America begins a new millennium blessed with unprecedented prosperity and peace, an American hallmark that sets the standard for people across the globe. The Administration's commitment to balancing the budget while maintaining health care, education, and other important family priorities required tough decisions. Those decisions profoundly improved the quality of life for millions of Americans. But, too many Texans have been left behind.
Government is about priorities.
But currently Texas ranks 45th in Medicaid spending for nursing home care and last among the 50 states for home health care. 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.