Tag Archives: Rural Health Care Texas

TLCQ 2018: Fran Watson

In the Seventh installment of the 2018 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Fran Watson,  candidate for the Texas State Senate, District 17.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

 

TL:  What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

FW:  Fran Watson

TL:  Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

FW:  No.  I am a first-time candidate.

TL:  As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

FW:  Government is important as it exists to provide protections from injustice and oppression for the community at large.  This is done by implementing laws, policies, and accountability measures for actions or inactions of the residents.

TL:  If elected, name your top 3 priorities you hope to accomplish for the upcoming legislative session. Describe how you plan to accomplish them.

FW:

  1. Access to inclusive healthcare.
  2. Proper funding of public services, (state services, public education)
  3. Economic Empowerment for Disenfranchised Communities. (living wage, non-discrimination laws).

By working in coalition with members of both chambers who are already in Austin that have begun the work and developing a plan even before legislation is drafted.  For instance, to provide access to healthcare, part of the solution already exists- Medicaid expansion.  The more members aligned with ensuring billions of dollars are not left on the table and Texans are continuing to be uninsured, the more likely, Medicaid expansion in Texas can happen.

TL:  In the coming years, the state of Texas is on course to have an unprecedented boom in the state’s population. But with more people and more opportunities comes an ever-increasing strain on Texas roads and infrastructure. Describe your thoughts on what needs to be done to improve Texas infrastructure now so we can plan for a bright future for the state.

FW:  It is a multi-layered approach.  While it is necessary to construct highways to relieve congestion, it is an expensive endeavor.  Focusing on public transportation, including dedicated biking lanes. Additionally, working on a plan for affordable housing, as many people are having to move further out from work, school, and other daily endeavors, which puts a strain on Texas roads.

TL:  Even as impressive growth continues in around the state’s urban centers, rural Texans are faced with a healthcare crisis.  According to Laura Garcia of the Victoria Advocate, rural communities across the state have lost 18 hospitals in less than five years, and this was before any additional challenges worsened by natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey.  Without hospital services in or near their local communities, the medical and emergency care is at an increasing risk our citizens.  As a legislator, how would you plan to address this issue and help Texas’ vital rural healthcare facilities stay open?  

FW:  Rural areas make of a large part of District 17, and with access to inclusive healthcare and funding being one of my top priorities, having a plan to provide proper funding will be the first step to ensure the facilities not only stay open, but are not always in threat of closing.  I plan to bring in advisers that can come up with innovative ways to provide long-term services to rural residents in addition to ideas such as telemedicine and mobile clinics.

TL:  In 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn an Obama-era rule which classifies internet service providers as public utilities, and thereby governed under the 1934 Communications Act.  This decision essentially erases the principle that Internet Service Providers should treat all online content equally without giving preference to particular sources, otherwise known as Net Neutrality.  Please describe your views on this decision, and whether or not you would support legislation at the State or Federal level to uphold the principle of Net Neutrality.

FW:  My entire platform is about access.  The decision to overturn net neutrality has the potential to shut down voices as it gives ISP the authority control content.  As we’ve seen over the last few years, organizers and activists have been able to fight oppression and injustice using Social Media.  Overturning Net Neutrality could once again attempt to mute the voices of the unheard.  Therefore, I would support legislation to uphold Net Neutrality.

TL:  What makes you the best candidate for this office?

FW:  I am an attorney, intersectional activist, advocate, and community leader, and my approach to problem solving ensures that when elected I will be looking to hear from all constituents whose voices are missing from the conversation and how disenfranchised communities are impacted by current policies and proposed solutions.

I had an untraditional childhood.  I grew up in poverty with a single mother who passed away early.  When I lost my mother, in many ways, I inherited her role as caretaker.  I was expelled from high school due to missing too many days and it took some time to get back on track to getting my GED and eventually graduating from law school.   My past is a driving force for the work that I do and the communities I serve because I understand what it is like not to have access.  And I use my skills, talent, and experience to work to ensure we all have equal access.

I have leadership experience.  After serving less than a year on the board of a nonprofit that serves homeless youth, I was entrusted to be the president after its founding board member and first president resigned.  I was elected the first black woman president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus after being a member of the organization within three years. I’ve served in leadership in several organizations in and around Houston.  Through the many and varied experiences, I have been asked to speak on many panels and provide thoughtful leadership on a myriad of topics.

And I show up. I have been involved in various progressive causes.  I lead when I need to lead and support when I need to support.

Finally, representation matters.  The government should reflect the make-up of the people of Texas.

TL:  When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

FW:  Laughing with friends and family.  Traveling.  Reading.

 

Thanks to Ms. Watson for the responses.

