| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
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Abortion
David Dewhurst: Pushed the sonogram bill with pro-life advocates.
David Dewhurst: Proud of defunding Planned Parenthood.
Tom Leppert: Companies can deny insuring birth control.
Ted Cruz: Companies can deny insuring birth control.
David Dewhurst: Require women seeking abortions to view a sonogram.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: I am pro-life; I will support pro-life legislation.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Supports umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Rick Perry: Protect the unborn via sonogram requirement.
Randy Weber: Require parental notification and parental consent.
Randy Weber: No embryonic stem cell research.
Jon Roland: Let states regulate abortion, not feds.
Jon Roland: Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Rick Noriega: No limits on Roe vs. Wade.
Rick Noriega: I stand with science; fund embryonic stem cell research.
Alan Keyes: Do everything to overthrow Roe vs. Wade to acknowledge God.
Paul Sadler: No funding; no second trimester; no partial-birth.
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Budget & Economy
David Dewhurst: Cut $14B in state spending last year; cut 10.2% since 2003.
John Cornyn: Inaction on $700B bailout is unacceptable leadership.
John Cornyn: Voting for $700B bailout demonstrates leadership.
Rick Noriega: Voting for $700B bailout demonstrates herd mentality.
Barack Obama: Can’t do anything at home with $12 billion a month on Iraq.
Al Gore: Bush avoids Texas budget woes.
George W. Bush: The Texas budget is balanced, despite Gore’s attack.
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Civil Rights
David Dewhurst: Define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Ted Cruz: Opposes gay pride parades and opposes gay marriage.
Tom Leppert: Marched in gay pride parade, but opposes gay marriage.
Randy Weber: No affirmative action; no "gender identity".
Jon Roland: Allow same-sex couples to marry.
Jon Roland: Discontinue affirmative action programs.
Rick Noriega: Government should adopt domestic partner benefit policies.
Barack Obama: Hate crimes related to the immigration issue is unacceptable.
Joaquin Castro: Supports affirmative action for all state decisions.
Alan Keyes: The belief that you can’t legislate morality is nonsensical.
Paul Sadler: No same-sex marriage; no hate crime definition for gays.
Paul Sadler: No affirmative action in state government decisions.
George W. Bush: Reject quotas, double standards & “group thought”.
George W. Bush: Celebrate diversity but don’t put people into boxes.
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Corporations
David Dewhurst: I formed a business from scratch; bring that to government.
David Dewhurst: I formed a business from scratch; bring that to government.
Tom Leppert: I'm a career businessman; I've actually created jobs.
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Crime
David Dewhurst: Mandatory 25-year-to-life sentence for first-time child rape.
Rick Perry: Life without parole for certain repeat sex offenders.
Randy Weber: Supports the death penalty.
Randy Weber: Alternative sentencing ok; trying minors sometimes ok.
Jon Roland: Supports death penalty for federal crimes.
Jon Roland: Repeal most federal criminal statutes as unconstitutional.
Rick Perry: Amachi program: break up generational cycle of incarceration.
Rick Perry: Tough and smart: jail sexual offenders; release non-violent.
Joaquin Castro: More community centers; more job assistance for inmates.
Rick Perry: Supports DNA testing; standards for capital defenders.
Paul Sadler: End parole for repeat violent felons.
George W. Bush: Send juvenile criminals to “boot camp”.
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Drugs
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Secure our borders against Mexican drug cartels.
Rick Perry: Fight cross-border violence as part of drug war.
Randy Weber: Keep marijuana possession criminalized.
Rick Perry: Protect the border from drug traffickers.
Joaquin Castro: Strengthen sentences for drug-related crimes.
Paul Sadler: Strengthen drug penalties; also strengthen rehabilitation.
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Education
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Advocate of parental choice in education.
David Dewhurst: Protect student's right to pray and reflect in schools.
Julian Castro: Take "Race to the Top" Funds despite governor's refusal.
Rick Noriega: Scrap “No Child Left Behind”.
Joaquin Castro: More funds for schools, teachers, and college.
George W. Bush: Teach values and moral responsibility in schools.
George W. Bush: No-nonsense basic curriculum focusing on results.
George W. Bush: Set clear goals, use early tests.
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Energy & Oil
David Dewhurst: Open the Gulf; more hydro-fracking; less "green" energy.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: America needs America's energy.
Jon Roland: Alternative non-carbon, non-nuclear energy sources.
Joaquin Castro: Supports alternative fuel plus traditional sources.
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Environment
David Dewhurst: Repeal EPA's job-killing regulations.
Rick Perry: Flexible permitting to reduce ozone & NOx levels.
Rick Noriega: Reports for National Guard duty for Hurricane Ike response.
Rick Perry: Stop declaring wildlife sanctuaries on water reservoirs.
Stephen Breyer: Look for alternatives to environmental regulations.
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Families & Children
Ron Paul: Let parents decide on mental health screening for kids.
George W. Bush: More daycare funds; caseworkers; “Second Chance” homes.
Paul Sadler: Supports abstinence education in schools.
