The Washington-based institute used 1996 Census Bureau samplings to determine the percentage of uninsured residents in 18 metropolitan areas nationwide. The Houston rate compared with an 18.2 percent average in the areas and a 17.7 percent average nationwide. Counties included in the Houston sampling were Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Waller, Brazoria, Chambers and Liberty. He noted that the Miami and Los Angeles metro areas, which also have large Hispanic populations, fell just behind Houston in their rates of uninsured people - 27.1 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively. McDonnell also pointed the finger at state and local governments in Texas, saying they have not traditionally provided for the poor and unemployed as generously as governments in other parts of the country.
Southern states are non-activists.
In the New York metropolitan area, 14.4 percent of the population is enrolled in Medicaid. By contrast, 8.9 percent of individuals in Houston are on Medicaid. New York's rate of uninsured, according to the study, was 20.9 percent. But others noted that McDonnell's reasoning does not explain why the Houston rate is higher than the 26.7 percent average for Texas and the 21.5 percent average for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, a union official said the Houston area has long been known as a low-wage region where employers shun paying health benefits.