Texas

If people are interested in knowing what life would be like under the rule of conservative Republicans, they need to look no farther than Texas.  Texas is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the country (yes, larger than California) due to oil refineries, coal burning power plants and manufacturing in the state,.  If Texas were its own country, it would be the seventh largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.  Yet, State Attorney General Greg Abbot has filed seven lawsuits in the last year alone to block EPA from regulating greenhouse gases in Texas.  Texas is the only state that will refuse to enforce new EPA greenhouse gas emission standards which go into effect after the first of the year. 

Texas Republicans, however, have a different view.  "EPA is cramming this down the throats of citizens and the states," said Howard Feldman, director of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, another plaintiff against the EPA. Republican governor Rick Perry said in his victory speech the other night, "People are tired of the government cooking up new ways to micromanage their lives," he said. "They're tired of the government killing jobs with their do-gooder policies that have nothing to do with science or economics."

On the other hand, public health doesn't seem to be a concern for Texas Republicans.  Texas ranks highest in the number of people without health insurance and ranks 40th lowest in the number of doctors per capita.  A recent proposal by far right Republican lawmakers would drastically worsen public health in Texas: opting out of the federal Medicaid and Chip programs (Children's Health Insurance Program).  Quoting Republican State Representative Warren Chisum, “This system is bankrupting our state,” he said. “We need to get out of it."

The State of Texas has no state income tax, folks - that's why they are having budget problems.  But, instead of paying their fair share in taxes, rich Texas oil barons would rather cure their budget deficit on the backs of the poor.  I suggest a modest state income tax would provide the Texas legislature with all the funding they need to cure a budget deficit. 

At the expense of the environment, and through the suffering of poor children, Texas Republicans will balance their budget.  Let's hope ordinary Texans rise up and take control of their government. 

And, that is a view from Missouri.