As Texas Goes...: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda

by Gail Collins

  77 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Biennial Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste Report: Based on 2009 Data, (November 2010), Exhibit 1.2. Online. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/data/br09/national09.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2011.

  78 Id.

  79 Id.

  80 Texas Legislative Budget Board, 2010 Texas Fact Book. Online. Available at: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Fact_Book/Texas_FactBook_2010.pdf. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  81 U.S. Department of Energy, “Table R2. Energy Consumption by Source and Total Consumption per Capita, Ranked by State, 2008.” Online. Available at: http://www.eia.gov/emeu/states/hf.jsp?incfile=sep_sum/plain_html/rank_use_per_cap.html. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  82 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average hours and earnings of production employees on manufacturing payrolls in States. Government Employment & Payroll. Online. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/sae/eetables/saetableb19.pdf. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  83 US Census Bureau. Government Employment & Payroll. Online. Available at: http://www2.census.gov/govs/apes/09stlall.xls. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  84 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Total Number of Workers Represented by Unions, 2010. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?yr=138&typ=2&ind=20&cat=1&sub=5. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  85 Corporation for Enterprise Development, Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, 2009–2010, Workers Compensation Coverage. Online. Available at: http://scorecard.cfed.org/business.php?page=workers_comp_coverage. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  86 PBS. State-by-state income inequality. Online. Available at: http://www.cbpp.org/states/4-9-08sfp-facttx.pdf. Accessed January 25, 2011.

  87 Id.

  88 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Median Annual Household Income, 2007–2009. Online. Available at http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=15&cat=1. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  89 Assets and Opportunity Score Card, Homeownership Rate. Online. Available at http://scorecard.cfed.org/housing.php?page=homeownership_rate. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  90 Suite 101, Average Home Insurance Rates by State (November 2009). Online. Available at http://www.suite101.com/content/average_home_insurance_rate_by_state_a168687 Accessed January 17, 2011.

  91 Insure.com, The Most and Least Expensive States for Car Insurance in 2010 (July 2010). Online. Available at http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/most-and-least-expensive-states-2010.html Accessed January 17, 2011.

  92 CreditCards.com, Bankruptcy Filings, State by State, 2005–2010. Online. Available at http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/state-bankruptcy-filings-statistics-1276.php Accessed January 17, 2011.

  93 Household Internet Usage by Type of Internet Connection and State: 2009 (October 2009). Online. Available at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1156.pdf Accessed January 17, 2011.

  94 Death Penalty Information Center, Number of Executions by State and Region Since 1976. Online. Available at http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/number-executions-state-and-region-1976. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  95 BURDEN OF INCARCERATION By John Bebow | Published: March 17, 2010. http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/burden-of-incarceration/. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  96 2011, CQ Press, A Division of SAGE Publications. All Rights Reserved. Available online http://os.cqpress.com/rankings/2010/Crime_State_Rankings_2010.pdf. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  97 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online Violent Crime Offenses Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants, 2009 Online. Available at http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=117&cat=2. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  98 The Disaster Center.com United States: Uniform Crime Report —State Statistics from 1960—2009. Online. Available at http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/txcrime.htm. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  99 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online Number of Deaths Due to Injury by Firearms per 100,000 Population, 2007. Available at http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=113&cat=2. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  100 The Disaster Center.com United States: Uniform Crime Report —State Statistics from 1960–2009. Online. Available at: http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/txcrime.htm. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  101 Id.

  102 Id.

  103 Id.

  104 Id.

  105 U.S. Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2008, Table 4b, Reported Voting and Registration of the Voting-Age Population, by Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin, for States: November 2008. Online. Available at: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2008/tables.html. Accessed January 15, 2011.

  106 Id.

  107 Texas Department of Family Services. 2010. Online. Available at: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/about/Data_Books_and_Annual_Reports/2010/cps_27-70.asp. Accessed January 31, 2011.

  108 “Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services Marks Go Blue Day Against Child Abuse.” KBTX, April 6, 2010. http://www.kbtx.com/state/headlines/90021092.html Accessed January 31, 2011.

