Positive Change vs. the Stagnant Status Quo
By Phillip Martin
Ed. note: The following is an op-ed written by Representative Carlos Uresti, who is challenging incumebnt Senator Frank Madla in the Democratic primary for Senate District 19.
Stretching across 23 counties from San Antonio to El Paso -- an area bigger than 11 states -- Senate District 19 is the largest senate district in the country. Our challenges are big, too.
Nearly half of all children in Eagle Pass live in grinding poverty (and the other half are hardly trust-fund babies). More than 75,000 people in El Paso County are at risk of losing their water services. Hundreds of thousands of eligible children from South San Antonio to Uvalde to Pecos have been stripped of their health insurance under the CHIP program. Public schools are bankrupt, homeowners' insurance is twice the national average, and millions of dollars in available federal revenue that could help are being left unclaimed in Washington, D.C.
Obviously, the status quo hasn't gotten the job done. I will.
When the state's Child Protective Services system was in crisis, I helped lead the charge to fix it. When my opponent and others tried to pass the largest tax hike in Texas history, I helped lead the charge to stop it.
As a committee chairman in a Republican-dominated House, I understand that it's important to compromise sometimes. But as a former Marine, I also understand that you should never compromise your principles. And that's the difference between my opponent and me.
I am running for Texas Senate because it's time for new energy, positive change, and a fresh approach that puts the people and communities of our district first, instead of last.
My opponent has chosen to surround himself with the symbols of Austin's failed leadership. But what the people of SD 19 need is an independent voice, not a rubber stamp for the radical right.
Posted by Phillip Martin at January 30, 2006 10:22 AM
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Every Democrat in Texas should read this and ask whether their Democratic representative acted in their interest or merely their own self-interest.
It is easy to blame the Republicans for the "status quo" but not so easy to blame some of the Democrats as well.
We need more representatives like Uresti who know what the words "principle" and "platform" mean.
Go Uresti! Madla needs to be held accountable. I want to see him explain to the parents of children cut off of CHIP that voted in their best interests. I want to see him explain to the family of a nursing home resident who died because of substandard care and abuse that he voted in their best interest when he voted for HB4 to limit their recovery to an insulting $250,000.00. Madla has picked who he wants to align himself with, and it ain't South Texas Dems. Just ask yourself why he has David Dewhurst headline fundraisers for him. This primary is a no-brainer, either vote for the incumbant who hasn't gotten anything done for his district because he is too busy helpeing advance the cruel corporate Republican agenda against Texas children, the elderly and poor, or vote for the guy who has consistently stood up for his constituents.
