Texas State Senate Race Paul Sadler vs. Ted Cruz
Content
Melendez 1 Ismael Melendez, Jr. Professor Edward J. Jackson Political Science 2314 5 October 2012 Paul Sadler and Ted Cruz, Texas senate candidates After the announcement of her retirement of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, this year Texas citizens will be voting for a new senator to represent them in Washington. The primary race on the Republican side for the nomination was very tight that it had to go to a runoff. In the end the candidate Ted Cruz, who was backed by the tea party, won the nomination. On the Democratic side Paul Sadler had an easier grasp of the nomination; he was the candidate with most experience and resonance in people mind. Three issues will be very important to consider when selecting the best candidate for senator economy, fiscal responsibility, and education. 1. Paul Sadler Sadler is an experience politician who served as in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991- 2003. He has also served as chairman of the Education committee, Chairman of the Select Committee on State Revenue and Public School Finance, 2001 Chairman of the Select Committee on Public School Employee Health Insurance, and has been a member of the Legislative Budged Board (Sadler, Paul). 1.1 Economy
Melendez 2 Paul Sadler believes in “fair pay for an honest day’s work, and retirement security for middle class families.” In his plan for the economy Sadler also his believe in new “new energy solutions, an educated workforce and investing in infrastructure are the keys to securing our nation’s economic future” (On The Issues). Paul Sadler thinks that the economy will get better when business feel “sense of stability for businesses willing to reinvest in the economy through job creation and business investments” (My Ballot). In order to accomplish the government should have a role Sadler explain that “we must follow a plan to pay down the national debt and decrease the deficit” (My Ballot). Sadler think that having our “financial house in order” (My Ballot), by paying out national debt, gives the United States the strongest position in any negotiations we would do with the increasing global force that is China. When stability is returned to the economy then we will see business reinvesting, hiring and an over improvement in the American economy. Sadler is very supportive alternative energy resources; he knows they are less detrimental to our environment and “helps us reduce toxic air pollution without the economic impacts of policies such as cap and trade” (My Ballot). 1.2 Fiscal Responsibility Paul Sadler knows that running the government when it is on a deficit is not good. He believes in “cutting spending” (My Ballot). His second part to reducing the deficit as part of congress would be to get some revenue dedicated for the purpose of debt reduction. One way he thinks that can be
Melendez 3 done is by examining and analyzing the “additional revenue… of the Bush Era tax cuts, with a particular analysis of their effect on our continued recovery” (My Ballot). He believes it will not only be congress’s responsibility but that of the whole government which should analyze its spending, “spending cuts and government efficiencies must come from a complete review of all government.” 1.3 Education Sadler education ideas include giving a good pay and health benefits to the “best and brightest teachers.” He believes in giving back control of school to parents and local communities, not the federal government (On the issues). During Sadler’s run in the Texas state House of Representatives he pursued a complete over haul of public education system in Texas, on a bipartisan basis. He was required to work across the aisle with Republicans. The governor George W. Bush signed the bill, 1995 Ratliff-Sadler Act, in Sadler’s hometown of Henderson. During his time in office he specifically “[increase] in school funding in an equitable and constitutional manner, increases in early childhood development programs, three teacher pay raises, and the creation of the public school employee health insurance program” (The Ballot). Although he thinks the No Child Left Behind had a laudable goal, he thinks it did not work. He points out that is an “Act [that] included various standards and rankings that did not match state goals and has become a program trying to drive education from Washington down.” He believes in more localized accountability of schools. He does not believe in the teaching students to the
Melendez 4 test, for end of year exams. He does open to ideas to different ideas about keeping track of students’ progress like “technology to allow us to monitor student progress in virtual real time” (The Ballot). 2. Ted Cruz Cruz who demands many attempts at debates with his Republican ticket contender, during primaries, David Dewhurst, is now only granting Sadler two debates (Robert T. Garrett). Cruz has served as the solicitor general from 2003 to 2008. He represented the state of Texas in the Supreme Court, state and national appellate courts. He is the solicitor general with the most time served, first Latino, and the youngest (Bio). Ted Cruz is the contender of the for the US senate, representing Texas. He is a tea party supported candidate running on the Republican ticket. 2.1 Economy Ted Cruz has stated many times that “government doesn’t create jobs… but government can kill jobs” (My Ballot). Ted Cruz thinks that unemployment benefits “exacerbate the jobless situation” because it “subsidizes unemployment” and increases “tax burdens on those who are employed” (My Ballot). Part of Ted Cruz 12 step jobs plan is “defeating President Obama’s destructive policies, like ObamaCare, cap-and-trade, abusive environmental enforcement, and relentlessly attacking right-to-work states” (My Ballot). His plan includes passing a balance budget amendment, helping small business, and reforming our tax code to be “flatter and fairer” (My Ballot).
