The Texas Lyceum — a 30-year old statewide non-profit focused on supporting Texas’ next generation of leaders — puts out a poll every year to ask Texans how they feel about key issues and sundry political topics of the day.
The first results from the 2020 poll hit last week. Most of it focused on presidential politics and statewide approval ratings. But deep in the crosstabs, you’ll find information that demonstrates the urgency we feel at Texas 2036 to jumpstart a conversation among leaders and voters about the issues that will shape Texas’ future as the state approaches its bicentennial in 16 years.
Asked about the top issues facing the country, most Texans surveyed picked health care — the issue even beat out immigration and other national political news. As for the biggest issue facing Texas, health care was second behind immigration and tied with border security.
If you exclude younger Texans under 30, the issue is even more pronounced. Well over 10% of Texans over 30 who were surveyed picked health care as the top issue facing the country, and just under 10% said it’s the top issue facing Texas.
Those concerns are well-founded: even with its very strong economy, Texas faces health care issues that challenge the state now and will shape its future: