Issues
Elimination of all Toll Roads!
We all pay a gas tax. This money is to be used for the development and maintenance of our roads. We all pay for the roads equal to the amount of gas that we purchase. Toll Roads are punitive to those who utilize them. This is because their gas tax is then paying for others to drive on a road free of cost while they pay a large tax (toll fee) for their roads. This is not fair. Texans should share in the cost and benefits of road development. Furthermore, major roads are an economic engine for the area and state. Therefore, the state will further benefit from the sales tax gathered from the development of the road and put this tax into the general fund. General funds are distributed throughout the state, not directly to the area which the tax is collected. A hidden problem is when an area limits free roads for their transportation needs. This is not only takes a small amount of money from the state economy; it takes a large amount of money from the local economy. By example my family spends on average $5.50 every day of the year or $2,000 annually on local Toll Roads. This is money that we would have been spending at the local restaurant or retail store. If you magnify that number by the tens or even hundreds of thousands of people in a given area, you will then see the negative impact on the local economy, it is overwhelming.
Our current Governor believes in Toll Road development. He also believes in selling these roads to private companies. The advantage he has in this plan is that he can utilize the proceeds of the sale to help with the states current budget needs. This is great for the short term. However, after one or two years the money is spent and we are paying a private company for the next 50 years or more for the right to drive on these roads. This is almost criminal type behavior. The current governor supports selling a public asset to private companies (some of which or foreign). This is unreasonable to commit our communities to pay for mismanagement of public funds for 50 or more years
Elimination of TAKS!
I support the elimination of the TAKS test. I believe in putting the school district and more importantly the teacher in control of their classroom. Local communities should have ownership of their schools.
Utilities
Deregulation of our utilities has been a failure. We now pay more than any other state for our utilities. We unfortunately have allowed “big business” to convince our legislature that this would be a benefit to consumers
How It Works
The Governor nominates the commissioners to the Public Utility Commission and the legislature confirms the appointments. It is the responsibility of this commission to have oversight of the utility providers in this state. This would include electric, telephone and cable companies. Both the Governor and Legislature have failed the public by not appointing commissioners who are advocates for the Texas consumer.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has become an advocate for utility companies. I believe this is a violation of this group’s fiduciary responsibility to the Texas public.
Job Creation
Currently the argument seems to be how many high paying jobs we can create. I believe it is equally as important to have jobs at every level. We need to seek jobs in manufacturing, service, medical and research.
The state as a whole has done a poor job in educating our children. The top tier jobs are not accessible to most of our population. We need to have jobs available for all groups of people. If we do not have jobs available for everyone, then we will have a strain on our private charitable organizations and historically the government has had to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of the unemployed.
Border Security
I believe this is one of the greatest threats to our state budget and our national security. The free flow of people, drugs and firearms has taxed our state in greater ways than our politicians will omit to. I believe in a border fence along with National Guard or other state level policing of this area. I believe with strong border security, the state and local budgets will improve. This will provide a great opportunity to relieve some of the tax burden on our citizens. Lower taxes will have an enormously positive effect on our states economy.
Health Care
I will work towards lowering the overall cost of health care. This will include lowering the cost of premiums for the insured and lowering the cost of hospitalization, drug cost and normal health care visits for the uninsured.
The Governor's Office
This office has privileges granted which are necessary to effectively and efficiently serve the people. However, it seems in recent, office holders have disconnected themselves from the citizens that they serve. This office is a work position, not a position of absolute power. I will serve this state with honor, integrity and transparency. I sincerely hope we realize that the Governor sets the tone of conduct for all of our elected officials.
