Beth’s Top Issues
For fully-funded public education
Providing quality public education for ALL students is the constitutional duty of the Texas Legislature. We should support local schools facing evolving social challenges, not punish them. Using tax dollars to create parallel systems-charter schools-is wasteful. Vouchers-championed by Republicans-steals money meant to educate all kids to benefit a privileged few.
Neighborhood schools have been demonized for political gain and for profit. It’s critical now to focus on providing local districts-controlled by their elected school boards, not a politically-driven TEA-with adequate operational funding. This also means salaries, benefits, and retirement funding that attract and retain the best teachers.
For freedom in decisions about your health and how to live your life
This is, by definition, what our democracy is. The inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No law should restrict what you choose to do with your own body. No law should punish you for your religious beliefs or for who you choose to love. American government, at all levels, should provide for the common good. For what affects all of us, living in community. Personal decisions that have no tangible impact on others should remain personal.
For responsible investment of tax dollars to benefit ALL Texans
Texas is a wealthy state. What we fund is not a matter of possibility, it is a matter of priorities. The Texas Legislature rules by committee and by consensus. Who sits in that seat representing you has one vote to cast to determine priorities. For over two decades now, Republican priorities have controlled where our tax dollars go. To benefit corporations. To benefit the oil and gas industry. The insurance industries. Real estate developers. Big agriculture. Big tech. To benefit the so-called “job creators”. The “trickle-down” to people like us is a trick. What benefits every day Texans-policies (beyond education) that support healthcare, childcare, a living wage, affordable housing, clean air and water, our park system, the arts, have been discounted and defunded. Priorities will change when the people casting votes change.
For dark money out of politics
Did you know that Texans running for state offices can accept unlimited funds from individuals and PACs? Donors have their ear and often their vote if they help elect them. Every day Texans don’t. Millionaires and billionaires fund both campaigns and the ability of state legislators to even hold office, as their salary as Texas state senators and representatives is only $7,200 a year. For comparison, a Tarrant County Commissioner’s salary is $220,000. Even a Fort Worth City Council member makes $25,000, also unreasonably low. If we want to root out the outsized influence of money in politics, we can start by paying officeholders a fair salary.
For integrity and transparency
Values like honesty, competence, fairness, responsibility, compassion, and belief in and upholding the law used to be a minimum standard for officeholders. We need to elect people who have demonstrated these values boldly and consistently throughout their lives.