Burnt Orange Report

40/40: We Must Put Our Families First

By Phillip Martin

Ed. note: This is an op-ed by Jason Earle, who's running in the Democratic primary in HD 47. Check back later this afternoon to read an op-ed by the other feature candidate of the week, Valinda Bolton.

Partisan politics at the capitol have failed to get the job done. Our public schools are on the brink of bankruptcy, our health care system is being held hostage to big insurance companies, our property taxes continue to shoot though the roof and ultra-partisan politicians call the shots.

That’s why I’m running for State Representative — to put the interests of Austin families first and partisan politics last at the Capitol.

Our elected leaders must rise above partisan politics with a fresh, honest, independent perspective that safeguards the interests of our children. Each generation faces the same challenge of handing down our civilization and our democracy to the next generation. Right now we are failing the test of building a better society for our children. The number one priority of the next legislature should be education because we all know it is easier to build a child than fix an adult.

I’m a native Austinite, and I am proud to say that I am a product of the schools in this community. I was educated in the Austin ISD, Lake Travis ISD and St. Stephen’s school and have two degrees from UT including a master’s in social work. I have a lot of experience in numerous areas including health care, public education, public safety and economic development for the State.

Schools need the proper resources to prepare students for the real world and the fact that schools must have up to date textbooks, computers and internet access and all schools must be safe is something we can no longer put on the back burner. My grandmother worked for schools for 25 years and is still an active member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association so I know the battle schools have when it comes to funding.

Today in Texas, middle income families are bearing too much of the tax burden for education. It makes no sense for the poorest families to pay the most for public education while some businesses use loopholes to get out of paying their fare share.

Currently only one in sixteen businesses pays their franchise tax. State government should take the lead in creating a tax structure that is fair to all families. State government should also make sure that public education stays public. I do not believe that vouchers are an option. Public funds should go to public schools and the children they serve.

We need to support our teachers by giving them more autonomy and allow them to actually teach in the classroom. Teachers are important, therefore we need to raise teacher pay at least to the national average and implement a mentoring program to help new teachers adapt and grow in their profession.

In 2004 Texas had a graduation rate of 65%. That ranks Texas 37th in the nation in graduation rates. In order for our children to be competitive in the workforce they need to graduate from high school.

Lowering tuition in our institutions of higher education is a necessity if we are to prosper in the future. The Texas legislature needs to increase funding for its statewide grant, loan and scholarship programs. A college degree should be the right of every Texan, not just those who can afford it because that will make us all more prosperous.

We must fix our schools, help families stay healthy and safe and create new economic opportunities in order to meet our obligations to the Texas of tomorrow.

I intend to work hard for a better tomorrow for the children and families of Southwest Travis County and all of District 47.

We can do this, we can do it together, and I intend to make it so.