PROGRESSIVE VIEWS
For my final column to describe the important statewide races on the Nov. 3 ballot and the Democratic vision for that office, I’ll review the offices of governor and lieutenant governor (Lt.Gov.).
The governor is the state’s chief executive, elected every four years. The governor makes policy recommendations to state legislators and signs bills into law once passed. The governor also appoints the Secretary of State, who is responsible for the conduct of elections, among other duties.
The governor is the only elected official that can call a special session of the Legislature.
According to the Texas Tribune, the Lt.Gov. is often regarded as the most powerful statewide elected office because of its role in the Texas Legislature. In the Senate, the lieutenant governor is in charge of the agenda and committee appointments.
The Democratic candidates share many of the same priorities. For starters, Democrats will prioritize public education, not handouts to unregulated private schools through vouchers.
Republicans have reduced public school funding to the point that more than 150 schools are closing, and another 150 school districts have moved to four-day weeks. Texas’ teachers are leaving in droves because of low pay, tough working conditions, and increased meddling by politicians.
Democrats support teacher pay raises, smaller class sizes and less high-stakes standardized testing for our kids. Democrats will also repeal the voucher scheme forced through the 2025 Legislature despite bipartisan opposition.
Lowering prices is another major Democratic issue. Democrats support banning predatory surveillance pricing and will fight to ensure that grocery prices reflect actual market costs, not price gouging designed to squeeze more money from working Texans.
Democrats also support freezing residential utility rates until laws are enacted to ensure that data centers and other high-load users pay for themselves.
To bring down bills long term, Democrats will work to ensure that costs from rapid infrastructure development driven by data centers and industry are paid by the corporations and billionaires that drive those costs. Other priorities include lowering the assessment cap for landlords who charge fair market rent or below; making homestead exemptions automatic; and cutting red tape for affordable development.
Democrats will also work to rein in the rampant development of data centers to protect our water, land, health and access to electricity. Democrats are calling for an immediate moratorium on data centers to last until the legislature can meet to put in place real protections.
A temporary moratorium is a scam because the governor can lift it right after the election. The only way Texans are protected is when real laws are passed.
To pass this legislation right away, Democrats are also calling for a special session now to end the giant tax giveaways. Democrats will make data center companies responsible for the cost of their electricity and water use. Residential prices shouldn’t be higher because a data center is coming to town.
Democrats will also work to give county governments legal power and financial support to protect their communities from data centers, and the lawsuits data centers bring against communities trying to regulate or ban them.
Fighting for better healthcare is another Democratic priority. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. By expanding Medicaid, we can ensure more vulnerable Texans get the care they need while bringing billions in federal dollars back to our state.
Other issues include tackling the maternal healthcare crisis; expanding mental health resources; and protecting children’s healthcare, especially for children with special needs.
You have one last chance to vote in this critical election. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please note that the Kendall County Elections Office on Fawn Valley Drive is not an election day polling location.
Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard in one of the most consequential elections of our time. For details on voting, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www. kcdems.us Laura Bray is former Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party. Gina Hinojosa and Vikki Goodwin contributed to this article.
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