Texas Almanac, 2002-2003 Page: 402
672 p. : col. ill., ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
402 Texas Almanac 2002-2003
Perry, a farmer-rancher and the first Texas A&M
graduate to be governor, honed his political skills as a
Democratic state representative from Haskell before
switching parties and being elected the first modern-day
Republican to be agriculture commissioner and lieuten-
ant governor.
In his 12 years as a senator from East Texas, Ratliff
had developed a reputation for fairness and bipartisan-ship and expertise in education and finance, drafting
major public school
reforms in 1995 and
chairing the Senate
Finance Committee. Lawmakers
He narrowly defeated
Sen. David Sibley, a major char
Republican from
Waco, to preside over legislative
the Senate.
If the 1999 ses- the 200(
sion was conducted That task was
under the aura of a That task was
future president, the its way thro
bookend session in
2001 began to scruti-
nize the Bush legacy
and react to the Dem-
ocratic presidential campaign caricature of a state dis-
tinguished by air pollution, uninsured children and use
of the death penalty.
One Democratic legislator described it as a session
that invested in Texans.
Major legislative accomplishments included pas-
sage of the state's first health insurance program forfa
ge
dis
)c
?X)
ugRepublican Bill Ratliff replaced Rick Perry as lieutenant gover-
nor. Seated at left, Sally Ratliff watches her husband preside
over the State Senate. Dallas Morning News file photo.402
Texas Almanac 2002-2003
teachers - a $1.24 billion package - and a hate
crimes bill which Gov. Perry, unlike Bush, signed.
Perry, however, vetoed a controversial bill that
would have banned death penalties for the mentally
retarded.
Higher education and nursing homes got more
money in a $113.8 billion budget that funded state gov-
ernment for the next two years with no tax increases.
Medical care was expanded to more low-income chil-
dren through Medicaid.
But lawmakers
failed on the major
iled on the charge to redraw legis-
lative districts after the
to redraw 2000 census.
That task went to
tricts after the Legislative Redis-
tricting Board and ulti-
ensus... mately is expected to
9ected to wind wind its way through
the courts, along with
h the courts. congressional redis-
tricting.
Democrats hope to
hold onto their last bas-
tion in state govern-
ment, the Texas House, where they enjoyed a 78-to- 72
majority.
The GOP hopes through redistricting to expand its
slim 16-15 edge in the Texas Senate and to gain seats in
the U.S. Congress.
Democrats remain in a rebuilding mode after losing
all statewide-elected offices in 1998, and failing to field
state candidates in 2000.
But they cited mayoral success in such cities as
Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and El Paso as
evidence of a comeback.
And they looked to changing demographics for
regeneration. Hispanics grew from a quarter to one-
third of the population in the 2000 census, although not
all are citizens or registered voters.
In the 2000 election, there were two million Texas
Hispanics registered and for the first time one million
voted, about 16 percent of the total electorate - the
same as the black vote. Diversity also is being reflected
more in state offices.
Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael
Williams earned a place in the history books as the first
black Republican elected to a statewide office. Gov.
Perry appointed San Antonio lawyer Wallace Jefferson,
the first black person to serve on the Texas Supreme
Court. He named Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from
Laredo, secretary of state.
Perry hopes to enhance his mandate with a full
gubernatorial term in 2002, while Democratic leaders
were pinning their hopes on a field that includes
wealthy Laredo banker Tony Sanchez and lawyer Marty
Akins from Marble Falls, a former All-American quar-
terback at the University of Texas.
Ratliff's decision not to run a statewide race for
lieutenant governor opened the door to an expected
crowded primary field and a repeat candidacy by Dem-
ocrat John Sharp, a former state comptroller and senator
who narrowly lost his race for lieutenant governor to
Perry in 1998. - Carolyn Barta.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Ramos, Mary G. Texas Almanac, 2002-2003, book, 2001; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth162510/m1/402/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.