AUSTIN Gov. Rick Perry's job approval rating has tumbled to its lowest point in his administration, with half of Texans surveyed in a new poll saying they don't like the job he's doing.
Fifty percent of the respondents in the Winter 2004 Texas Poll released Friday said they believed the governor was doing poorly, while 40 percent said they believed Mr. Perry was doing well – a 27-point drop in his approval since November 2001. Ten percent either had no opinion or gave no answer.
Political observers, including those in his own party, said they believe the governor's poor poll numbers are based on a year of bitter, rancorous fights over redistricting and balancing a $9.9 billion deficit by cutting social services and teachers' benefits, raising fees and allowing large hikes in college tuition.
She cited a number of new costs to Texans, including $2.7 billion in new fees and the loss of $1.6 billion in federal money because of state cuts in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
"And most distressing as a momma and grandmomma are 107,000 children thrown off the health insurance rolls in the last five months. That's unconscionable," Mrs. Strayhorn said.
Kathy Walt, the governor's press secretary, said Mr. Perry has made hard decisions that were "in the best interest of all Texans."
