Political Updates
Chapter One: Texas's Rankings

Texas's Rankings, pgs. 2-29

The following are selected from the top ten and the bottom ten on a list of comparative facts and figures about the Lone Star State. According to Texas's comptroller of public accounts, these rankings with the other 49 states are based on the most recent data from recognized sources www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/wwstand.html.

TOP TEN RANKINGS

1. Production of crude oil in 2000 (451.7 million barrels)
2. Employed civilian labor force in 2000 (9,887,000)
3. Gross state product in 1999 ($687.3 billion)
4. Percent of resident population under 18 in 2000 (28.2%)
5. Farm income from crops in 1999 ($4.6 billion)
6. Women's median weekly earnings as a percentage of men's in 1999 (81%)
7. Percent of nonfarm employees in mining in 2000 (1.52%)
8. Acres harvested in 2000 (16.1 million)
9. Crime rate in 1999 (5,032 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants
10. State government debt outstanding in 1998 ($14.4 billion)

BOTTOM TEN RANKINGS

41. Percentage of students enrolled in private schools in 1997-1998 school year (5.4%)
42. Median weekly earnings of full-time male workers in 1999 ($548)
43. Per capita state and local total expenditures in 1997 ($4,549)
44. Homeownership rate in 2000 (63.8%)
45. Per capita spending on environmental programs in 1997 ($168)
46. Percentage of population graduated from high school in 2000 (79.2%)
47. Average Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) score in 2000 (993)
48. State government general fund spending as a percentage of personal income in 1999 (8.3%)
49. State legislators per million population in 2001 (9)
50. Per capita state government revenue ($2,926) and expenditures ($2,584) in 1998

What are your reactions to these rankings? How do you like this "taste of Texas?" Does it suggest that new public policies are needed?