 

Texas Primary Election Day is Tuesday March 6th, and Early Voting begins February 20th.  For the Primary, you must register to vote no later than February 5th (if you’re unsure of your voting status, here’s where you can check your registration).  Early voting procedures can differ depending on your county, but here are helpful links to some: Harris CountyFort Bend CountyBrazoria CountyMontgomery County, and Galveston County

For other areas, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Page for your county information.

(if you like this Texas Leftist post, please consider a donation!  Help us encourage Progressive, common sense ideals in the Lone Star State!!)

TLCQ 2018: Matt Harris

In the Sixth installment of the 2018 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Matt Harris,  candidate for the U.S. House, Texas’ 10th Congressional District.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

 

TL:  What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

MH:  Matt Harris

TL:  Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

MH:  No.  This is my first run for elected office.

TL:  As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

MH:  Civilization requires the creation of some privileges such as natural resource control.  Participation in government and wielding it’s powers is itself a privilege.  The creation of privileges will create inequality of wealth and power among citizens.  Unless government steps in to check the powerful, they will simply exploit everyone else. Government is not doing a good job of this at present.

Some goods and services simply cannot be provided by free markets but are still important, and even necessary, for civil society.  Government must provide these services which include a justice system, transportation infrastructure, external protection, education, healthcare, currency creation, and environmental protections, to name just a few.  These needed services must be supplied in a way that meets the needs of all citizens.  Government is crucially different from private business in this aspect.  The current government is failing in these responsibilities for much of our population.

TL:  If elected, name your top 3 priorities you hope to accomplish for the upcoming legislative session. Describe how you plan to accomplish them.

MH:  Our dysfunctional economy – We need a high-wage, entrepreneurial economy.  The enduring way to accomplish this is to shift our tax system away from work and productive investment and onto monopoly power, particularly natural resource monopolies.  Monopoly power is at the root of the absurd, unnatural, and unsustainable distribution of wealth in the U.S. and much of the world.  The unusual nature of monopoly income has gone by several names in economic history:  “The rent of land” (Adam Smith), “economic rent (classical economists), “surplus value” (Marx), and “Unearned income” (U.S. Income Tax code).  We need to redirect our tax code to collect economic rent (my preferred term) and stop taxing wages and productive investment.  We also need to break up the big banks and restore a modern version of Glass-Steagall.

Sustainability –   Climate change is real, is man-made, and requires our urgent attention. I favor taxing carbon extraction and rebating it back to the public on a per-capita basis.  Incentives matter.  I also favor large increases in federal research money for carbon-neutral fuels.  We must require patent sharing as a condition of participation.  Our agricultural practices are also not sustainable.  We are depleting soils and degrading our water.  These are the result of policy choices and these practices can be reversed.

Reclaiming the language – Our public discourse is profoundly degraded.  Tax shifts are not tax reduction.  Science is not a matter of casual opinion.  War is not peace and empire is not defense.  Talk of “free markets” without addressing monopoly power is a ridiculous conversation.  Unlimited political spending is not free speech.  Corporations are not people.  I favor a constitutional amendment abolishing corporate personhood.

TL:  In the coming years, the state of Texas is on course to have an unprecedented boom in the state’s population. But with more people and more opportunities comes an ever-increasing strain on Texas roads and infrastructure. Describe your thoughts on what needs to be done to improve Texas infrastructure now so we can plan for a bright future for the state.

MH:  We need a holistic approach to transportation that will include many elements.  The total costs and impact must be considered, including run-off, maintenance, and ongoing public services.   We need better urban design and we need to more energy efficient, and multi-modal forms of transportation.   Well designed infrastructure always raises land values in the areas served.   We need to recapture these increases as a means of paying for infrastructure.  I think it is crucial that we link the benefit of infrastructure (increase in land value income) to the building of infrastructure (flow of costs).    If we do not create this linkage then the new infrastructure becomes another means to redistribute wealth, mainly from poorer to richer.

TL:  Even as impressive growth continues in around the state’s urban centers, rural Texans are faced with a healthcare crisis.  According to Laura Garcia of the Victoria Advocate, rural communities across the state have lost 18 hospitals in less than five years, and this was before any additional challenges worsened by natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey.  Without hospital services in or near their local communities, the medical and emergency care is at an increasing risk our citizens.  As a legislator, how would you plan to address this issue and help Texas’ vital rural healthcare facilities stay open?  

MH:  This healthcare crisis was created by the Texas legislature when they refused to take the Medicaid expansion funds.  It was unspeakably irresponsible and ideologically driven.  There is no free market in medical services and we need to plan accordingly.  I favor returning to a policy of funding public hospitals.   Medicaid expansion is the most expedient route, but it will require a new state legislature.  If the Texas lege will not cooperate then other funding methods must be found.

