Candidate Questionnaire - HD 144 -Janette Sexton
Candidate Questionnaire - HD 144 -Janette Sexton, Democrat
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.
2. Would you support single payer universal health care?
Response: Yes.
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.
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: Yes.
5. Would you consider implementing a state income tax to be used to fund health care and public education?
Response: Yes.
6. Would you support a ban on the death penalty?
Response: Yes.
7. Would you support increased funding for renewable energy and ending subsidies to the oil and gas industry?
Response: Yes.
8. Would you support programs to restore full funding for MR/MH adequate to provide food, shelter and medical/mental health treatment for the homeless?
Response: Yes.
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.
10. Would you support Instant Runoff Voting?
Response: Yes.
11. Would you support a substantial increase in teacher compensation?
Response: Yes.
What other approaches would you take to improve the quality of public education in Texas?
Response: The new money needed to give all our children a meaningful opportunity for an adequate education could be raised via the following:
Extending the sales tax to most services (except for medical, dental, auto repair, and child care)
Establishing a broad-based business tax
Increasing taxes on cigarettes, other tobacco products, and liquor
Requiring full disclosure of real estate sale prices and reporting of business property value
Maintaining state tax on large estates.
I would support and vote for the following legislation:
Funding for universal access to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for every child
Funding for universal access to higher education
Funding for Pre-K through 12 public education to fund unmet needs caused by budget cuts and cost shifts
Increase State’s share of school funding to allow for a 20 percent reduction in local property taxes
Restoration and enhancement of funding for children’s health care
Funding for proven educational programs cut since 2003 (including textbooks, technology, help for high-need students)
Reversal of the pension benefit cuts enacted in 2005
Restoration of the $1,000 State health care insurance stipend for active school employees
A multi-step increase in teacher pay, with the first step being an across-the-board $3,000 increase for all Texas teachers
Incentives for professional achievement/responsibilities (extra pay for mentors, teachers in shortage fields, etc.)
Maintenance, expansion, and strict enforcement of the 22:1 class-size limitation
Retention of teacher certification standards
Nonexemption of school districts from the Texas Education Code
Disallowance of the use of vouchers that would allow public funds to flow to private or home schools
Disallowance of “Home Rule” that would wipe out teacher contract rights, the state minimum pay scale for teachers, class-size limits, and other important quality standards
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: I would begin by supporting legislation and voting to ensure that environmentalists were appointed to the TCEQ. I would ensure that TCEQ is adequately enforcing air pollution regulations by assessing fines that are warranted and carrying out enforcement in a timely manner. I would ensure that TCEQ adheres to its current written policies regarding the calculation of fines. Where necessary, the TCEQ should amend its policies to clarify the minimum penalties for certain classes of violations. TCEQ should fully document case dismissals and adopt a policy regarding the dismissal of cases that have been referred for enforcement. The EPA should investigate TCEQ’s failure to implement timely and adequate enforcement.
13. Are you dissatisfied with the way legislative districts are configured in Texas? If yes, what will you do about it?
Response: Yes. I would support or vote for legislation to revert to the pre-2003 district boundaries.
http://www.sexton4district144.com