I want to start a discussion about which issues the Rowlett TEA Party should get involved by lobbying our state reps, our state senator, and by educating our neighbors.
The key issues I believe we should focus our energy on include:
- School choice. Whether through an expanded charter school program or through educational vouchers, parents should have a choice in where and how their children are educated. And since it is critical to the democratic process for the citizens to be educated, we cannot continue to try and fix a system that is built on achieving mediocrity.
- Voter ID. Although I believe this issue will be fast tracked through the Legislature, it is important for the Rowlett TEA Party to voice its support for Voter ID legislation in order to preserve the integrity of our election process. Nothing is more damaging to a democratic process than a compromised election system.
- Health care. The Texas legislature will consider legislation very similar to voter approved constitutional amendments in many states, including Missouri, Arizona, and Oklahoma that deny the federal government the power to mandate we purchase health insurance. This legislation will be Texas' way to say, "Not in our state!" If there is a more important issue than this to keep the authority of the federal government at bay, I am not aware of it.
- Immigration enforcement.
- Opting out of Medicaid (through a statewide block grant)
- Redistricting
- Reforming laws that govern municipal pensions to allow cities greater flexibility.
