by Gail Collins
15 clause prohibiting atheists: Texas state constitution, Article 1, Section 4.
20 Bush . . . sent a copy of Travis’s letter: Don Van Natta, First Off the Tee, (New York: PublicAffairs, 2003), 280.
21 “donning the patriotic trappings”: Joe Holley, “Sen. Dan Patrick Goes Beyond Talk in the Legislature, Houston Chronicle, July 4, 2001.
21 “House Republicans felt”: Justin Sink, “House GOP Tax Cut Negotiator Says Debate Was Like ‘Reenacting the Alamo,’ ” The Hill, December 22, 2011.
22 “Where did this idea”: Lou Dubose and Jan Reid, The Hammer (New York: PublicAffairs, 2004), p. 207; Gary Scharrer, “Legislator Questions Border Health,” El Paso Times, March 6, 2003.
22 Pamela Mann: James Haley, Passionate Nation (New York: Free Press, 2006), 187, 193.
24 Molly Ivins watched: Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She? (New York: Vintage, 1991) 18.
2: Empty Places
Interviews: David Crossley, Tom Dunlap, Bill Hobby, Ray Kelly, Christopher King, Stephen Klineberg, Lois Kolkhorst, Bob Lanier, Martin Melosi, Tom Michael, John Mixon, Richard Murray, Wes Perry, Chris Steinbach, Tom Smith, Ronald Welch.
27 “the big empty”: Jake Silverstein, “Boy’s Life,” Texas Monthly, June 2010.
28 “reckless and irresponsible”: Gary Scharrer, “Perry Vetos Texting While Driving Legislation,” Houston Chronicle, June 17, 2011; “Gov. Perry Vetoes HB242,” Office of the Governor, June 17, 2011.
28 Freedom and Liberty: Kevin D. Williamson, “Rick Perry’s Tenth Commandment,” National Review, April 4, 2011.
28 “If you’ve got a car”: Glenna Whitley, “Texas Concealed Gun Laws Loosen,” Dallas Observer, October 25, 2011.
29 Bob Bullock: Dave McNeely and Jim Henderson, Bob Bullock: God Bless Texas (Austin: University of Texas Press), 121.
29 California has the most stringent gun laws: Statistics from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, quoted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, available at: http://www.tracetheguns.org/#/states/TX/exports/.
29 nearly 15,000 guns: Statistic from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, quoted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, available at: http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/downloads/pdf/issue_brief_mexico_2010.pdf.
30 “Studies show”: “Smith Supports Right-to-Carry Bill,” press release from Congressman Lamar Smith, November 16, 2011.
31 The Texas constitution: There have been 643 proposed amendments, 467 approved and 176 rejected.
31 in the constitution: William Earl Maxwell et al., Texas Politics Today (Boston: Wadsworth, 2010), 52.
31 lobbyists far outnumber the legislators: “Austin’s Oldest Profession,” Texans for Public Justice, 2010.
32 “Texans know how”: Rick Perry, speech at Tea Party rally, Austin, April 15, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbWz1RYGE3Q.
32 farmers in the Texas hill country: Robert Caro, The Path to Power (New York: Knopf, 1982), 528.
32 transfer of payments: Environmental Working Group, farm subsidy database.
32 One of the beneficiaries: R. G. Ratcliffe, “Will Subsidies to Farmer Perry Come Back to Haunt Presidential Hopeful Perry?” Austin American-Statesman, August 7, 2011.
33 Thousands of doctors: Ralph Blumenthal, “In Houston Astrodome, Safe but Restless Refuge,” New York Times, September 4, 2005.
33 A year after Katrina: Amy Strahan, “Houston Tires of Katrina Evacuees as Crime Rises, Few Find Jobs,” Bloomberg News, August 24, 2006.
33 stupendous lack of enthusiasm: “Texas on the Brink,” Texas Legislative Study Group, February 2011, available at http://texaslsg.org/texasonthebrink/?p=1. See Appendix.
35 “raping and pillaging those hills”: Matt Dellinger, Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway (New York: Scribner, 2010), p. 186.
38 “We don’t respond”: Kate Galbraith, “Drought-Plagued Midland, Texas, is Running Out of Water.” Texas Tribune, April 22, 2011.
39 “I am rejoiced”: Davy Crockett, letter to his children, January 9, 1836, available at: www.thealamo.org/battle/letter-Crockett.php.
3: It’s My Party
Interviews: Frank Cahoon, Robert Caro, Joaquín Castro, Rodney Ellis, Jim Marston, Norman Ornstein, Bill Ratliff, Jan Jarboe Russell.