TL:  In 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn an Obama-era rule which classifies internet service providers as public utilities, and thereby governed under the 1934 Communications Act.  This decision essentially erases the principle that Internet Service Providers should treat all online content equally without giving preference to particular sources, otherwise known as Net Neutrality.  Please describe your views on this decision, and whether or not you would support legislation at the State or Federal level to uphold the principle of Net Neutrality.

MH:  This was a corrupt decision that will result in the major telcos raising rates, providing mediocre service, and squeezing millions of small businesses that operate on the internet.  It is an excellent example of the terrible power of monopoly.  The ruling will simply re-distribute wealth from productive people (many millions) to the shareholders and executives of the big telcos (a few hundred people).  Monopoly power must be neutralized in all of its forms.  I favor congress requiring net neutrality and overruling the FEC.  I also favor going further and shifting the telco taxes to direct them at the telco natural resource base rather than the transactions.  This would further neutralize the telco power and possibly break them up into more responsive, smaller entities.

TL:  What makes you the best candidate for this office?

MH:  My understanding of real economics is a perspective no other candidate is bringing to the table.  If elected, I will fight for real economic change.

TL:  When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

MH:  My main recreation is swing dance.  I also read a lot.  I have four children spanning the millennial generation and time with them is golden.  I also enjoy long walks in the Austin greenbelts.

 

Thanks to Mr. Harris for the responses.

 

Texas Primary Election Day is Tuesday March 6th, and Early Voting begins February 20th.  For the Primary, you must register to vote no later than February 5th (if you’re unsure of your voting status, here’s where you can check your registration).  Early voting procedures can differ depending on your county, but here are helpful links to some: Harris CountyFort Bend CountyBrazoria CountyMontgomery County, and Galveston County

For other areas, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Page for your county information.

(if you like this Texas Leftist post, please consider a donation!  Help us encourage Progressive, common sense ideals in the Lone Star State!!)

 

TLCQ 2018: Margarita Ruiz Johnson

In the Fourth installment of the 2018 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Margarita Ruiz Johnson,  candidate for U. S. House, Texas’ 22nd Congressional District.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

 

TL:  What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

MRJ:  Margarita Ruiz Johnson. District 22, US House of Representative.

TL:  Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

MRJ:  Retired.  Will work full time on District 22, Community issues making progress in economic and social issues impacting our community.

TL:  As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

 MRJ:  Goverment is by the People and of the People and for the People.  Our representatives, when elected need to truly represent the needs and dreams of its community at the local level, the state level and the federal level, in a fair manner.  Government is needed and can be helpful to solve many of the problems the citizens and the local communities have to make their lives better and to help them fulfill their dreams to improve the lives of their children and grandchildren to have  a better future and to retire with dignity.  The representative is to work for its community and not to get himself or herself rich.  They should represent their communities with dignity and respect.

TL:  If elected, name your top 3 priorities you hope to accomplish for the upcoming legislative session. Describe how you plan to accomplish them.

MRJ:  I will, work  daily to reverse many of the dangerous bills and laws passed by President Trump affecting the lives of individuals in our communities.  I will draft legistation and will spend most of my time doing this to repair the damage done in enviromental laws, climate change, taxation of the rich, tax code, salaries, jobs, health care, senior and veterans benefits, children care and benefits, community health centers, senior care and benefits in nursing homes, middle class jobs and salaries, pensions and retirement funds, and the regulation of wall street, to include the protection of the consumer protection agency.  We need to do this, right away, to get us back on track to have a better economic future for our children and grandchildren.

TL:  In the coming years, the state of Texas is on course to have an unprecedented boom in the state’s population. But with more people and more opportunities comes an ever-increasing strain on Texas roads and infrastructure. Describe your thoughts on what needs to be done to improve Texas infrastructure now so we can plan for a bright future for the state.

MRJ:  Texas infrastructure needs to be improve to accomodate the larger population and congestion problems that we are having.  We are beginning to convert our roads into toll roads, but most of these contracts are going to “entities from foreign governments”, the funds will leave our communities and will not be reserve for repairs, nor to improve  traffic congestion.  This is wrong and most people don’t know about this “glitch” that will drain money from transportation to other countries…. We need to reverse this to insure that the moneys stays local to help improve transportation. In addition, the transportation of the future can shift to more speed trains using green energy and fewer cars to help with the environnment and the traffic congestion.