  109 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Information Services Survey, 2009. Online. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/nis/data/tables_2009.htm Accessed January 31, 2011

  110 National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Demographics of Low-Income Children: Texas (January 2011). Online. Available at http://nccp.org/profiles/TX_profile_6.html. Accessed January 15, 2011.

  111 Id.

  112 Id.

  113 Id.

  114 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, TANF Payment Levels (June 2009). Online. Available at: http://www.isedsolutions.org/sites/default/files/TANFpercent20levelspercent20mappercent20(5)percent5B1percent5D_0.ppt. Accessed January 13, 2011.

  115 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Average Monthly WIC Benefits per Person, 2010 (Preliminary). Online. Available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/25wifyavgfd$.htm Accessed January 14, 2011.

  116 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Health Insurance Coverage of Children 0–18 Living in Poverty (under 100percent FPL), states (2008–2009), U.S. (2009). Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparebar.jsp?ind=128&cat=3. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  117 U.S. Department of Education, Texas State Detailed Snapshot, 2008. Online. Available at: http://www.eddataexpress.ed.gov/state-report-detailed.cfm?state=TX . Accessed February 2, 2011.

  118 Id.

  119 Id.

  120 Id.

  121 Germeraad, Stephanie. Educational Trust, Ed Trust Releases Their Fair Share Report and Web Tool Exposing Gaps in Teacher Quality in Texas, 2008. Online. Available at: http://www.edtrust.org/dc/pressroom/press-release/ed-trust-releases-their-fair-share-report-and-web-tool-exposing-gaps-in-. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  122 Id.

  123 Id.

  124 U.S. Department of Education, Texas State Detailed Snapshot, 2008. Online. Available at: http://www.eddataexpress.ed.gov/state-report-detailed.cfm?state=TX . Accessed February 2, 2011.

  125 The College Board, “The College Completion Agenda 2010 Progress Report”. Online. Available at: http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/reports_pdf/Progress_Report_2010.pdf. Accessed Feb-ruary 2, 2011.

  126 Id.

  127 Id.

  128 Id.

  129 The College Board, “The College Completion Agenda: Texas”. Online. Available at: http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/state-performance/state/texas. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  130 US Census Bureau, Fact Finder. “2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates”. Online. Available at: http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en Accessed February 2, 2011.

  131 US News and World Report, “Best Colleges 2011”. Online. Available at: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings/state+TX
. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  132 Commission for a College Ready Texas, The Report of the Commission for a College Ready Texas (November 2007) at 18. Online. Available at: http://www.collegereadytexas.org/documents/CCRTpercent20Reportpercent20FINAL.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  133 The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Measuring Up 2008, The State Report Card on Higher Education at 7. Online. Available at: http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/print/state_reports/long/TX.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  134 Id.

  135 The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Measuring Up 2008, The State Report Card on Higher Education at 9. Online. Available at: http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/print/state_reports/long/TX.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  136 Id.

  137 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Poverty Rate by Age, states (2008–2009), U.S. (2009). Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparebar.jsp?ind=10&cat=1. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  138 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Retail Prescription Drugs Filled at Pharmacies (Annual per Capita by Age), 2009. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=268&cat=5. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  139 Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Legislative Appropriations Request for Fiscal Year 2008–2009 (August 2006). Online. Available at http://cfoweb.dads.state.tx.us/lar/2008_09/VolumeI//AdministratorStatement.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  140 Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (October 2009). Online. Available at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/News/2009/2009-10-02_exploitation.asp. Accessed February 02, 2011.

  141 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicaid and the Uninsured (September 2010). Online. Available at: http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7806-03.pdf.Accessed February 2, 2011.

  142 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population, states (2008–2009), U.S. (2009). Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?typ=1&ind=125&cat=3&sub=39 Accessed February 2, 2011.

