E-Interviews: Jim Stauber, HD 20

[This week, I'll be publishing more of our E-Interviews with Democratic candidates for Texas House in contested races across the state. If you are a candidate and haven't turned in your E-Interview yet, there's still time, email Vince!

In case you missed it, we've previously run interviews with: Karen Felthauser, HD 52; Sherrie Matula, HD 129; and Kathi Thomas, SD-25.]
This week, we’re going to start off with another central Texas district, House District 20, where Jim Stauber [website, $$] (D-Liberty Hill) is running against Dan Gattis in a district that includes part of Williamson and Milam Counties.

Q: Could you please tell us a little about yourself, including education, employment, and previous public/civic service?

A: Born in Detroit, Michigan.  Lived in Minnesota for 55 years.  Worked for General Motors for almost 35 years.  Active school board member and president in Minnesota. Active parish council member and past president in Minnesota and Texas.  President and operator of Durham Park Water Supply Corp. Graduated from Spring Lake Park High School and have had some trade school education.

Q: What do you see as the three or four most important issues to the voters in your district?

A: Trans-Texas Corridor

Education

CHIP- Accenture

Phase 2 – Toll roads

Q: As a legislator, what would you do to ensure that these issues were properly addressed?

A:  Stop the corridor

Make sure our public schools are fully funded.

Fire Accenture

This corridor is a bad idea and I will work with the rest of the legislature to remove the Spanish owned company from building these roads.  This corridor if approved will run right through the farming heartland of Williamson County. We need to keep land in agriculture production to feed the people of Texas not pave it over.

There are so many programs designed to fund schools.  The Reliant Energy program is one example.  Currently our government has turned its back on overseeing these programs and as a result they have been the subject of skimming and fraud.  I will push for legislation to empower the Attorney General and the Comptroller to open up the books and remove the fraud.

Even the lottery is not working to the optimum level for the schools.

Fire Accenture.  Accenture is incapable of managing the CHIP of Texas.  Waste is apparent and we need to return the state workers to manage this program.  Privatization does not work.  Making profit off of assistance programs is against my ethics.

Q: Do you believe that your opponent has adequately addressed these issues effectively? 

A: No!  He has taken funds from school voucher outfits.  Money from a lobbyist that want to use Texas as a nuclear dump and (signed a letter) to keep Accenture even though it is a wasteful and unethical company.

He is for the TTC and even will not stop the government from taking a farmer’s land.

Q: School finance remains a major issue on the minds of Texas voters as the ‘reform’ issues of the most recent special session start to make an impact on the state budget and local school districts. Do you think the legislation passed during the most recent special session adequately addresses concerns related to public school finance in Texas? Why or why not?

A: No.  They only took care of the school year by taking money from the state surplus.  They left the real fix to next year’s legislative sessions.

The surplus is a result of a fraudulent government that grabbed the funds set aside for parks etc. and created a surplus that is not really there.

Q: Standardized testing is a cornerstone of public school education in Texas today. Do you believe too much or not enough emphasis is placed on standardized testing and why?

A: Too much.  I do not believe teaching to the test gives our children a well rounded education.  Teaching to the test does not instill critical thinking into our children.

Q: Merit-based teacher pay (tied most likely to standardized testing scores) is something Republicans in Texas have pushed for several years. Do you believe merit-based teacher pay is a good concept to institute in Texas? Why or why not?

A: No, it is not.  Who is going to make that judgment?

Q:  What is your position on school vouchers?

A: I am against school vouchers.  They take money away from our public schools.  These charter schools are unregulated.  The students are not required to take any standard tests.  Teachers are not required to meet any standards either.

Q: Since the Legislature deregulated tuition costs at the state’s public colleges and universities, tuition has skyrocketed at many institutions of higher education. Do you favor allowing tuition deregulation to continue? Why or why not?

A: No. Tuition is getting too expensive for the middle class to afford.  We can and should make higher education available to all our children.  The best way to attract business to Texas is by having the best educated workers.

Q: The “top ten percent” rule has come under attack by Republicans in recent months. Do you favor the “top ten percent” rule? Why or why not?

A: It is a loaded question.  I see both sides of the picture.  It is a hard decision to make. One side: minorities need representation in our college.  We need to have equality in education.

Other side: The higher GPA students are not allowed into college because the minority student has preference.  No win situation.

We need whatever it takes to keep educating our children.

Q: What are some other ideas or thoughts you have about secondary and higher education in Texas?

A: College tuition is out of control.  We must make higher education affordable to the average citizen.  There is so much wasted on overhead in colleges that we must make our colleges about the student and not about the regents.

State Parks

Q: State Parks has become sort of the ‘sleeper’ issue of this election cycle. What is your assessment of the current situation of Texas’ state park system?

A: All monies that are supposed to be set aside for parks should be spent on them and not go into the general fund.  There are fees from license plates, hunting permits etc. that are suppose to go to parks and instead in an unethical action by the current administration that money is going to the general fund.  We must not privatize our park system.  Our parks must stay public.

