Texas on the Brink: How Texas Ranks Among the 50 States is available electronically below.

- END -

E. Anthony Martinez
Communications Director
Office of Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Texas State Capitol – E1.610
Austin, Texas 78711
512.463.0129 (phone)
512.463.0218 (fax)
915.269.6363 (cellular)

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