George W. Bush: Teach kids right (abstinence) and wrong (drugs & gangs).
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Foreign Policy
Barack Obama: Meet with Cuban leaders only with agenda of US interests.
Barack Obama: Cuba: Loosen restrictions now; normalization later.
Barack Obama: Important to undo the damage of the last seven years.
Hillary Clinton: Meet with Cuban leaders only after evidence of change.
Hillary Clinton: Diplomacy with Iran & Cuba, but no presidential meetings.
Hillary Clinton: Would use very vigorous and bipartisan diplomacy.
Rick Perry: Divest state funds from companies doing business in Sudan.
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Free Trade
Ted Cruz: Defended Chinese company on intellectual property theft.
Jon Roland: Free trade ok as long as sovereignty considered.
Barack Obama: Strong labor, safety, and environmental standards on trade.
Hillary Clinton: Have a trade prosecutor to enforce the trade agreements.
Ralph Nader: It’s not free trade; it’s corporate-managed trade.
George W. Bush: Free & fair trade is key to economic future.
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Government Reform
Paul Sadler: It's crazy to think Democrats want dependency.
Ted Cruz: Dems want to get as many Americans as possible dependent.
Randy Weber: No limits on campaign contributions nor campaign spending.
Rick Noriega: Legislative escape tp Okla. protected Voting Rights Act.
Scott Jameson: Increase limits on contributions to federal campaigns.
Jon Roland: No constitutional authority to regulate campaign finances.
Barack Obama: Lobbyists & special interests have strangle-hold on agenda.
Barack Obama: Consistently in favor of more disclosure around earmarks.
Barack Obama: Created a publicly searchable database on earmarks spending.
Barack Obama: Need a government that listens to the people again.
Ron Paul: Signing statements erode constitutional balance.
Joaquin Castro: Limit campaign donations, plus full disclosure.
George W. Bush: No lawsuits on good-faith acts.
Paul Sadler: Limit PAC and other contributions to legislative campaigns.
George W. Bush: Restore individual potential by focusing govt.
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Gun Control
David Dewhurst: Strongly supports our constitutional right to bear arms.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Defend right to purchase and possess firearms.
Jon Roland: Restore militia system--everyone trained in proper gun use.
Ron Paul: Opposes the DC Gun Ban; it’s not just a “collective right”.
George W. Bush: Arrest for guns in school; track juvenile offenders.
Paul Sadler: Maintain existing restrictions on firearms.
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Health Care
Paul Sadler: Keep ObamaCare benefits for young adults & elderly.
Ted Cruz: Vow to repeal ObamaCare.
Ted Cruz: Throw my body in front of a train to stop ObamaCare.
David Dewhurst: Reduce medical lawsuit abuse clogging our court system.
David Dewhurst: Replace ObamaCare with free-market healthcare.
Rick Perry: Repeal ObamaCare; simple message to Washington: "Enough".
John Cornyn: Don’t expand CHIP nationally until all Texans are covered.
Rick Noriega: Enroll all Texas kids in CHIP and other government plans.
Jon Roland: Universal health program for military; not general public.
Rick Noriega: Every American has a right to healthcare.
Barack Obama: My plan does more than anybody to reduce costs.
Barack Obama: My health plan does not leave 15 million people uncovered.
Barack Obama: Adults will get health care as they can afford it.
Hillary Clinton: Make it illegal to discriminate against sick people.
Hillary Clinton: Tired of health insurance companies deciding who live or die.
Hillary Clinton: Universal health care will not work if it is voluntary.
Rick Perry: Medical liability reforms have reduced frivolous lawsuits.
Rick Perry: $50 million nursing initiative to address shortage of nurses.
Rick Perry: Healthier Texas: $200M funding pool for uncompensated care.
Barbara Radnofsky: Don’t criminalize Medicare negotiating for drug prices.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Rx Plan has private companies competing to lower drug prices.
Scott Jameson: Supports universal mandatory health insurance.
Al Gore: Bush policies leave Texas with large Medicaid deficits.
George W. Bush: Health insurance for kids from tobacco settlement.
George W. Bush: Choose doctor for pay outside of HMOs.
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Homeland Security
David Dewhurst: No blanket cuts to military, but trim back some spending.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Maintain strong modern military to face dangerous challenges.
Jon Roland: Treat terrorists as pirates; military tribunals ok.
Jon Roland: More SDI funding & more state homeland security funding.
Rick Noriega: Warrantless phone-tapping abandons the Constitution.
Barack Obama: Unacceptable to have veterans drive 250 miles to a hospital.
George W. Bush: US military is key to preserving world peace.
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Immigration
Paul Sadler: Path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas.
Ted Cruz: No path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas.
David Dewhurst: Limit police power to ask detainees about immigration status.
Ted Cruz: Give police more power to ask about immigration status.
Paul Sadler: Pathway to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
Tom Leppert: No border wall.
David Dewhurst: Boots on the ground, plus a wall.
Ted Cruz: Boots on the ground, plus a wall.
David Dewhurst: No amnesty & no tuition for illegals; go home and re-apply.
Ted Cruz: Triple the size of the Border Patrol.
