And while we stand poised to enter the New Year under the stewardship of a new administration, it is my sincere hope that health care, education, and fiscal responsibility remain top priorities for state and federal lawmakers. Despite extraordinary efforts by State Senators Judith Zaffirini, Frank Madla, and Leticia Van de Putte to focus on these important issues, the record in Texas, as the San Antonio Express News editorial notes, ranks well below the national average. A report I released early last month found that an overwhelming majority of Texas nursing home residents were placed at risk of serious harm or even death simply because federal Medicaid funds were not available to health care providers. The most tragic fact is that these conditions can be avoided. Governor Rick Perry now has the opportunity to work with our South Texas State Senators to make access to quality health care a Texas priority.
Leadership is key.
The last 8 years witnessed unprecedented attention to the issues that strike at the heart of the American people. The Administration's tough decisions led to the greatest budget surplus in history, set the nation on track to eliminate the national debt by 2012, while maintaining and extending the solvency of the Medicare and Social Security systems. The economic expansion fueled investments in our capital markets, restrained inflation, and boosted workers' incomes. Yet these accomplishments came only after presidential vetoes of irresponsible legislation that would have endangered the very programs we fought to protect. In Congress, the House and Senate Majority prioritized tax cuts for America's most wealthy over proposals that would increase the minimum wage, provide prescription drug coverage for our seniors, improve service to Medicare beneficiaries, and modernize schools.