TL:  Even as impressive growth continues in around the state’s urban centers, rural Texans are faced with a healthcare crisis.  According to Laura Garcia of the Victoria Advocate, rural communities across the state have lost 18 hospitals in less than five years, and this was before any additional challenges worsened by natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey.  Without hospital services in or near their local communities, the medical and emergency care is at an increasing risk our citizens.  As a legislator, how would you plan to address this issue and help Texas’ vital rural healthcare facilities stay open?  

MRJ:  There has to be a true commitment to our rural communities in health care, education and technologies in order to have a rural healthcare that provides quality health care at a fair price for our citizens.  What I have noticed is that the state and federal representatives in this rural areas are committing  and pleadging alligiance to the gun lobby, to the oil lobby and to large corporations and that’s how they get re-elected and make a career of being senators and congress representatives.
After the election, there is very little contact with the community and the rural areas are left fending for themselves in dealing with very complex issues that require coordination and funding from the state and the federal level.  We need to change this and we can only change it at the local level by monoring exactly what the representative and senators are doing to help the rural areas and hold their feet to the fire.  If it does not work and the representative is working for the lobbiest, they need to be sent home packing. We need to” empty” our Congress and start all over again.  It is corrupted and not functional.

TL:  In 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overturn an Obama-era rule which classifies internet service providers as public utilities, and thereby governed under the 1934 Communications Act.  This decision essentially erases the principle that Internet Service Providers should treat all online content equally without giving preference to particular sources, otherwise known as Net Neutrality.  Please describe your views on this decision, and whether or not you would support legislation at the State or Federal level to uphold the principle of Net Neutrality.

MRJ:  Everyone knows that Mr. Trump and his administration made promises to middle and poor Americans and then he hired the wealthiest people he could find and went about the business to destroy our communities and to make changes that will benefit AT@T, Comcast, Verizon. Apple, Microsolf, Oil and the Big Corporate Giants, that at any time can slow down our internet lines, can stop our access to the internet, and can raise the prices charge to middle America.  This corruption from the highest level of government, and we need, via legislation support NET NEUTRALITY AND REVERSE THE DAMAGE CAUSE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

TL:  What makes you the best candidate for this office?

MRJ:  I prepared for this position for the last two years by learning all the issues impacting our local communities, how to fix the problems and I am retired and can promise my community that I will work full time for them.  I don’t have any debts, the work will be for them and them only. I don’t have any minor children at home that will depend on me, I will be working full time for you.  I have no sckeleton’s in my closet that you would have to worry about when you sent me to Congress to represent you.  I do not smoke, drink, nor mess around.  You will not be asked to pay for legal fees for my misbehavior, there will be none.
I am the best educated candidate in finance, accounting, strategic planning, budget, health care, mediation, working in groups, expert in the education field, worked in the past in human resources therefore, I know all the federal laws that deal with employment and consumer goods. I served in the US ARMY and know military financing , accounting budgets, therefore, I can represent our veterans well and with dignity.  I come from a trully military family committed to our family, our community and our country.  I have a Bachelors in Languages (English, Spanish, Portuquesse).  My Masters is in the Behavioral Sciences,  I am an expert on Mental issues and group behavior dynamics.  I am well verse on all currents events that impact our communites.
The competing candidates have economic(large amount of bebt) issues, social issues(drinking issues), commitment issues and lack of knowlege issues( not ready for the jobs that will take a long time for them to catch up with my excellent and special qualities needed for this job.  I am the only candidate ready to address the issue of impeachment, if presented to me, when you send me to Congress. Finally, I will never tell you a lie…. The last panel that I attended, the candidates were telling you, exactly what you wanted to hear, and that is how Mr. Trump was elected. Be aware of know it all, fast talking salesman….there is trouble ahead…

TL:  When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

MRJ:  As I said earlier, my commitment is to my family, my community and my country. I am retired with no bebt.  Since all I need is your vote to continue to help you dealing with a complex system at the federal and state level, you will not find me raising money to get me re-elected.  I don’t believe nor trust packs, so you will not find me searching them out to get me re-elected.  I will be talking to you and your problems to see how I can help to make things better.  I will respond to your questions, via e-mails, letters, one on one and any other way you want to communicate that is easy for you to help resolve the problems of our community in coordination with state and federal partners.  I can do this and I can do it well.

 

Thanks to Ms. Johnson for the responses.

 

Texas Primary Election Day is Tuesday March 6th, and Early Voting begins February 20th.  For the Primary, you must register to vote no later than February 5th (if you’re unsure of your voting status, here’s where you can check your registration).  Early voting procedures can differ depending on your county, but here are helpful links to some: Harris CountyFort Bend CountyBrazoria CountyMontgomery County, and Galveston County

For other areas, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Page for your county information.

 

(if you like this Texas Leftist post, please consider a donation!  Help us encourage Progressive, common sense ideals in the Lone Star State!!)