Issues

I believe the rights of every citizen, including the accused, are equally important, and that adequate counsel and fair jury trials are fundamental safeguards of our liberty. I have repeatedly called on the Legislature to protect those rights and put an end to the legislative “conviction” of those who have successfully completed deferred adjudication and other diversionary programs. Without these reforms, Texans will continue to be punished for crimes they never committed, or for which they were never convicted. I believe punishments must be proportionate to the crimes they seek to deter, and that justice should be swift and within the boundaries of our Constitution. I support the expanded use of rehabilitative programs that keep minor offenders out of crowded prisons. I also support capital punishment for the most serious offenses, and life sentences, without parole, for violent rapists, child molesters and those who permanently disable children though abuse or neglect.

Texans are struggling as our nation faces one of the worst economic recessions in history.  Excessive taxes and out of control spending are hurting families and small businesses across the country.  For over 200 years, the principles of free enterprise have made our nation strong.  The government cannot create jobs by regulating or manipulating the private sector, and I oppose additional corporate bailouts and buyouts.  I also support the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, the abolition of all federal taxes and the Internal Revenue Service, and the implementation of a fair and simple national sales tax administered by individual states.  By eliminating barriers to economic prosperity, and eliminating wasteful spending and inefficient government programs, we can begin to rebuild our economy and put Texans back to work.

As a parent and former educator, I understand how important education is in preparing our children for the future.  Parents have the right and responsibility to raise and educate their children, and the government should not interfere with private decisions regarding school choice.  Public schools are not a replacement for responsible parents, and parental consent should be required before administering any sex education program.  I also believe that God and the Pledge of Allegiance have a place in our public schools.  Classroom teachers should be provided with the resources and flexibility they need to teach students, and not tests.  I support the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education and the immediate repeal of the No Child Left Behind Act.  Providing public education is a state function, and all Texas children should learn how to read and write in English.

As stewards of the resources God has given us, we must promote an environmental policy that is conservative, cooperative and economically viable.  I oppose “cap and trade” legislation and other government regulations that increase costs and restrict free market competition.  Energy and environmental policy should be determined by the individual states, and I support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.  We must continue to develop a variety of domestic energy sources, including wind energy, solar power, clean coal, and nuclear power, and work hard to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by promoting responsible drilling in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

The cost of healthcare is rising, and comprehensive reforms are needed to increase our access to quality healthcare and health insurance coverage.  The federal healthcare reform laws are not only bad policy; they are unconstitutional.  I support the privatization of Medicare and Medicaid, and a free market healthcare system that is competitive, affordable and regulated by individual states.  Texans should have the right to direct their medical care and choose their healthcare providers without unnecessary government interference.  I also support tort reforms that lower the cost of medical malpractice insurance and reduce the need for physicians to practice “defensive medicine.”

I am proud of my service as a soldier in the Texas State Guard, but I recognize that our nation’s greatest heroes are those brave men and women who never made it home.  Our veterans deserve adequate pay, equipment and, more importantly, our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices they have made.  We should provide our military with educational opportunities that promote retention, personal development and individual readiness.  I support comprehensive health and disability benefits for injured service members, and lifetime health insurance for retired veterans and their families.  I also support increased funding for our state military forces.

Illegal immigration presents a host of problems for Texans, including the increased cost of healthcare, education, law enforcement and basic social services.  Our unsecured borders are a threat to our economy and our national security.  Our government must act to secure our borders and vigorously enforce existing immigration laws.  I support the Legislature’s efforts to reduce illegal immigration in Texas, including the use of our state military forces for border enforcement.  I believe employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be held accountable and prosecuted, and I oppose any form of amnesty.  We should not encourage illegal immigration by rewarding individuals who break our laws.  We are a nation of immigrants, and must continue to reduce bureaucratic barriers that discourage responsible and lawful forms of immigration.

Our courts are out of control.  State and federal judges should be unbiased and objective in their decisions, and exercise judicial restraint.  Congress should impeach federal judges who exceed their constitutional authority by “legislating” from the bench.  Our Constitution and laws should be strictly interpreted according to their original intent, and changes in society should be reflected by constitutional amendment; not the arbitrary decisions of unaccountable activist judges.  We must work to restore a proper balance of power in America, and put an end to the judicial erosion of our values and our republican form of government.

Terrorism is a serious threat to our nation.  We must protect our ports, secure our borders, and provide our military and law enforcement officials with the resources they need to combat terrorism wherever it exists.  Our national security policy must be responsible, and I oppose the suspension of habeas corpus, intrusive and compulsory searches, and any other policy that erodes our constitutional liberties in the name of security.  If we are willing to sacrifice our rights for security or convenience, then we have already lost the fight.  We must also protect our interests abroad by strengthening our relationship with Israel, condemning North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons, and securing a victory in Afghanistan, which remains a central front for terrorist activity and extremism.

America was founded on Judeo-Christian values, and those principles have made us the greatest nation in the world.  I believe in the sanctity of marriage, and I support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.  I also believe that innocent human life is sacred and is explicitly protected by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.  While the government should not interfere with private medical decisions, activist opinions like Roe v. Wade, that recognize unwritten rights over specific guarantees, are unconstitutional and tragic.  I believe abortion as a form of birth control is equally appalling, and I oppose all taxpayer funded abortions.  We must continue to reduce teen pregnancy, promote personal responsibility, and eliminate bureaucratic barriers to adoption that prevent qualified families from providing children with loving homes.

The federal government has exceeded its authority, and Texas must protect federalism by courageously asserting her sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.  We must put an end to unconstitutional administrative agencies, executive orders and other acts that undermine our republican form of government.  I support the enactment of sunset laws for all state and federal agencies, and the privatization of most government services.  I also support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires Congress to balance the federal budget.  Our nation is on a collision course with insolvency, and elected officials must work to restore trust and confidence in our government by promoting transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

The right to keep and bear arms is essential for a free society and must be protected.  As a life member of the National Rifle Association, I strongly support the Second Amendment.  In addition to hunting, Texans must also have the right to bear arms for the defense of themselves, their family and their property.  I support the Castle Doctrine, the enactment of open carry laws in Texas, and the immediate repeal of any laws that infringe on the individual right to bear arms.  I also believe that “gun free zones” are unconstitutional and dangerous, and leave law abiding citizens unarmed and unprotected.  We must defend the Second Amendment and continue to promote responsible gun ownership in Texas.