By Tom McIlroy
Feb. 19, 2010, 7:40 a.m.
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
My candidacy offers a new direction for the people of the 18th Congressional District. The people of the 18th Congressional District need a strong fighter who will be a champion for our seniors and children, build a consensus and bring results back to the community.
Developing new and small businesses is the key to creating jobs for the District. As a member of the Houston City Council, I established a record on creating jobs and I continue to work tirelessly with our city's business and civic leaders to help create business and economic opportunities for our community. I am also the most forceful advocate on behalf of small and minority/women owned businesses and professionals in their effort to win city contracts that create jobs in our community.
My efforts resulted in the "unbundling" of large contracts to allow opportunities for Small and Minority/Women owned businesses to go after and secure city contracts. I'll make it my priority in Congress to recruit businesses within the District to prepare them to compete for federal contracts.
We must put the highest priority on closing the achievement gap, eliminating the drop-out rate and making sure that all the children of the 18th Congressional District get a quality education.
I embrace President Obama's initiative that focuses on early childhood education and investment in K-12 education. The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" includes $5 billion for early learning programs, $77 billion for reforms to strengthen elementary and secondary education, and $30 billion to address college affordability and improve access to higher education. I will be aggressive in making sure our federal dollars are brought back to students and schools in the 18th Congressional District.
It is inexcusable for the 18th Congressional District to be among the nation's leaders of having the most residents without access to affordable health care in a community that neighbors the Texas Medical Center. We need a greater sense of moral leadership on this very critical issue. I'll utilize my experience to get more residents the health care they deserve and access to the best treatment facilities in the area. Our leadership has allowed the big insurance companies to dictate to the residents of the Eighteenth Congressional District who can have access to health care. I will do all that I can to ensure that Washington hears the voice of my constituents on this issue.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
I believe in the core values of the Democratic Party- protecting the interests of working class families; fighting for equal opportunities and equal justice for all Americans; maintaining the constitutional rights and liberties of all Americans. I also believe that small businesses are the driving force of our nation and that they are the key to our market success. Finally, I believe that corporations should be treated the same as individuals in that they have the same social responsibility to their employees and neighbors that we expect of the individual citizen.
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
Small businesses are responsible for 70% of all new jobs that are being created. We need to support policies and incentives that allow for their growth. I'll be aggressive in making sure the District's small and minority/women owned businesses are accessing federal contracts. I'll hire an economic development specialist in my office. We will work with the Greater Houston Partnership, local chambers of commerce, educational institutions, and local governments to put forward strategies on how we can attract and/or develop new businesses in the district with a focus on marketing the District's abundance of affordable undeveloped land that can attract green industries.
What would you do to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit?
I will support policies that foster business and job growth and that in turn will create new tax revenue that helps reduce the deficit. I would support the President on the creation of a Bipartisan Budget Deficit Commission.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
I support the President's policies in Afghanistan and Iraq to fight and defeat Al-Qaida. I support funding for security enhancements for our airports and ports. I support better coordination between all federal agencies and departments with national security functions. We should make available resources to nation partners that are cooperating in the war against terrorism. We should also make sure the local law enforcements agencies are cooperating and working with state and federal law enforcement agencies and sharing valuable information.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
I would work with the local congressional delegation on a strategy to dialogue with The White House on continued funding of the Constellation program. I would encourage the creation of local bipartisan task force made up of prominent Houstonians to work with the local congressional delegation on this issue.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
I favor comprehensive reform that includes enacting the provisions of the DREAM Act, a pathway to citizenship and legal status for the millions of those that are undocumented that have been productive residents; and border security that includes cooperation and coordination with the various local government agencies.
