Perry says Republicans are best hope for black prosperity - Chron.com
When Rick Perry departed as Texas governor, after 5,114 days in office, nearly twice as long as anyone else, he insisted he will be remembered for the Lone Star State’s booming economy that is the envy of other states. upbeat, critics said his record tenure was one of missed opportunity not expanding funding for public schools, for not ensuring more uninsured Texans had health care, for not building highways fast enough to keep up with traffic gridlock and for... During Perry’s tenure, the state government consistently has spent about 70 percent of the national average per person on services including roads, health care and public education. Texas has an unemployment rate of 5. 1 percent and Perry has lured several big companies to move to Texas using the Texas Enterprise Fund. Schools: To say the outgoing governor’s record on public education is mixed would be an understatement. Texas fourth graders rank 41st in the nation in reading and their scores have declined by 2 points in 12 years. Higher Ed: Texas has met many of the higher education goals it set in “Closing the Gaps,” the long-term higher education plan unveiled in 2000. Last year, Texas public colleges and universities saw enrollment drop by 14,000, a dip that officials... Source: www.chron.com