42 101 members: Dave Mann and Abby Rapoport, “Let’s Get This Party Started,” Texas Observer, August 8, 2011.
43 As a drama: Dubose and Reid, The Hammer, 212.
45 “destroyed”: Peggy Fikac: “Nail Lid Shut: Senate’s Two-thirds Rule Dead,” Houston Chronicle, June 20, 2011.
45 “a big hurricane”: McCall, The Power of the Texas Governor, 64.
45 “Well, I don’t have”: Ibid., 68.
46 “Everyone wanted to let”: Mimi Swartz, “Ann Richards: How Perfection Led to Failure,” Texas Monthly, October 1990.
46 “If it’s inevitable”: McCall, The Power of the Texas Governor, 98.
46 When Perry announced: Justin Elliott, “Have You Ever Had Sex With Rick Perry?” Salon, August 18, 2011.
46 “hairy-legged lesbians”: McNeely and Henderson, Bob Bullock, 216.
47 “ain’t never done nothin’ ”: Charles Ashman, Connally: The Adventures of Big Bad John (New York: Morrow, 1974), 284.
47 Bullock endorsed George W. Bush: McNeely, and Henderson, Bob Bullock, 274.
47 “It’s the last copter”: Paul Burka, “Right Place, Right Time,” Texas Monthly, February 2010.
47 Or a pitcher: Patrick Cox, “Not Worth a Bucket of Warm Spit,” George Mason University History News Network, August 20, 2008.
50 In 2010, Maine: “America Goes to the Polls,” Nonprofit Voter, 2010.
51 Tom DeLay: Dubose and Reid, The Hammer, 43–44.
52 Armey and DeLay: Michael Sokolove, “Dick Armey Is Back on the Attack,” New York Times Magazine, November 4, 2009.
52 “None that I can”: Dubose and Reid, The Hammer, 102.
52 “He was innocent”: Carl M. Cannon, Lou Dubose, Jan Reid, Boy Genius (New York: PublicAffairs, 2003), 44–5.
53 a fiend for privatization: ibid., 84–5.
54 “What’s a little pain”: Hilary Hylton, “Hammered: What Punishment Will Tom DeLay Get? Time, November 25, 2010.
54 “Armey and FreedomWorks”: Sokolove, “Dick Armey Is Back.”
4: Financial Deregulation—the Texas Angle
Interview: Bill Black.
60 “What we have to share”: Phil Gramm, “Announcement of Candidacy,” February 24, 1995, available at: http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/republican/withdrawn/gramm.announcement.shtml.
60 “When I am on Wall Street”: Eric Lipton and Stephen Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back, Unswayed,” New York Times, November 16, 2008.
61 One historic state thrift: James O’Shea, The Daisy Chain (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991), 62–66.
61 set their own interest rates: Norma Riccucci, Unsung Heroes (Washington DC, Georgetown University Press, 1995), 25.
62 The lawyer for the thrift’s: Martin Mayer, The Greatest Ever Bank Robbery (New York: Collier Books, 1992), 9.
62 the most profitable S & L: O’Shea, The Daisy Chain, 124.
63 no actual money: William K. Black, The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005), 107.
63 Dixon overcame that problem: Ibid., 108.
63 “It served as”: Ibid.
63 Dixon’s wife: Ibid., 109.
63 any long-term solvency: Riccucci, Unsung Heroes, 42.
63 requested more time: Black, The Best Way, 107.
64 told the committee: Irvin Molotosky, “House Committee Votes to Conduct Inquiry on Wright,” New York Times, June 11, 1988.
64 The Ethics Committee: “Two Trials for Speaker Wright,” New York Times, April 24, 1989.
64 Gingrich would eventually: John E. Young, “House Reprimands, Penalizes Speaker,” Washington Post, January 22, 1997.
65 $4,775 per capita: Robert Bryce, Cronies (New Y
ork: PublicAffairs, 2004), 139.
65 The other memorable point: Gail Collins, “Dems Say: Go!” Newsday, February 26,1995.
66 “all our poor people”: Lipton and Labaton: “A Deregulator Looks Back.”
66 he did indeed have a heart: Richard L. Berke, “Tough Texan: Phil Gramm,” New York Times Magazine, February 19, 1995.
66 “Some people look”: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”
67 threatened to destroy: Stephen Labaton, “Deal on Bank Bill was Helped Along by Midnight Talks,” New York Times, October 24, 1999.
67 reject requests: David Corn, “Foreclosure Phil,” Mother Jones, July/August 2008.
67 “We have learned”: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”
67 Gramm had a soft spot: Gary McWilliams, “The Quiet Man Who’s Jolting Utilities,” Business Week, June 9, 1997.
68 “Enron’s business model”: “Blind Faith: How Deregulation and Enron’s Influence over Government Looted Billions from Americans,” Public Citizen, December 2001, 3.
