Candidate Questionnaire - HD 129 -Sherrie Matula
State Candidate Questionnaire - HD 129 -Sherrie Matula, Democrat
1. Would you support requiring all electronic voting machines to print on paper for each voter a complete summary of their voting choices, which will become, after their inspection, the authoritative record of their vote?
Response: Absolutely. Anything non-verifiable can be tampered with and cannot be proven.
2. Would you support single payer universal health care?
Response: Yes. In Texas, this is the only way that we can protect the future of our proud state. At the moment we are dead last in insurance coverage and I am tired of having classrooms full of non-insured children who are constantly sick and having difficulty learning.
3. In February 2003 Santa Fe, New Mexico enacted a minimum wage ordinance which raised the minimum wage to $8.50/hour for all business and non-profits with 25 or more employees. The wage will increase to $9.50/hour in 2006 and $10.50/hour in 2008. Would you support similar legislation and an escalator clause that would guarantee cost of living adjustments?
Response: I would have no problem with the $8.50/hour increase. However, I have never gone along with increases just for the sake of increases. Before committing to step two and three, I would need more information and be able to see if it can be accomplished without causing businesses undue burdens, especially since we are talking about fairly small businesses at 25 or more employees.
4. Would you support enactment of legislation providing for public financing of general election campaigns for elective office at the local, state and federal levels?
Response: I really don’t know. It is a wonderful idea and I would love it right now to level the playing field. If we can do it and also enact legislation that protects against the heavy lobbying of pharmaceuticals, insurance companies, etc., then I definitely support the idea.
5. Would you consider implementing a state income tax to be used to fund health care and public education?
Response: Yes, even though I always hear the “when hell freezes over” response. I don’t know if the state will ever step up to the plate in these areas. We are then left with property tax where increases are becoming intolerable. Healthcare and public education both need a base of funding that is stable. Therefore, even a state income tax must be on the table.
6. Would you support a ban on the death penalty?
Response: In the past, I would have said no. However, with the lab scandals I have seen recently, I no longer support the death penalty. Evidently, mistakes are rampant. I would now support a ban on the death penalty.
7. Would you support increased funding for renewable energy and ending subsidies to the oil and gas industry?
Response: Yes, we really need to focus on renewable energy. However, with a husband and two daughters in the oil and gas industry, I can tell you that we need a commitment from all of our population to look at other options and to all focus on what is best for our future generations.
8. Would you support programs to restore full funding for mental health/mental retardation adequate to provide food, shelter and medical/mental health treatment for the homeless?
Response: Yes, otherwise, how can we call ourselves a caring society? We must treat all of our citizens fairly and with compassion.
9. Would you be in favor of changing the Texas method of selecting electors to the Electoral College from “winner take all” to proportional representation by popular vote?
Response: Yes, I have been in favor of throwing out the Electoral College as it now exists for a long time. It’s time has gone.
10. Would you support Instant Runoff Voting?
Response: Yes, and I would hope this would cut down on election costs all around.
11. Would you support a substantial increase in teacher compensation? What other approaches would you take to improve the quality of public education in Texas?
Response: What else can I say as a teacher of 25 years but absolutely. I am lucky to get a pay increase of $1,000 a year and I am consistently spending over $3,000 a year of my own money. Most teachers receive less than $100 a year for supplies. This is without getting into health insurance costs going up, etc.
I have a list “a mile long” of things that need to be done to improve public education. However, the first would be to get the legislature out of education and let us “the professionals”, find our own cure. I do think that mentoring and learning communities are a great first step. I also believe that we need to call a moratorium to the “bashing” of public education and we need to value one of our core values, public education.
12. How would you improve the environment of Texas i.e. TCEQ accountability, grandfathering of refineries, power plants etc and clean air emissions standards?
Response: If the TCEQ is not working for us, we need to scrap it and start over. The TCEQ should be totally accountable to we, the citizens. No refinery should be grandfathered. All refineries should go through an audit process to establish the safety of the facility for operation. I am studying the area of power plants right now to understand that aspect. I am a severe asthmatic due to air quality in a school building. I know every time we have problems with the ambient air quality because I have trouble breathing. I fully support tougher clean air emissions standards.
13. Are you dissatisfied with the way legislative districts are configured in Texas? If yes, what will you do about it?
Response: Yes, I would do anything I can possibly do after elected and with the coalitions needed within the House.