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Volume 72, Issue 53,
Thursday, November 2, 2006
News Key issues separate Texas gubernatorial candidates The following is a list of the Texas gubernatorial candidates and a brief description of their positions on key issues. The election will be held Nov. 7. Gov. Rick Perry
Education: Perry claims education is his top priority. He believes there should be more funding available to continue investing in education. Health care: Perry wants to reform Medicaid and provide health care coverage for more Texans by creating incentives. He wants it to be simpler for insurance to be offered by employers and for health coverage to be more affordable. Immigration: Perry has adopted the National Governors Association's policy on immigration. Perry thinks state and federal government should share the cost of immigration. Energy: Perry supports alternative fuels and energy conservation. He thinks it is essential to have an environmental policy that produces a good business climate.
Chris Bell
Education: Bell says money for public schools will not be provided by the new state business tax. He thinks loopholes need to be closed and the tax should be broadened so businesses will pay their share. Insurance: Bell wants to restore funding to Children's Health Insurance Program and supports funding for preventive medicine and wellness initiatives. Immigration: Bell supports the deployment of the National Guard to the border. He also said companies should be forced to not hire illegal immigrants. He also said immigration laws should be more strictly enforced. Energy: Bell wants Texas to produce 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2015. He supports public-private partnerships with Texas universities to do research on alternative fuels.
Richard "Kinky" Friedman
Education: Friedman wants to solve Texas' education problems by bringing in legalized casino gambling to fund education. He also proposes private sectors should fund school sports through sponsorship. Insurance: Friedman is proposing a 1 percent health care access fee. It would be charged on all medical services and health insurance that Texans purchase. This money would be placed into a health care access fund that would provide care to Texans based on their ability to pay. Immigration: Friedman says illegal immigrants already in the U.S. should be allowed to become citizens. He supports the guest worker program and closing the borders. Energy: Friedman says fossil fuels are poisoning the environment. He thinks Texas should become the leader in renewable energies like bio-diesel, ethanol, wind power, and solar power.
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Education: Strayhorn proposes increasing teachers' salaries. She also wants to reinstate cost-saving government efficiency reviews. Also, to acquire more money for education she wants to implement video lottery terminals at racetracks. Insurance: Strayhorn wants to reinstate pre-2003 CHIP eligibility rules, re-enroll children into the program and allow working families to buy into CHIP. Immigration: Strayhorn feels that all Texas Critical Infrastructures should be secured and that the National Guard should be deployed along the border. Energy: Strayhorn thinks clean-burning natural gas, wind energy and the latest technology should be used to meet the state's energy needs. She wants coal plants to be replaced with clean, efficient plants.
James Werner
Education: Werner is proposing a "Fair Tax for Texas." This will replace existing taxes with a single, point-of-purchase consumer sales tax on all goods and services. He is proposing initial state budget cuts of 10 percent. Insurance: Werner thinks insurance coverage mandates need to end. He says it will allow for affordable options to open up. He says health care should be reformed. Immigration: Werner wants to lobby the federal government for more rational and humane immigration policies. He says that he is pro-immigration. Energy: Werner says the state should not be involved in making basic market decisions. He feels the state's involvement will lead to higher prices, lower quality of fuel alternatives and poor energy policy decisions. -- Compiled by staff writer Ashlea Majors
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