68 “As a single”: Berke, “Tough Texan.”
68 confidential e-mail: Eric Lipton, “Gramm and the ‘Enron Loophole,’ ” New York Times, November 14, 2008.
69 “large sophisticated”: “Blind Faith,” 12.
69 two of the five: Ibid., 11.
69 “between $915,000”: Ibid., 3.
69 inserted an amendment: Corn, “Foreclosure Phil.”
69 Michael Greenberger: Ibid.
70 Gramm later claimed: Lipton, “Gramm and the ‘Enron Loophole.’ ”
70 “Wholesale services” revenue: “Blind Faith,” 20.
70 Other firms: Cathy Booth Thomas, “The Enron Effect,” Time, May 28, 2006.
71 Gramm became vice president: Lisa Lerer, “McCain Guru Linked to Subprime Crisis,” Politico, March 28, 2008.
71 The fault, he said: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”
71 “a nation of whiners”: Ibid.
5: No Child Left Behind
Interviews: David Anderson, Brenda Arredondo, Charles Barone, David Grissmer, Bill Hammond, Scott Hochberg, Sandy Kress, George Miller, Bill Ratliff, Paul Sadler, Barbara Wilson.
73 flyer: Gene B. Preuss, To Get a Better School System (College Station, TX: Texas A & M University Press, 1995), 28.
73 When World War Two began: Ibid., 69.
73 “We had the worst”: Patrick Cox and Michael Phillips, The House Will Come to Order (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2010), 56.
74 “committing an act”: A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Education Reform, National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983.
74 “It’s important”: Gail Collins, “Our Mister Bush,” New York Times, March 21, 2000.
74 “Not about education”: Ibid.
74 “We think we know”: Vice presidential debate, October 5, 2000, available at: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122771&page=1.
75 Beginning public school teachers: McCall, The Power of the Texas Governor, 72.
75 Funding was wildly inequitable: The Progress of Education in Texas, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, November 2000, 3.
75 “one of the first nerds”: Ivins, Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, 41.
75 “I’ve got pictures”: McCall, The Power of the Texas Governor, 72.
76 Before his presidential adventures: Marty Primeau, “Ross Perot: He’s the Dallas Billionaire Who Rescued His Men in Iran, Fought Drug Abuse, Made Athletes Pass to Play and Gave Almost $100M to Charities Along the Way,” Dallas Morning News, July 6, 1986.
76 spending an enormous amount: Ibid.
76 “H. Ross took off”: Ivins, Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, 25.
77 bumper sticker: Randy Galloway, “Perot Won’t Break on Education Reforms,” Dallas Morning News, March 7, 1985.
77 “In some respects”: Bill Hobby, How Things Really Work (Austin: Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 2010), 206.
77 “We have had three”: “Texas : School Finance Bill Just Meets Deadline,” Los Angeles Times, June 1, 1993.
78 “story on how our schools”: Molly Ivins, “Who Deserves Credit for Texas?” Creators Syndicate, 2000.
79 “Testing is the cornerstone”: Presidential Debate, October 3, 2000, available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29418#axzz1bSIcUZfI.
79 “Write your governor”: Collins, “Our Mister Bush.”
79 “What’s more important”: Good Morning America, ABC, September 25, 2000.
79 “Regardless of where”: “Study Shows Texas Schools Doing Well,”Associated Press, July 26, 2000, available at: http://lubbockonline.com/stories/072600/edu_072600015.shtml.
79 “I am proud”: “Texas Cited as National Leader in Education,” press release, July 25, 2000, available at: http://archive
.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/26/14354.
79 “It’s not a miracle”: John Mintz, “Rand Study Suggests Texas’ Test Score Claims Are Misleading,” Washington Post, October 25, 2000.
80 “the opinion of a few”: “Report Derides Education in Texas,” Associated Press, October 24, 2000.
80 “All the emphasis”: Jim Yardley, “Critics Say a Focus on Test Scores Is Overshadowing Education in Texas,” New York Times, October 30, 2000.
80 During the 2000 Senate campaign: Gail Collins, “Those Who Can’t, Test,” New York Times, April 17, 2001.
80 teachers went into mourning: Ibid.
82 “Market discipline is”: Louis V. Gerstner, Reinventing Education (New York: Dutton, 1994), p. 21. I first saw this quote in an article by Emily Pyle, “Te$t Market,” Texas Observer, May 14, 2005.
82 In 2011, the Texas Association: Morgan Smith, “Amid School Finance Shuffle, PreK Measure Returns,” Texas Tribune, June 9, 2011.