David Dewhurst: Triple the size of the Border Patrol.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: Greater emphasis on interdiction and deportation.
Annise Parker: Report illegals to ICE, but don't look for illegals.
John Cornyn: More secure documents needed to enforce immigration laws.
Rick Noriega: Immigration system is broken; deport undocumented workers.
Jon Roland: Secure border from illegal entry.
Barack Obama: Encourage every student to learn a second language.
Barack Obama: Need to look at different aspects of immigration reform.
Barack Obama: Have border patrolled, surveillance, and deploy technology.
Barack Obama: Increasing the legal fees on immigrants is not helping.
Barack Obama: Deporting 12 million people is ridiculous and impractical.
Hillary Clinton: No official English, but keep common unifying language.
Hillary Clinton: Introduce a path to earn citizenship in the first 100 days.
Hillary Clinton: Consider halting certain raids on illegal immigrant families.
Hillary Clinton: Border fence that cuts off a college campus is absurd.
Hillary Clinton: Deploy technology & personnel, not a border fence.
Rick Perry: $100 million investment in a more secure border.
Jimmy Carter: Provide education for undocumented worker-children.
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Jobs
Tom Leppert: I have created thousands of jobs; we need that in DC.
David Dewhurst: Less federal meddling on labor relations.
Jon Roland: No constitutional authority to regulate private hiring.
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Principles & Values
David Dewhurst: PAC ad: "Shattered Vision" calls Cruz a false conservative.
Ted Cruz: OpEd: His law firm donated $200,000 to Obama's campaign.
Rick Noriega: Served in Afghanistan as Lt. Colonel in Army National Guard.
John Cornyn: Criticizes Noriega for campaigning during Hurricane Ike.
Barack Obama: Go beyond the divisions so that the government can work.
Barack Obama: Life experiences taught me how to bring people together.
Barack Obama: Actions can be seen in 20 years of my public service.
Barack Obama: People understand we must bring the country together.
Barack Obama: Suggesting that I plagiarized Deval Patrick is silly.
Barack Obama: Wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I was prepared.
Barack Obama: I have shown the right judgment to lead.
Hillary Clinton: Called by my faith & upbringing to serve others at young age.
Hillary Clinton: I have the experience to be commander in chief.
Hillary Clinton: My own crises are nothing compared to what people often face.
Hillary Clinton: Words matter, but actions speak louder than words.
Hillary Clinton: Using passages from other’s speeches is change you can Xerox.
George W. Bush: Our guiding philosophy: Individual rights & responsibilties.
George W. Bush: Base “responsibility era” on Judeo-Christian values.
George W. Bush: De-emphasize economics; focus on compassion.
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Social Security
Ted Cruz: Raise retirement age; cap increases to inflation rate.
Jon Roland: Eliminate social security as unconstitutional.
Ron Paul: Federal government won’t keep its entitlement promises.
Barbara Radnofsky: Privatization is a terrible idea.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Reform Social Security now, while it’s still easy.
Scott Jameson: Replace entitlements with market alternatives.
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Tax Reform
Paul Sadler: Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents.
Paul Sadler: Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents.
David Dewhurst: State income tax would pass over my dead, cold body.
David Dewhurst: I favor a fairer and flatter tax.
Ted Cruz: Permanent Washington elite protects the tax code.
Tom Leppert: Flat tax is an opportunity to expand the base.
David Dewhurst: Passed the largest tax cut in Texas history.
Elizabeth Ames Jones: When raising taxes, government takes a little more freedom.
Rick Perry: Balance our budget without raising taxes.
Jon Roland: Permanently repeal the federal estate tax.
Barack Obama: Tax cut for seniors and those making $75,000 a year or less.
Hillary Clinton: Rescind tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year.
Rick Perry: Tax rebates & tax relief instead of government spending.
Paul Sadler: No state sales tax; decrease property tax.
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Technology
Rick Perry: $40M for 5,500 students in Texas Technology Grants.
Tony Sanchez: Create incentives to keep technology workers in state.
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War & Peace
David Dewhurst: More combat troops were needed in Iraq, and for longer.
Ted Cruz: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan went on too long.
Jon Roland: One more year of the surge, then withdraw.
Rick Noriega: Safely remove 2 brigades per month from Iraq, for 10 months.
Barack Obama: $2.7 billion each week of Iraq spending is unsustainable.
Hillary Clinton: Up to the Iraqis to decide the future they will have.
Hillary Clinton: The purpose of the surge has not been fulfilled.
Barbara Radnofsky: US presence destabilizes Iraq; leaving causes stability.
Barbara Radnofsky: Partition of Iraq will increase terrorism.
Barbara Radnofsky: Secret CIA papers at time of war vote skeptical of WMD info.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Need ideas like option for semi-autonomous regions.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: I can’t think of anything worse than cut-and-run.
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Would have voted against war if current WMD info were known.
Scott Jameson: No immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Scott Jameson: Iraq war should not be funded as an emergency.
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Welfare & Poverty
Joaquin Castro: Job training & childcare subsidies for welfare recipients.
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