Q: Do you favor legislation reallocating the Sporting Goods Tax so that all of the revenue generated from the tax goes to fund state parks, instead of a large portion of it going to the general fund?

A: Yes!  It would be fraudulent and unethical not to have money designated for a particular program not to fund that program.

Q: What are your thoughts on the sale of public lands designated for state parks or natural preserves, such as those at Eagle Mountain Lake and in the Black Gap area, by the state instead of developing the land as parks or recreation areas?

A:I am against the selling of any public lands.  I really have to question the ethics on such a move.  I will introduce legislation to keep public lands public.

The Environment

Q:  Coal power plants have become a major issue in this election cycle as TXU and other energy providers seek to build 17 new power plants, mostly in East and Central Texas. Obviously, this is a double-edged sword. These plants will provided needed energy and boost the economies of the areas in which they are constructed by providing more jobs and increasing the tax base. However, they will also cause a significant amount of pollution. In your view, how should the legislature work to balance the competing interests of need for electricity versus concern for the environment?

A: They should require that plants be built with the latest pollution control devices.  It is criminal for power plants to hold us hostage on such a situation.  For power companies to try and skirt the regulations such as selling pollution chips or building inside the Mexico border are unethical.  Pollution affects us all.

Q: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been heavily criticized as not doing as much as possible to protect the environment in Texas. What are your thoughts on this agency and environmental regulation in Texas?

A: The TCEQ should be doing everything possible to protect our environment.  In my opinion their performance leaves something to be desired.  TCEQ is letting big business get away with building too close to our aquifers.

Q: What kinds of incentives (tax breaks, etc.) would you support to increase the production of alternative fuels and/or increase the use of alternative sources of energy in Texas?

A:  Since the oil companies like EXXON are making a profit of $13,000 a second it appears that they no longer need the tax subsidies that they have been receiving.  That tax subsidy needs to be shifted to the alternative energy companies.  Developers need to be encouraged to build energy efficient homes.  There can even be some more incentives to builders to build homes that are more energy efficient and with water saving devices.

Q: Water remains a major issue in Texas, as it has for over a century. Do you believe the state has an acceptable long-range plan with regard to both surface water and groundwater use as we head further into the 21st century?

A: We must avoid a water war.  We have water rights that are being bought by individuals and again the consumer will be caught in a vicious hostage situation.  Whether we have groundwater or surface water we must remember that our natural resources are for us all to use and not just for the rich.  WE need to make sure that our water is not polluted for the health and welfare of all of Texas.  More and more communities are encouraged to get their water from surface water.  Many of the rural communities need individual wells for water and therefore need a supply of ground water.  More and more homes should be encouraged to get their water from an individual water collection system.

Q: The question of groundwater versus surface water is one that haunts rural and urban Texas. Urban areas frequently need more water, and look to man-made lakes—usually constructed in rural areas—for that water. What action should the Legislature take, if any, to balance the needs of urban residence with the needs of rural residents when it comes to water issues?

A: I believe that big businesses like Alcoa should be regulated as to how much water they can use.  They should develop new technology or use the latest technology so as to make sure everyone has enough water to use.  We cannot allow business to pollute our air or water.

Transportation

Q: The Trans Texas Corridor is one of the key issues in this year’s election cycle. Regardless of whether the TTC will directly impact your district through construction within its boundaries, what is your position on the Trans Texas Corridor?

A: No! This corridor idea came to us from out of nowhere.  From the get go this was a shady deal.  I do not support this endeavor in any way.

Q: What is your position on toll roads?

A: We can improve our existing freeways.  IH35 and other roads.  We do need more highways but they should be built as free roads and not as toll roads.  We need a light rail system that goes from the urban areas to downtown and the airport.  Currently we are funneling too much commuter traffic onto too few of roads.  We need to interconnect our suburbs and urban areas with feeder roads.  Developers need to be encouraged to put in right hand turn lanes.  There are too many lanes that end that should be for the through traffic.  Street lights need to be set for through traffic.  Existing signs on our roads need to be vastly improved.  We currently have a 19th century plan for roads in Texas when we are in the 21st century.

Q: Do you believe there was adequate transparency in the bid process for the first parts of the Trans Texas Corridor?

A: No!  This nightmare has come From out of the blue. There has never been clear disclosure for the need of this road.  This will create a nightmare for us in the future.  We will be a country with no borders. The main purpose of this road system is to get around goods coming through our unionized ports.  I have found out that my opponent has taken money from a lobbyist that represents nuclear waste facilities.  That is one thing that they want to move on the TTC is nuclear waste and other hazardous materials without implementing a disaster prevention program.  The TTC is the wrong deal for Texas from the foreign owned company to the lack of contractual bids.

Q: As with many issues, the Trans Texas Corridor elicits different feelings from urban voters than from rural voters. How does Texas develop a transportation policy for the next 50 years that keeps up with the demands of our state’s rapidly expanding urban and suburban populations while also respecting the property rights and lifestyles of rural Texans?

