2009 Session videos
Of Republicans Vote to Change Two-Thirds Rule as it Relates to Special Orders
(starts at 3 hours, 47 minutes)
Ultrasound (2nd Reading): April 30, Senate Session Part II
(starts at 5 hours, 25 minutes)
Ultrasound (3rd Reading): May 1, Senate Session
(starts at 1 hour, 51 minutes)
Van de Putte Teen-Mom Contraception (SB 592): May 1
(bill comes up at 5 hours, 22 minutes)
(Dan begins debate at 3 hours, 28 minutes)
Hinojosa Medicaid Drug Abuse Program (SB 796): April 2
(bill comes up at 33 minutes)
(Dan begins debate at 41 minutes)
Senate Floor debate on Don McLeroy: May 28
(starts at 2 hours, 3 minutes)
Debate on local option gas tax bill: May 25
(starts at 9 hours, 50 minutes)
Debate on Voter ID : March 11
(starts at 3 hours, 40 minutes)
Click Here for 2007 Session Videos
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1 | Reduce the appraisal cap to 3% per year on all residential property
Texans are being taxed out of their homes. We must end the stealth 8–10% annual tax increase on homeowners. If local governments feel a need to raise revenue, they should do so by raising the tax rate; not by hiding behind an automatic appraisal increase. Voters can then determine if the increase was necessary and if those elected officials are worthy of re-election.
2 | Illegal immigration – secure our borders now
The Federal Government has failed to protect our borders as they are constitutionally required. It is time we use Texas taxpayers’ resources to protect our borders instead of providing services to those that entered this state illegally. It is time for Texans to protect the Texas border.
3 | Reduce government spending now
We elected Republican majorities in the Texas House and Senate and expected them to be fiscally conservative. Our legislature has let us down. The most recent state budget includes a 20% increase in spending. We should focus on needs-based-budgeting, rather than revenue-based-budgeting.
4 | Responsible education funding
School budgets and administrative positions have increased faster than student enrollment and classroom teacher positions. The legislature should require that 65% of school spending be dedicated to the classroom. We must focus education resources on the classroom instruction of our children.
5 | Legislators should put tax cuts before their own pension increases
Legislators found the votes to increase their own pensions in the last legislative session, but after two special sessions could not find the votes to reduce your property taxes or lower the appraisal cap. We should focus first on cutting taxes before we increase legislator’s benefits.
6 | We are the majority party and we should govern as such
I have called for an end to the so called “blocker bill” in the Senate. For years, this Senate tradition helped ensure civility in the upper house, but recently Democrats have used the practice to block meaningful legislation from being approved. We should end the practice of requiring 2/3 of the Senate to agree before a measure can be considered in the Senate.
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