Currently holds the office of Texas State Senate - District 14 until January 13, 2025.
Candidate for Texas State Senate - District 14 in 2024 Texas General Election.
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Get StartedFixing this problem starts with easing public investments off of policing and increasing programs that provide opportunity in education, healthcare and jobs for everyone. Second, stop militarizing and federalizing what should be local community policing. And third, investigate and prosecute cops who commit crimes with independence, transparency and consequence. Learn more
We have a duty to both defend our communities from the threat of violence while also addressing ineffective, inefficient and unfair policies in policing, prosecution and incarceration. For too long our criminal justice system has not been effective, efficient, or fair. The history of racism and over-policing in our country runs deep. Learn more
My long experience in Emergency Operations at the local level has taught me that failure by the state to adequately acknowledge and address known risks will cost lives and livelihoods. State government must help communities become climate resilient and plan for the worst; this means improving radio operability so departments and localities can easily connect during a crisis, utilizing scientific, data-driven decisions when addressing statewide water needs to balance state-need, while preserving Central Texas drinking water for generations to come. Learn more
With overwhelming evidence that Climate Change is real and human-driven, we must act fast and with systemic reforms to preserve our land, air and water. We must meet the challenges of more frequent extreme weather and on-going climate change with honest assessment, planning, mitigation and emergency response. Learn more
Increasing individuals’ access to healthcare and preventing government intrusion into the doctor/patient relationship saves lives, saves families and is good for our economy. Learn more
Put the power of healthcare information in the hands of the patients. Increasing individuals’ access to healthcare and preventing government intrusion into the doctor/patient relationship saves lives, saves families and is good for our economy. Learn more
Texas is #1 in uninsured people in the US and has the worst rate of child health insurance coverage in the nation— 1 in 4 uninsured U.S. Children live here in our state and Texans deserve more. Texas is one of the only states that has yet to expand Medicaid. If the legislature did expand Medicaid, more than a million additional Texans would qualify for health insurance. Learn more
Access to Medicaid, SNAP and CHIP should be as easy as Venmo or ApplePay. We should actively reach out to eligible Texans, trust them and help them get on and stay on Medicaid, SNAP and CHIP as long as needed. Outreach and easy enrollment pay for themselves in healthy Texans ready to contribute to the prosperity of their families and their communities. Learn more
Expand telehealth options through universal broadband. Shockingly, one third of Texas counties do not have public local health departments or hospitals. Through federal, state and local partnership (particularly with public schools), expand broadband fiber, equipment and training so that every Texan, no matter where they live, has an electronic option for healthcare as well as education, training and teleworking. Learn more
Opportunity Infrastructure begins with statewide investments in public programs and services that will unleash the potential of Texans across the state, and pave our way into the future. Building this infrastructure means building generational opportunities for Texans with well funded public education, workforce training, reliable transportation, electricity, housing people can actually afford, broadband, & water. Learn more
Additionally, the state can update alcohol and tobacco product tax rates, and include legalized personal use marijuana among taxable tobacco products. Phase out ineffective tax breaks for industries that do not need encouragement, do not assist in a core mission of government, or slow our transition to climate resilience. Tax rebates to attract national and international headquarters are largely ineffective. Trust funds for leisure and entertainment ventures that are not evaluated on the basis of direct job creation are not core missions of our state government. Similarly, tax supports for fossil fuels are slowing our transition to carbon neutral energy sources; instead we need to be increasing that energy efficiency with programs and rebating property taxes for local solar energy production. Learn more
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