A: We can improve our existing freeways. IH35 and other roads.  We do need more Highways but they should be as free roads and not toll roads.  We need a light rail system that goes from urban areas to downtown and the airport.  We can expand the Metro bus service to provide transportation from city to city and not just suburb to downtown.

Taxation & Taxation Policy

Q: Do you believe the “tax relief” that has occurred as a result of the special session this past spring is adequate? Please explain.

A: No. Large businesses got off easy while the property tax issue really didn’t change that much.  Even our local governments are business friendly and offer huge tax breaks while the homeowner keeps footing the bill. Even in Leander there is a tax situation where 250 homeowners are being pressed to pay $1,800.00 of taxes while HEB got a 15 year tax break.  Businesses should not get tax breaks where they would build because of growth.  The communities never recover from such loss.  The small business man is not getting any tax break and they are the cornerstone of many communities. The state Enterprise fund needs to be reigned in.  Many businesses received huge funds and never created any jobs.  We need to back industry that creates manufacturing jobs.

Q: The concept of “property tax relief” and “tax relief” have been on the lips of Texas politicians for more than a decade. How can the legislature actually bring the people of Texas either property tax relief or general tax relief? Is this an impossible task in the present economic and budgetary environment in our state?

A:  First off it is not an impossible task to bring tax relief to the people of Texas.  We have so many cases where a fair and equitable tax system is not in place.  In Williamson County alone we have a glaring example.  Farmers and ranchers receive an agriculture exemption for their land and then the Appraisal District takes it away by taxing them for what I call “Phantom Home Tax.”  Currently in Leander we have a city demanding over 1800 dollars in city tax from 250 homes because of a mistake in the bookkeeping.  Taxes need to fair and not a burden to the already burden middles class.  The city has not missed this money for 4 years it can be spread out over 4 years or 40.  I will introduce a bill to have fair and equitable tax system for all of Texas.

Currently businesses are getting too many tax breaks.  They need to pay their fair share of taxes and this can be put to funding our schools and give people even more tax relief.

Q: Texas’ general fund, funding for education, etc., are supported by a myriad of taxes: from ‘by the drink’ taxes to the ‘sporting goods tax’ to the sales tax. What is your opinion of the structure of taxation in Texas and how our state government is funded?

A: Too many programs that are funded by special taxes have their money skimmed off and put into the general fund to balance the state budgets.  This is unethical and is not a government of good faith.

Q: Do you believe that Texas now needs an income tax? Why or why not?

A:  Not yet.  This may happen in the future but I believe the people of Texas would vote it down unless there was a lowering of our sales tax.  Would an income tax be another tax on top of already cumbersome tax system?  What do we do with the day laborer or the person that gets paid in cash?

Health & Human Services

Q: From the Accenture contract debacle to being severely understaffed, health and human services in Texas appear to be in a crisis mode. Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?

A: Yes. Accenture should be fired and the jobs should be put back into the hands of our state employees.  Too many people are being lost in the shuffle because of Accenture.

Q: Do you favor allowing private sub-contractors to handle health and human services casework?

A: No. Private sub-contractors are only in business for the money.  Every time we privatize another government system we lose control of the government.  It no longer is a government for the people or by the people.

Q: Do you believe the current level of funding for the state’s health and human services are adequate? Please explain.

A: No. Too many people are being left out.  Look at the electricity programs designed to help the need with their electric bills.  The consumer is paying into this programs and the money is going into the general fund and not for the purpose designated.  Our government should not be a heartless entity but a caring benefactor for us all.

Social Issues

Q: The 2003 and 2005 sessions of the Texas legislature spent a significant amount of time and effort on what could aptly be called ‘social’ legislation, such as banning gay marriage, tightening restrictions on abortion, and other measures such as the ‘moment of silence’ in public schools legislation. Regardless of your personal beliefs on any of these issues, do you believe that the legislature should be spending so much of its time and effort on issues of this nature when other pressing issues like the budget and education must be addressed?

A:  They are wasting the taxpayer’s money.  Texans work too hard for their money for the legislature to frivolously waste away the tax dollars.

Q: This November, voters in South Dakota will get to vote on a measure passed by their state legislature and signed by their governor that basically outlawed all abortion procedures in that state (which was put on the ballot by voter initiative after it was signed into law). It has been said that Texas will soon follow suit with similar legislation. Would you support a total ban on abortion in Texas?

A:  No. What good would it do?  Women would only have to go to another state.

Closing

Q: Other than some of the issues we’ve discussed so far, what are other issues that are of importance in your campaign, and what are your positions on those?

A: I believe that a worker has a right to organize or join a union without being harassed by management.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A:  We need a comprehensive recycling program in Texas.  The people want a program and we need to implement such a plan.

Just For Fun

Q: During your time on the campaign trail, or in public office, what’s the funniest, craziest, or silliest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Running into Republicans who vote straight party but do not know who their State Rep. is.

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