Candidate for Texas State Senate - District 17 in 2018 Texas 2018 General Election.
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Get StartedClosing the achievement gap so minority and economically disadvantaged Texas students have an equal opportunity to succeed; Learn more
Adjusting the funding formulas to lessen the impact of “Robin Hood” recapture on local school districts; Learn more
If elected, one of the first actions I would take up is ensuring the state pays its fair share and stop diverting state resources at the expense of 5 million children in Texas school districts. Learn more
Opposing vouchers to divert public tax money for private and religious schools; Learn more
Expanding access to high-quality pre-Kindergarten for Texas families. Learn more
Upholding the promise enshrined in the Texas Constitution that guarantees the right to a suitable free public education for all Texas children; Learn more
Solving our public school funding crisis so we meet the promise of a quality education for all Texans and teachers are properly paid. Learn more
If elected I will fight to protect local control as most efficient and effective way for local governments to address issues that affect its citizenry and preserve natural resources. Learn more
I support a broad array of policies and incentives to promote efficiency, conservation and renewable energy in the absence of federal action expanding use of renewable energy while becoming less dependent on coal and other fossil fuels, increasing vehicle fuel efficiency standards and encouraging electric vehicle purchase, and improving oversight of the Texas Railroad Commission to enforce public safeguards to reduce methane leaks from pipelines. Learn more
I believe that officeholders must adhere to the highest ethical standards and be accountable to taxpayers by avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, which is why that if elected, I will fight for greater transparency in the financial disclosure process of elected officials and oversight in how public funds are used, and in many cases abused. Learn more
Voters should pick their representatives, not the other way around. Gerrymandering is rigging our elections and suppressing voter participation in crucial elections. Learn more
Because the storm and its effects are going to be in the spotlight, I will want to make sure we address the environmental and public health damage done due to the poor oversight of the TCEQ, and the EPA, before and after the storm (the Arkema release, San Jacinto River waste pits, etc). Learn more
I respect and will fight to protect the right of responsible gun owners to possess firearms, but I also believe the Second Amendment can coexist with common-sense gun safety solutions. Learn more
I believe that taking action against the gun violence and school shootings that have become all too common in this country by supporting Red Flag laws is the first step to protecting our students and communities. Learn more
I believe a background check should be required for every gun sale and loopholes closed. Learn more
I don’t believe that allowing guns to be possessed and carried on college campuses makes our young adults safer. Learn more
I don’t believe that weapons of war should be readily available to any person who wants one and can find a private seller on Craigslist. Learn more
I believe permitting laws, which provided some safeguards, must be strengthened, not abolished. Learn more
Expanding access to quality, affordable health care while bringing down insurance premiums. Learn more
Restoring funding to women’s health, mental health and substance abuse programs is a fundamental part of my platform. Learn more
Investing in human capital by ensuring a healthy workforce is good for Texas’ economy. Children cannot learn and adults cannot work when they are in poor health. It makes sense to promote the health and well-being of all Texans. Learn more
I am committed to ensuring that physician autonomy and independent medical judgment is what determines standard of care rather than politics, bureaucracy and corporate interests. Learn more
I will fight to expand our Medicaid program, while reforming the system and restoring a fair and predictable payment methodology to doctors for the care that is provided. Learn more
One of my top priorities is reversing the deep cuts to health and human services that occurred in past Legislative sessions. Learn more
Hurricane Harvey, the Tax and Memorial Day floods, and more recently the Fourth of July flood starkly expose the inadequacy of our city’s infrastructure and flood prevention policies. Houston still remains utterly unprepared for a worst-case scenario. We cannot afford to wait until the next hurricane or torrential rainstorm hits – the Texas Legislature needs to be taking actions now to make our communities better prepared and our families safer from future disasters. Learn more
Promoting smart infrastructure projects to manage the threat of flooding and demanding the state does its part when disaster strikes. Learn more
To start, we must address Houston’s rapid expansion and unchecked development that is causing land that once soaked up floodwaters to disappear, and worsening the danger posed by flooding. We cannot continue along this path of rampant urban expansion without building new reservoirs and investing in new, smart infrastructure projects to improve water flow and prevent future flooding. Learn more
When the legislature passed parental notification laws that ignored the plights of abused and abandoned teens and those living in dysfunctional homes, Rita co-founded a non –profit called Jane’s Due Process, helping pregnant teenagers find supportive and legal pathways to understand their rights and exercise their choices. Learn more
Solving our public school funding crisis is my top priority as candidate for state senate. Learn more
We must fix our outdated school funding formulas, start paying teachers what they deserve, close the billion dollar property tax loopholes that disproportionately benefit large, out-of-state commercial operators, and properly fund our public schools once and for all. Learn more
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