From the Senator's Desk . . .
January 18, 2007
My read on the elections of 2007 is that Texans (and most Americans) want us to walk across the aisle and work together to solve the challenges of our generation. So, what are those challenges in Texas -- the great state that we call home?
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
Elections are Over -- Now Lead!
Elections are over. Inaugurations are done. Rhetoric meets reality. Now, lead!
My read on the elections of 2007 is that Texans (and most Americans) want us to walk across the aisle and work together to solve the challenges of our generation. So, what are those challenges in Texas---the great state that we call home?
First, and always, education. If safety is the work of local governments, and defense is it at the national level, then without question the business of state government is educating Texans to compete in the 21st century. Here’s where we are today—50th in the US in graduation rates (high school certificate or better) and 48th in average SAT scores.
With a $14.3 b surplus, how about an investment? Texans have waited too long for the legislature to address fundamental issues in Texas education. How about funding pre-K, all the growth in Texas schools and restoring Texas colleges, especially scholarship funds to a time before cuts? If our state stays on track to graduate 600,000 Texans with college degrees, then we prosper. If we don’t, then for the first time, the next generation in Texas is poorer than today.
How about health care? Let’s pay for nearly a million qualified children to get CHIP coverage that are uninsured today. Texas is a wealthy state. Let’s make children a real priority, not an election slogan. Did you know that Texas has sent back federal money because we did not fund CHIP at the state level. Does Texas really need to be the poster child for the uninsured? Let’s demonstrate compassion in our deeds as well as words.
Let’s pay doctors for Medicaid services. Right now reimbursement rates are under cost. No wonder El Paso has fewer doctors per capita than any American city our size.
Let’s move on the state water plan. Dallas, San Antonio, most of the panhandle, and El Paso will all need serious water resources and conservation measures to provide for a thirsty, growing state. In the Southwest, river flows will be seriously affected by global warming trends. We must plan now for the future.
With money in the bank, we can do all this and deliver on the property tax cuts too. So let’s do what Texans want. Let’s lead.
¡Adelante con ganas!
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