Melendez 5 2.2 Fiscal Responsibility Ted Cruz thinks that the biggest threat the USA is the national debt “If we do not get our debt under control, it will dominate every other issue” (My Ballot). Cruz point out that the national debt is no bigger than the nation’s GDP, and also highlights that historically this signifies the decline of a nation. He adds that the decline of the United States will not occur only if more conservative candidates our elected to government “who will finally get serious about stopping out-of-control spending” (The Ballot). As part of Cruz’s plan to balance our budget he wants to “to eliminate unconstitutional federal agencies, cut domestic spending across the board, shrink the federal civilian workforce, reform entitlements, and pass a strong Balanced Budget Amendment” (The Ballot). Cruz holds responsible members of both parties for “growing federal spending and our crushing debt” (The Ballot). He points out that if we do not start to pay and control our national debt, countries that hold our debt like China will have greater leverage to use against us. He also predicts that if we don’t control our debt that we could end up like Germany or other failing countries in Europe. Cruz sees that China is already stronger and therefore “it has become more assertive militarily and more ruthless in its political oppression internally.” He suggests that America should engage Chinas “as a strategic competitor, fully cognizant that their interests are very different from our own.” He states that we should protect US intellectual property, defend US national security interests, and speak out for American
Melendez 6 values. He also thinks that China should cease currency manipulation and open its markets to American farmers and manufacturers. 2.3 Education In a recent interview Ted Cruz dismissed Sadler’s statement criticism about his education policy by saying that he want the control of federal government aid should be “sent to the states as block grants” (Robert T. Garrett). In a previous debate on October 2011 in the Wedgewood Church senator Ted Cruz stated “We need to get the federal government out of areas it doesn't have the constitutional authority to do. We need to eliminate the department of education…” (Ted Cruz on Education). He thinks that the power to make decision about education should be made at state and local level, with parents involved. This will be a very important election because whoever wins will have a great deal of impact on what happens in the state of Texas during my adult life. Ted Cruz is very conservative in all his economic ideas and his work as solicitor general has demonstrated very conservative religious values. Paul Sadler has moderate ideas on economic and education police issues, his environmental are more liberal but not radical. Paul Sadler would be the best option because he has demonstrated to be able to work with republican and he has the 10 years of experience as a legislator. He has good ideas to help get our country economy back to work without taking austerity measures that will affect the already failing middle class.
Melendez 7 Works Cited Benning, Tom. "Live Blog: Senate Debate between Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Paul Sadler." Web log post. Trail Blazers Blog. The Dallas Morning News, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/10/live-blog-senate-debatebetween-republican-ted-cruz-and-democrat-paul-sadler.html/>. "Bio." Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate. Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.tedcruz.org/bio/>. Garrett, Robert T. "Ted Cruz, Paul Sadler Spar over Student Loans in U.S. Senate Race." DallasFort Worth News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather and Traffic. The Dallas Morning News, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120926-ted-cruz-paul-sadler-sparover-student-loans-in-u.s.-senate-race.ece>. "My Ballot." U.S. Senate. The Dallas Morning News, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10253526>. "On The Issues." Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate. Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate, 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sadlerforsenate.com/where-i-stand>. Sadler, Paul. "Meet Paul." Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate. Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sadlerforsenate.com/meet-paul>. "Ted Cruz on Education." PoliGu.com. The Political Guide, 14 May 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Texas/Ted_Cruz/Views/Education/>.
Melendez 2 Paul Sadler believes in “fair pay for an honest day’s work, and retirement security for middle class families.” In his plan for the economy Sadler also his believe in new “new energy solutions, an educated workforce and investing in infrastructure are the keys to securing our nation’s economic future” (On The Issues). Paul Sadler thinks that the economy will get better when business feel “sense of stability for businesses willing to reinvest in the economy through job creation and business investments” (My Ballot). In order to accomplish the government should have a role Sadler explain that “we must follow a plan to pay down the national debt and decrease the deficit” (My Ballot). Sadler think that having our “financial house in order” (My Ballot), by paying out national debt, gives the United States the strongest position in any negotiations we would do with the increasing global force that is China. When stability is returned to the economy then we will see business reinvesting, hiring and an over improvement in the American economy. Sadler is very supportive alternative energy resources; he knows they are less detrimental to our environment and “helps us reduce toxic air pollution without the economic impacts of policies such as cap and trade” (My Ballot). 1.2 Fiscal Responsibility Paul Sadler knows that running the government when it is on a deficit is not good. He believes in “cutting spending” (My Ballot). His second part to reducing the deficit as part of congress would be to get some revenue dedicated for the purpose of debt reduction. One way he thinks that can be
