Here is what the Texas Legislature must do:

• Defend State's Rights. The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that it's up to each state whether to implement federal mandates. If you elect me as your State Representative, I will fight any federal government takeover of our states rights. Not on my watch!
  
  
• Cap government spending. We must put our foot down on out-of-control spending. Government is out of touch with average folks and our ability to pay for all this. The truth is that some people in this country looked the other way when economic times were good. We let government get bigger and our freedoms get smaller until the economy began to break under the pressure. The country has learned what we conservatives have known all along - nothing is free. You can't increase government handouts without someone paying for it and I am tired of you and me always being asked to pick up the tab.
  
  
• Stop illegal immigration: President Reagan said, "A country that can't control its border is not a country." It's time for Texas to require companies to verify the work status of each employee like other states do. I will also support a voter identification program to make sure that every legal citizen's vote counts. We simply must protect the ballot box from voter fraud.
  
  
• Cut taxes on hard-working West Texas families. Here are a couple of ways we can get this done: Property tax appraisals keep going up every year. It's time we passed strong taxpayer protection. Let's make appraisal boards elected by the people - not appointed by politicians. And, no more "guilty until proven innocent" mentality when you challenge your appraisal increases. You and I must require the government to prove our property values have gone up rather than them asking us to prove that they haven't.
  
  
• Improve Teacher Pay and Encourage Excellence in the Classroom - As State Representative I will be aggressive in reforming our education system in four ways. First, I will introduce legislation that will give the local school districts more control over how they operate. Second, I will introduce legislation allowing children to pray at school. I was able to pray before a football game, and I think the majority of West Texans agree, taking God out of the public school system has done more harm than good. Third, I will fight to have more money available for vocational training. We must make sure that every young person is given the opportunity to pursue their talents and learn a skill set that will help them become productive citizens who can provide for their family, regardless of whether or not they go to college. Finally, I think teachers should be paid fairly and I will support merit based pay structure increases like we have in the private sector. Excellent teachers should have excellent salaries. I will also OPPOSE vouchers as well as legislation that in any way threatens a parent's God given right to educate their own children.
  
  
• Advocate for Agriculture and Energy - Agriculture and Energy are the cornerstones of rural West Texas. As State Representative I will work to expand the use of Wind Energy in West Texas as this will provide additional jobs and revenue for our communities. I will also fight against increase costs and regulation to our agricultural products and services, including our continued access to water. My energy policy can also be summed up in three words. Drill baby drill. Though we must be good stewards of the environment God created, dependence on foreign oil and the hostile countries that supply it must be stopped. We have to use all resources at our disposal until clean energy can realistically meet our needs.
  
  
• Fight for Local Control - House District 85 covers a diverse area in rural Texas. When the urban dominated house passes statewide mandates, rural communities are put at a disadvantage. The locally elected officials are in the best position to know the strengths and needs of their communities, and they must be given the opportunity and responsibility to address these issues. As your representative, I will seek legislation that returns the power of government to the local level.
  
  
• Protect Private Property Rights including the Right to Bear Arms - As an A-rated, card-carrying member of the NRA and concealed carry permit holder, I will fall on the sword to protect our Second Amendment right to own firearms. I will also oppose any measures to expand the government's ability to take property away from private citizens. I agree with our founding fathers... "live free or die."
  
  
• Fight for the unborn and protect traditional marriage - I believe that each life is created by God and therefore has intrinsic value. Life begins at conception and should not be discarded for medical or scientific use at any time. I believe that marriage is a holy covenant made between a man and a woman, and I will support legislation that protects both of these ideals.
  
  
• Improve upon our current Healthcare system while opposing government-run options - I believe that here in the US, we have the finest healthcare system in the world. Perfect, no... but there is a reason that foreigners who can afford it come here for surgery and treatment. We can improve upon that by dealing with the portability and pre-existing conditions issues, but we should not socialize our medicine. Healthcare should be available to every legal citizen at an affordable price.
  
  
• Be an Independent Common Sense Conservative voice... I believe that the people of House District 85 are more important than any political party. I am first a conservative before I am a Republican. And the day that the Republicans lose their way fiscally or socially, I will vote against them. I will work with members from both sides of the isle, including leadership, on issues that are important and beneficial to this district. I will also oppose members from both sides, including leadership, on issues that will harm this district. I pledge to put the people of the district first, all the time - every time!