  143 United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. County-Level Unemployment and Median Household Income for Texas. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?typ=4&ind=271&cat=5&sub=67. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  144 Bailey, W. Scott.San Antonio Buiness Journal. Reach of employer-sponsored health coverage shrinking in Texas. Online. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2010/11/26/reach-of-employersponsored-health.html. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  145 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Uninsured Estimates of Children 0–17, American Community Survey (ACS), 2009. Online. Available at:http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=883&cat=3. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  146 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Texas: Health Insurance Coverage of Adults 19–64 Living in Poverty (under 100percent FPL), states (2008–2009), U.S. (2009). Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?ind=131&cat=3&rgn=45. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  147 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Texas: Distribution of the Nonelderly Uninsured by Race/Ethnicity, states (2008–2009), U.S. (2009). Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?ind=138&cat=3&rgn=45. Accessed on Feb-ruary 2, 2011.

  148 Id.

  149 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Texas: Nonelderly Uninsured. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?cat=3&sub=40&rgn=45. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  150 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Texas: Nonelderly Uninsured. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?cat=3&sub=40&rgn=45. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  151 Charles, Thomas. Medicaid Income Guidelines in Texas. Ehow. Online. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/list_6772571_medicaid-income-guidelines-texas.html. Accessed on February 2, 2011.

  152 Texas Department of State Health Services, The Supply of and Demand for Registered Nurses and Nurse Graduates in Texas. Online. Available at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/cnws/SB132rep.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  153 National Association of Community Health Centers, Access Transformed (August 2008). Online. Available at: http://www.nachc.com/client/documents/ACCESSpercent20Transformedpercent20fullpercent20report.PDF Accessed January 12, 2011.

  154 Texas Board of Nursing, Texas Board of Nursing Currently Licensed Texas RN’s by County of Residence-09/2010. Online. Available at: http://www.bon.state.tx.us/about/stats/10-co-rn.pdf. Accessed February 2, 2011.

  155 Id.

  156 Id.

  157 Id.

  158 Id.

  159 Id.

  160 Id.

  161 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Online. Available at: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2010/pdf/spi0310.pdf. Accessed January 14, 2011.

  162 Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “More Texans living in poverty, census figures show,” September 16, 2010. Online. Available at: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/16/2474711/more-texans-living-in-poverty.html#ixzz1CqLP67Ys. Accessed January 16, 2011.

  163 AFL-CIO, Union members by state. Online. Available at: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/why/uniondifference/uniondiff16.cfm. Accessed February 1, 2011.

  164 National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Texas Family Economic Security Profile (2007). Online. Available at: http://www.nccp.org/profiles/pdf/profile_fes_TX.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  165 Texas Department of State Health Services, Supply Trends Among Licensed Health Professionals, Texas 1980–2007, Third Edition (December 2007) at 2. Online. Available at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/CHS/hprc/07trends.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  166 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Economic Policy Institute, Pulling Apart: A State By State Analysis of Income Trends (April 2008). Online. Available at: http://www.cbpp.org/states/4-9-08sfp-fact-tx.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  167 Id.

  168 Id.

  169 Id

  170 Id.

  171 Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, “Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems of All 50 States.” (November 2009). Online. Available at: http://www.itepnet.org/whopays3.pdf Accessed January 31, 2011.

  172 Id.

  173 Id.

  174 Americans for Prosperity, “Legacy of Local Government Debt.” January 24, 2011. Online. Available at: https://americansforprosperity.org/012411-legacy-local-government-debt. Accessed January 29, 2011.

  175 Texas Transportation Institute, 2010 Urban Mobility Report. Online. Available at http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/congestion_data/national_congestion_tables.stm Accessed January 17, 2011.

  176 Texas Department of Transportation, Strategic Plan 2009-13 at 3. Online. Available at: ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/lao/public_strategic_plan2009.pdf. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  177 Id.

  178 Houston Chronicle, “Texas road deaths fall to lowest level ever,” September 17, 2010. Online. Available at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7206674.html. Accessed January 20, 2011.

  179 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts Online, Teen Birth Rate per 1,000 Population Ages 15–19, 2005. Online. Available at: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=37&cat=2. Accessed January 12, 2011.

  180 Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, Just Say Don’t Know: Sexuality Education in Texas Public Schools. January 2009. Online. Available at: http://www.tfn.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_public_schools_sex_education_jsdk_report_index. Accessed January 17, 2011.

  181 Id.

  182 Id.

  183 Id.