On the Issues
As your Texas Railroad Commissioner, I will:
- Ensure the Texas oil and gas industry is healthy, prosperous and continues to be a job-creator,
- Strongly oppose unnecessary and punitive federal regulation,
- Protect individual private property rights,
- Maintain the safety of our state’s pipelines,
- Defend our water and environment,
- Be a steadfast conservative leader, standing firm on our traditional values.
Ensure the Texas oil and gas industry is healthy, prosperous and continues to be a job-creator
Unfortunately, this industry is at risk. Our family’s livelihoods are under attack. Is this risk a depletion of our resources? No, thanks to new technology and major finds, Texas has enough oil and gas to continue to lead the country in oil and gas production for many years into the future. This risk is man-made and driven from the liberals in Washington, D.C. who are intent on coming into our state and telling us what we can and cannot do to drive our economy, safely and conscientiously administer our natural resources and provide for our families.
President Obama and the EPA consistently take action that will simply kill Texas jobs. From Cap-and-Trade legislation to banning drilling offshore and in the ANWR to making over 600,000 acres in the Permian Basin off limits to drilling due to a lizard – Washington is simply out of control.
We need leadership in Austin that is willing to work hard and stand strong for the Texas worker, the Texas family and the Texas economy. We need a leader who won’t just throw their hands in the air and go along with the status quo. We need a leader who will speak up for Texas.
I am that leader.
Strongly oppose unnecessary and punitive federal regulation
As Commissioner, I will stand up to the Washington liberals and be a strong advocate for Texas and our interests. I will work every day to ensure a fair and balanced approach when instituting and enforcing regulations that should protect our citizens while freeing our businesses to safely and effectively grow and create jobs.
Protect individual private property rights
An individual’s right to own property is afforded to us by the Constitution and should not be infringed upon by the government. Occasionally, energy exploration and an individual’s private property rights collide. When faced with such a conflict, it is vital we have leaders who understand how to balance the energy needs of the state with the constitutionally protected rights of private property owners.
Maintain the safety of our state’s pipelines
Texas has more miles of pipeline than we do highway miles, delivering the energy we so desperately need from the wellhead to the consumer. And Texas’ pipeline safety record is second to none. Ensuring our pipes are in good working condition to safely transport oil and gas is among the most important duties of the Commission and it’s a responsibility I will take very seriously.
Defend our water and environment
Protecting God’s creations are of great concern. I will work diligently to defend our natural resources. We should be responsible guardians of our air and water. And on the Railroad Commission, I will not hesitate to levy harsh penalties for those who abuse our land, our resources and our people. The vast majority of energy producers are good stewards of the environment, and they should be included as partners in a united front as we develop our natural resources.
A steadfast conservative leader, standing firm on our traditional values
Safeguarding our traditional values of strong families, our faith in God and our constitutionally protected freedoms is the responsibility of every Texan, including our elected leaders. Texas isn’t Texas simply because of our natural beauty, strong economy and vast natural resources. Texas is Texas because of the individuals who came here seeking a better life. We live in the greatest state in the greatest country in the world because of our values of hard work, faith and the freedom to be who God made us to be. I will be an elected leader you can be proud of and will approach every decision you elected me to make with those values in mind.
