from: http://www.georgebush2000.com/


Texas Rankings Under Bush: Do you
Want Some of This?
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- A look at Texas under Bush:           National Ranking
Among 50 States
The Education Governor of Texas
Teacher salaries at beginning of 1st term 
36
(1)
Teacher salaries at beginning of 2nd term
38
(1)
% Change in Average Salaries 1989-99 constant $
-1.1%
(1)
Teacher salaries plus benefits
50
(1)
High school completion rate
48
(2)
SAT scores - 1996  combined math & verbal:  995    44 (13)
SAT scores - 1997  combined math & verbal:  995    45 (13)
SAT scores - 1998  combined math & verbal:  995    44 (13)
Bush Family Values in Texas
Highest number of children living in poverty 
2
(3)
Highest number of children without health insurance
2
(3)
Highest % of children without health insurance
1
(3)
Highest % of poor working parents without insurance
1
(3)
Highest % of population without health insurance
2
(3)
Highest number of people stripped of Medicare benefits     1 (10)
Highest teen birth rate
5
(4)
Per capita funding for public health
48
(4)
Delivery of social services
47
(4)
Mothers receiving prenatal care    45 (9)
Child support collections    45 (3)
Number of executions    1 (11)
Teen smoking   - down nationally, flat in Texas (5)
Teen drug use   - down nationally, up 30% in Texas w/ Bush (5)
Pollution in Texas
Pollution released by manufacturing plants
1
(6)
Pollution by industrial plants in violation of Clean Air Act 
1
(6)
Greenhouse gas emissions
1
(6)
Quality of Life in Texas
Spending for parks and recreation
48
(7)
Spending for the arts
48
(7)
Public libraries and branches
46
(8)
Spending for the environment
49
(7)
Best place to raise children
48
(9)
Affordable Housing    48 (12)
Home ownership    44 (2)
Highest homes insurance rates in the nation     1 (11)
Spending for police protection    47 (12)

Sources: (1) National Education Agency, Rankings & Estimates: Rankings of the States 1999 (2) U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Development (3) U.S. Bureau of Census, Current Populations Trends (4) U.S. Dept Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics (5)1998 Texas School Survey of Substance Use Among Students: Grades 7-12, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (6) U.S. EPA, Office of Pollution and Prevention (7) Texas Observer (8) Statistical Rankings by State (9) Children's Rights Council  (10) Families USA 
(11) National Association of Insurance Commissioners
(12) U.S. Bureau of Census, State Government Finances 1998  (13) College Examination Board

"I will do everything in my power to restrict abortions." - George W. Bush, Dallas Morning News October 22, 1994

One doctrine of which Bush is certain is that heaven is only open to those who accept Jesus Christ. - Houston Post October 2, 1994

George skips year of National Guard. AWOL

QUOTES

"I will do everything in my power to restrict abortions." — George W. Bush, Dallas Morning News October 22, 1994

"I saw the report that children in Texas are going hungry. Where? You'd think the governor would have heard if there are pockets of hunger in Texas." — George W. Bush whose state ranks 2nd in total number of children living in poverty to Austin American Statesman, 12/18/99

" Please," Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, "don't kill me." — Bush mocking what Karla Faye Tucker said on Larry King when asked, "What would you say to Governor Bush?" prior to her execution by lethal injection as reported by Talk magazine, September 1999

"An atmosphere of adolescence, a lack of gravitas - a carelessness, even a recklessness, perhaps born of things having gone a bit too easily so far." — George Will, August 11, 1999, referring to Talk magazine's interview with Bush.

"Sitting down and reading a 500-page book on public policy or philosophy or something." — Bush was asked to name something he isn't good at by Talk magazine, September 1999 issue.

"Bush should not advertise any allergy to serious things. A critical mass of lightness in a candidate causes the public mind to snap closed, with the judgement, "Not ready for prime time." — George Will, August 11, 1999

"Bush is taking a political party on his ride. He and it will care if on Nov. 7, 2000, people think of Gore or Bradley as an unexciting but serious professor and of him as an amiable fraternity boy, but a boy." — George Will, August 11, 1999

"What I'm against is quotas. I'm against hard quotas, quotas that basically delineate based upon whatever. However they delineate, quotas, I think, vulcanize society." — George W. Bush (Austin American-Statesman 3/23/99)

"Son, I love your strategy: Don't let them get to know you." — Barbara Bush

"If George is elected President, it would destroy my faith in the office because he is such an ordinary guy." — David Rosen, Midland geologist & former neighbor

"He's this week's pet rock." — unknown

"There ought to be limits to freedom. We're aware of the site, and this guy is just a garbage man." — Bush, commenting on the website www.gwbush.com

"It's not the governor's role to decide who goes to heaven. I believe that God decides who goes to heaven, not George W Bush." — George W. Bush

"The Bush network is the only genuine network in the Republican Party. It is the Establishment." — Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard

"I don't know if I'd say he's been missing in action, but it's been pretty close to that." — Rep. Kevin Bailey, D-Houston, commenting on Bush's trying to be both Governor and candidate

"I will look at each piece of legislation when it makes it to my desk," and "I will review that when it makes it to my desk." — Bush, refusing to comment on anything before it's absolutely unavoidable.

Bush courts Hispanic voters "Reporters noticed four Latino men sitting at the Plaza, looking bored, wearing matching shirts from Buena Vista Farms. Buena Vista, it turns out, is a horse ranch run by Gerald Parsky, Bush's California chairman. The four men said they were brought to the event and were being paid their regular wages for attending." — Salon Magazine reporting on a Bush fundraiser in California

Leadership in the new millennium Asked how he would define "compassionate conservatism," Bush replied: "Making sure every child can read, making sure that we encourage faith-based organizations ... when it comes to helping neighbors in need, making sure that our neighborhoods are safe, making sure that the state of Texas recognizes that people from all walks of life have got a shot at the Texas dream but, most importantly, making sure that government is not the answer to people's problems." This may be the only time a candidate promised not to solve any problems (with the possible exception of Utah Phillips, who ran on the "Sloth & Indolence" platform.)