Candidate Questionnaire - Governor -Rashad Jafer
State Candidate Questionnaire - Governor -Rashad Jafer
1. Would you support requiring all electronic voting machines to print on paper for each voter a complete summary of their voting choices, which will become, after their inspection, the authoritative record of their vote?
Response: Yes I would support such a requirement. I think it is is important that the people who vote are satisfied with the process and have no doubts about its credibility.
2. Would you support single payer universal health care?
Response: Yes I would support such a system. Our health care system needs to adjust to the rising cost of health care and more people needing extended care. I think it is imperitive that all Texans get affordable health care--it is their right!
3. In February 2003 Santa Fe, New Mexico enacted a minimum wage ordinance which raised the minimum wage to $8.50/hour for all business and non-profits with 25 or more employees. The wage will increase to $9.50/hour in 2006 and $10.50/hour in 2008. Would you support similar legislation and an escalator clause that would guarantee cost of living adjustments?
Response: Yes I would support such legislation. People must be able to earn a livable income in the second richest state in the union! It is a human rights issue for me. With legislation like that there would be a tremendous decrease of burden on the social services bodies and an increase in social securities coffers to better assist in providing for the "real" deserving citizens.
4. Would you support enactment of legislation providing for public financing of general election campaigns for elective office at the local, state and federal levels?
Response: I think that would make the playing field more even. Public financing would, firstly diminish the role of special interest monies, secondly the candidates would be able to focus on the issues and thirdly many highly capable people would participate in the process who otherwise do not because of the focus on private financing.
5. Would you consider implementing a state income tax to be used to fund health care and public education?
Response: No I would not. I would be willing to however, raise taxes on cigaretes and alcohol products to raise revenues. I do not want to burden the average Texan who is already under paid, over taxed to pay more. I pick those two items as they are the #1 and #2 items that burden the health care and a cause of pre-mature death in our soceity.
6. Would you support a ban on the death penalty?
Response: No I would not ban the death penalty. A person must be found guilty beyond a "shadow of a doubt" and not "reasonable doubt" to be given that ultimate sentence. The state must also make sure that the accused is given excellent representation and proper trial. It is unacceptable that we incarcerate people for decades on death row and then release them because of DNA or other evidence. I shudder at the thought that we as a state have probably taken innocent lives due to the inadequicies of our system. Life imprisonment must be an option that should be used more often. There is however, a place for the death penalty in our soceity. If the crime fits the punishment the law allows for it.
7. Would you support increased funding for renewable energy and ending subsidies to the oil and gas industry?
Response: We should absolutely look towards other energy resources besides oil and gas. Ethanol, soy, wind and solar are the perfect areas to invest in West Texas with its wind and year round sunshine is a perfect area for solar and wind energy procurement. Texas with its agriculture must invest in and lead the nation in its soy based energy production. All loop holes like the subsidies for the oil and gas companies must be stopped. These companies must be asked to pay their proper share of taxes and also to reduce carbon out put that makes Texas the #1 polluted state in the country.
8. Would you support programs to restore full funding for mental health/mental retardation adequate to provide food, shelter and medical/mental health treatment for the homeless?
Response: Yes I would support those programs. Homeless are citizens of Texas and they must be taken care of with not only medical facilities but also skill and job training. The Texan way is to not only give a helping hand but also assuring a good future so desperate people do not take the wrong way out instead have the pride to make the right choices.
9. Would you be in favor of changing the Texas method of selecting electors to the Electoral College from “winner take all” to proportional representation by popular vote?
Response: Yes I would favor that change. I think it would only be fair and more competitive.
10. Would you support Instant Runoff Voting?
Response: Instant runoffs voting needs to be studied more. It makes sence to quicken the process, however, in cases of multiple candidates enough focus is not placed on differentiating from the others on platform issues. Those differences are played only during runoffs and that requires some time.
11. Would you support a substantial increase in teacher compensation? What other approaches would you take to improve the quality of public education in Texas?
Response: Yes I would support substantial increases in teachers pays because their jobs are so important to the future of our state. Firstly, I would give a principal a lot more autonomy to run his or her school. A principal must be a CEO of the school and nod not a subject of a school district. Secondly, I think that the state should pay for its schools and not the individual neighborhood. Thirdly, I would get local businesses to adopt local schools in "public-private" enterprise zones. I would get 5000 companies to commit to one million dollars each to help local schools. This would be an investment of $5B earmarked for local schools. Texas spends $8100 per student vs. $6200 that Florida spends yet our schools are rated 40th and theirs are 22nd. We must have laser like focus on the education problem.
12. How would you improve the environment of Texas i.e. TCEQ accountability, grandfathering of refineries, power plants etc and clean air emissions standards?
Response: Texas is ranked 50th in pollution! We put out 50m metric tons of carbon into our air yearly causing grave illnesses and burden our health care system and pollution of our waters. I would require energy industries to cut pollution by 20% in four years reducing carbon pollutants by 10m metric tons. International trading companies issue credits of $40 per metric ton in the form of "carbon credits" that can be cashed by the companies or traded if the carbon out puts are reduced. The incentives would be on one hand reducing pollutants and making money on the other. Grand fathering of refineries must stop. Our environments are much more important. I would also require stiffer taxes on "gas guzzler" cars. Electric and cars running on renewable energy resources would have tax incentives attached to them.
13. Are you dissatisfied with the way legislative districts are configured in Texas? If yes, what will you do about it?
Response: Yes I am dissatisfied with the districts. We must change the districts to reflect the demographics of the state rather than party politics. Our system should be fair and equitable. We must legislate to make the changes.
Rashadforgovernor.com
832-277-2040