Third question was about the South Dakota abortion law and should Texas do the same. Zimmerman: I think they definitely should. I'm very proud of South Dakota. I wish that Texas had taken that lead, but it's very good to see that South Dakota has done it and I'm interested in a similar law here in Texas.
Fleece agreed and added a comment about judicial activism.
When asked about sponsoring such legislation, Fleece dodged, but Zimmerman said, "I definitely would. Absolutely." Zimmerman also managed to throw in that he might have been seen praying with the pro-life protest groups out on Ben White.
Next, immigration. Fleece, it's more a federal responsibility. Zimmerman, doesn't support open borders policy, guest worker and amnesty.
Zimmerman brought up the Minutemen in his response saying, "Back in October, I joined the Texas Minutemen and patrolled the border myself...I met with the Texas Minutemen and these are patriots. They're interested in upholding the law..."
Next, toll roads. Both against tolling existing roads.
Next, property taxes with Zimmerman changing the topic. Zimmerman: "...School finance debate is misguided because it's the wrong topic. The debate really should be school choice."
Both support pilot inner city school choice/voucher program.
Then the subject of a teacher pay raise. Fleece: merit-based pay. Zimmerman: I'd like to see the market decide that. I think if we had a freer market for education, for teachers; I think the very good teachers would be paid far more than they are now and I think the bad teachers would find another job. I don't think politicians and bureaucrats are really qualified to say how much a teacher is worth. How do you put a dollar figure on what a good teacher is worth? I'm not qualified to do that. That's why I'd like to let the market decide that.
On healthcare costs. Zimmerman: I don't want to sound like a broken record but I guess I would have to go back to market forces again. I'm not sure how we're gonna pay for all these medical benefits. It seems that people are demanding more and more medical entitlements and as we give more and more medical care, the cost seems to escalate even more.
Fleece caught the market bug on the healthcare question and wants more market based healthcare system.
The subject of the CHIP cuts was brought up and restoring them. Fleece: It's certainly something I would like to continue see debated. That is not something that as I've talked to voters in the district has been one of the top issues on their minds. I'm certainly interested in having that discussion.
Zimmerman on CHIP: I'm not comfortable expanding the entitlement because what's unfair about this to me is to say where do we make this cut off point; of children that are eligible and children that are not. The people close to that line. Now there are working poor and a working not-so-poor. I just don't think it's fair to those people who are just outside the program to say that well, these parents' children are going to be subsidized, but your's are not. I'm not comfortable with the existing program.
Both candidates then got into a mini-Bush lovefest and the letter to the editor controversy.
Any concerns or questions about some of their responses? |