83 Karl Rove disagreed: “Karl Rove, The Architect,” Frontline, PBS, April 12, 2005, available at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/rove/cron.html.
87 In New York City: Sharon Otterman, “Protesting School Closings, in a Noisy Annual Ritual,” New York Times, February 3, 2011.
87 “the scholars presented”: Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System (New York: Basic Books, 2010), 99.
88 “We go from 1,000”: Diana Jean Shemo, “Questions on Data Cloud Luster on Houston Schools,” New York Times, July 11, 2003.
88 The state responded: Ibid.
89 “Some people think”: Diana Jean Shemo, “Education Chief Defends Policy and Past,” New York Times, January 28, 2004.
89 official in North Carolina: Sam Dillon, “Federal Researchers Find Lower Standards,” New York Times, October 30, 2009.
89 In New York City: “Standards Raised, More Students Fail Tests,” New York Times, July 28, 2010.
90 “This doesn’t mean”: Ibid.
90 In 2011, Secretary of Education: Sam Dillon, “Overriding a Key Education Law,” New York Times, October 8, 2011.
91 the president invited: Lindsay Kastner, “No Child Left Behind Waivers Offered; Texas Undecided,” San Antonio Express-News, September 24, 2011.
91 Under the state’s newest regimen: Texas Education Agency website, Student Assessment Division; and “STAAR, The Next Generation: State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness: A Parent’s Guide to the Student Testing Program,” Texas Education Agency, 2011, vol. 1, p. 1.
91 A survey: “More Teachers Forced into Extra Jobs,” press release, Texas State Teachers Association, July 20, 2010.
92 Former First Lady: Barbara Bush, “We Can’t Afford to Cut Education,” Houston Chronicle, February 6, 2011.
92 “not a single person”: Kimberly Hefling, “No Child Left Behind’s Promise Falls Short after 10 Years,” Associated Press, January 8, 2012.
92 George W. Bush gave: Andrew Rotherham, “‘Let’s Not Weaken It’: An Exclusive Interview,” Time, January 12, 2012.
93 “a federal takeover”: Kate Alexander, “Texas Will Not Compete for Federal Educ
ation Grant,” Austin American-Statesman, January 13, 2010.
93 “Texas was a model”: “Gov. Perry’s Education Plan Gains Federal Approval,” Office of the Governor, July 26, 2002.
6: The Business of Schools
Interviews: David Anderson, Carolyn Boyle, Scott Hochberg, Sandy Kress, George Miller, Bill Ratliff, Diane Ravitch, Vernon Reaser, Paul Sadler, Michael Villarreal.
95 In Colorado: Mark Dinger, “Evaluation of NCLB Title I, Part I, Part A: Supplemental Educational Services,” study submitted to the Colorado Department of Education, June 2010.
95 In Ohio: “White Hat Management: Ohio Charter School Giant,” StateImpact Ohio, NPR, available at: http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/tag/white-hat-management/.
96 “When our hair is”: Matt Dellinger, Interstate 69, 231.
96 “And that question”: Ibid., 231–32.
97 At a protest march: Ibid., 274.
97 “We’re talking about”: Polly Ross Hughes, “Bidding to Begin on Call Centers,” Houston Chronicle, June 8, 2004.
97 “It was like turning”: “Accenture, R.I.P,” Texas Observer, March 23, 2007.
97 “Most infamously”: Robert T. Garrett, “Exclusive: State Privatization Champion Gets Contract to Help Clear Up Welfare Mess,” Dallas Morning News, March 13, 2010.
98 The Republicans held firm: Clay Robinson, “Texas GOP Leaders Censure Party Official,” Houston Chronicle, October 5, 2003.
98 Forty percent: Morgan Smith and Nick Pandolfo, “For-Profit Teacher Certification Is Booming,” Texas Tribune, as printed in New York Times, November 26, 2011.
99 “Ever since then”: Gail Collins, “Reading, ’Riting and Revenues,” New York Times, May 11, 2011.
99 At a hearing: Ibid.
99 Pearson, the London-based: John Egan, “Texas Education Agency Supports TAKS Operator Pearson in Wake of Florida Testing Debacle,” examiner.com, July 6, 2010.
99 When a (doomed): Abby Rapoport, “The Pearson Graduate,” Texas Observer, September 6, 2011.
100 The cost of those services: Based on the data reported by the fifty states, DC, and Puerto Rico, in SY 2009–2010, the federal Department of Education estimated that approximately $1 billion was spent on tutoring services under the No Child Left Behind law. The department does not collect information on how much was spent by for-profit versus non-profit providers.