Melendez 3 done is by examining and analyzing the “additional revenue… of the Bush Era tax cuts, with a particular analysis of their effect on our continued recovery” (My Ballot). He believes it will not only be congress’s responsibility but that of the whole government which should analyze its spending, “spending cuts and government efficiencies must come from a complete review of all government.” 1.3 Education Sadler education ideas include giving a good pay and health benefits to the “best and brightest teachers.” He believes in giving back control of school to parents and local communities, not the federal government (On the issues). During Sadler’s run in the Texas state House of Representatives he pursued a complete over haul of public education system in Texas, on a bipartisan basis. He was required to work across the aisle with Republicans. The governor George W. Bush signed the bill, 1995 Ratliff-Sadler Act, in Sadler’s hometown of Henderson. During his time in office he specifically “[increase] in school funding in an equitable and constitutional manner, increases in early childhood development programs, three teacher pay raises, and the creation of the public school employee health insurance program” (The Ballot). Although he thinks the No Child Left Behind had a laudable goal, he thinks it did not work. He points out that is an “Act [that] included various standards and rankings that did not match state goals and has become a program trying to drive education from Washington down.” He believes in more localized accountability of schools. He does not believe in the teaching students to the
Melendez 4 test, for end of year exams. He does open to ideas to different ideas about keeping track of students’ progress like “technology to allow us to monitor student progress in virtual real time” (The Ballot). 2. Ted Cruz Cruz who demands many attempts at debates with his Republican ticket contender, during primaries, David Dewhurst, is now only granting Sadler two debates (Robert T. Garrett). Cruz has served as the solicitor general from 2003 to 2008. He represented the state of Texas in the Supreme Court, state and national appellate courts. He is the solicitor general with the most time served, first Latino, and the youngest (Bio). Ted Cruz is the contender of the for the US senate, representing Texas. He is a tea party supported candidate running on the Republican ticket. 2.1 Economy Ted Cruz has stated many times that “government doesn’t create jobs… but government can kill jobs” (My Ballot). Ted Cruz thinks that unemployment benefits “exacerbate the jobless situation” because it “subsidizes unemployment” and increases “tax burdens on those who are employed” (My Ballot). Part of Ted Cruz 12 step jobs plan is “defeating President Obama’s destructive policies, like ObamaCare, cap-and-trade, abusive environmental enforcement, and relentlessly attacking right-to-work states” (My Ballot). His plan includes passing a balance budget amendment, helping small business, and reforming our tax code to be “flatter and fairer” (My Ballot).
Melendez 5 2.2 Fiscal Responsibility Ted Cruz thinks that the biggest threat the USA is the national debt “If we do not get our debt under control, it will dominate every other issue” (My Ballot). Cruz point out that the national debt is no bigger than the nation’s GDP, and also highlights that historically this signifies the decline of a nation. He adds that the decline of the United States will not occur only if more conservative candidates our elected to government “who will finally get serious about stopping out-of-control spending” (The Ballot). As part of Cruz’s plan to balance our budget he wants to “to eliminate unconstitutional federal agencies, cut domestic spending across the board, shrink the federal civilian workforce, reform entitlements, and pass a strong Balanced Budget Amendment” (The Ballot). Cruz holds responsible members of both parties for “growing federal spending and our crushing debt” (The Ballot). He points out that if we do not start to pay and control our national debt, countries that hold our debt like China will have greater leverage to use against us. He also predicts that if we don’t control our debt that we could end up like Germany or other failing countries in Europe. Cruz sees that China is already stronger and therefore “it has become more assertive militarily and more ruthless in its political oppression internally.” He suggests that America should engage Chinas “as a strategic competitor, fully cognizant that their interests are very different from our own.” He states that we should protect US intellectual property, defend US national security interests, and speak out for American
Melendez 6 values. He also thinks that China should cease currency manipulation and open its markets to American farmers and manufacturers. 2.3 Education In a recent interview Ted Cruz dismissed Sadler’s statement criticism about his education policy by saying that he want the control of federal government aid should be “sent to the states as block grants” (Robert T. Garrett). In a previous debate on October 2011 in the Wedgewood Church senator Ted Cruz stated “We need to get the federal government out of areas it doesn't have the constitutional authority to do. We need to eliminate the department of education…” (Ted Cruz on Education). He thinks that the power to make decision about education should be made at state and local level, with parents involved. This will be a very important election because whoever wins will have a great deal of impact on what happens in the state of Texas during my adult life. Ted Cruz is very conservative in all his economic ideas and his work as solicitor general has demonstrated very conservative religious values. Paul Sadler has moderate ideas on economic and education police issues, his environmental are more liberal but not radical. Paul Sadler would be the best option because he has demonstrated to be able to work with republican and he has the 10 years of experience as a legislator. He has good ideas to help get our country economy back to work without taking austerity measures that will affect the already failing middle class.
Melendez 7 Works Cited Benning, Tom. "Live Blog: Senate Debate between Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Paul Sadler." Web log post. Trail Blazers Blog. The Dallas Morning News, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/10/live-blog-senate-debatebetween-republican-ted-cruz-and-democrat-paul-sadler.html/>. "Bio." Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate. Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.tedcruz.org/bio/>. Garrett, Robert T. "Ted Cruz, Paul Sadler Spar over Student Loans in U.S. Senate Race." DallasFort Worth News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather and Traffic. The Dallas Morning News, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120926-ted-cruz-paul-sadler-sparover-student-loans-in-u.s.-senate-race.ece>. "My Ballot." U.S. Senate. The Dallas Morning News, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas12/race-detail.do?id=10253526>. "On The Issues." Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate. Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate, 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sadlerforsenate.com/where-i-stand>. Sadler, Paul. "Meet Paul." Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate. Paul Sadler for U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sadlerforsenate.com/meet-paul>. "Ted Cruz on Education." PoliGu.com. The Political Guide, 14 May 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Texas/Ted_Cruz/Views/Education/>.
