6 questions Hutchison must answer
August 17, 2009
Agree with them or not, Gov. Rick Perry has fairly well established positions on most bread-and-butter issues at the heart of state government. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign to end his record tenure requires more than critiques of Perry's performance. Those we can come up with ourselves. (Like, can the state really keep borrowing and tolling its way to a first-class transportation system to hand off to the next generation?)
Written by Editorial, Dallas Morning News
Hutchison's campaign kickoff tour hits Dallas today, and it's time for her to offer alternatives – clear and detailed options for solving the state's most stubborn problems. Here are six: 1. Transportation. The senator argues for "free, quality highways and roads." Texans deserve to know how she would make up the shortfall of tens of billions of dollars to build that transportation network. And would she support the right of voters in Texas metro areas to raise money locally to build roads and rail? 2. Water resources. The next generation also depends on us to get moving on reservoirs that will be needed by mid-century. Should the state have a new, dedicated revenue source for that massive undertaking? 3. Education. Hutchison has been a steady supporter of boosting math and science education and strengthening college readiness. She also opposes the new business tax the Legislature created to help fund public K-12 schools. So how should Texas pay the cost of a top-flight education system? 4. Air quality. North Texas is one of many metro areas whose air fails federal standards, jeopardizing the public's health and federal funds. What should Austin's role be for bringing cities into compliance? Are the state's environmental commissioners properly balanced between business and the environment? 5. Criminal justice. Texas leads the nation in wrongful convictions exposed by DNA tests. What safeguards are needed in the criminal justice system? In which ways is the system of capital punishment due for reform? 6. Social services. Texas' demographics are changing rapidly, and the number of poor families is expected to keep rising. What should the state do to meet their health and social needs? And how can it do so while keeping Medicaid from eating up the state budget?
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