Q.
___ Why do you want to be a senator?
___I am running to represent Texas values of hard work, self-reliance, faith, family and freedom. I also look forward to working
 |
|
JOHN CORNYN
|
with the president to pass a mainstream conservative agenda. I hope to expand on my record as attorney general of enforcing child support laws and to work for additional measures that strengthen the American family. I will be a champion for the institution of marriage. Whenever possible, a child deserves the support of a two-parent family. I support elimination of the marriage penalty tax and believe that federal welfare policies discouraging marriage should be reversed.
___In addition, I will support pro-growth economic policies such as making the 2001 tax cuts permanent, including permanent elimination of the death tax. I will support tort reform to end the litigation lottery that places a heavy burden on small business. I am also committed to rebuilding our military after years of neglect.
___I will also focus on making health care more affordable and accessible. Health-care reform should be based on free-market principles to increase consumer choice and accessibility. I will work to reduce excessive restrictions, provide tax credits for the uninsured to acquire coverage and permit small businesses to pool their resources in Association Health Plans to negotiate affordable rates with health-care providers.
Q.
___ What are the particular qualities and abilities that you feel uniquely qualify you for this office?
___As a district judge, Texas Supreme Court justice and most recently as attorney general of Texas, I have established a record of accomplishment based on a conservative philosophy. As attorney general, my staff and I have increased child-support collections for some of the poorest children in the state by 86 percent. I also have cracked down on nursing home operators who put profits ahead of the health of their residents, stopped HMOs from interfering with health choices made by patients and their family doctor, and worked with local law enforcement to establish the Texas Exile program to get guns out of the hands of criminals. As the next U.S. senator from Texas, I will continue to be a strong voice for traditional values and work to make Texas an even better place to live, work and raise a family.
Q.
___ Why did you choose the legal profession as your vocation?
___I viewed the law, particularly serving as a judge and attorney general, as an opportunity to serve my fellow Texans. I have worked on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society, children and the elderly, and have gone after violent criminals and child pornographers. Through these efforts, Texas children are better off, seniors are better protected and our streets are safer. There is always room for improvement and another task to accomplish. I am running for the Senate to continue this work and advance an agenda reflecting Texas values.
Q.
___ What person has been most influential in your life?
___My parents, both products of small-town Texas, have influenced me the most. They taught me the value of faith, family and freedom. My father was a pilot in World War II and spent time as a POW in Germany. He loved America and dedicated himself to defending our country as a career officer in the Air Force. My mom continues to be a major force in my life and a source of strength and encouragement.
Q.
___ How important is religious faith in your life?
___From a very early age, faith has always been an important part of my life. At times, as a judge and as attorney general, I have heard some tragic stories and visited with parents and children facing great obstacles in their lives. I have been touched by so many of these people who place their faith in God and continue to strive to make a better life for themselves and their children.
Q.
___When did you become a Christian, and what church do you attend?
___I attend the University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin. I have been a member of the Church of Christ since I became a Christian when I was 12 years old. My faith has always been strong, but it became deeper with the birth of my daughters. The responsibility of raising children really reinforced for me our purpose in being here and the role God plays in each of our lives. A good moral foundation is very important for a child because we cannot always be there when a decision must be made.
Q.
___ Explain your position on church/state separation.
___I am a strong believer in freedom of religion and religious free speech. As attorney general, I represented the state of Texas in the United States Supreme Court and argued in support of the First Amendment rights of students to gather and participate in protected religious speech. In this instance, I argued that they be able to offer a prayer before a high school football game. My argument was based on a belief that religious speech must be treated like other speech and should not be restricted.
Q.
If elected, what would be your position on faith-based initiatives in social-welfare areas?
___I believe faith-based organizations can play an important role in delivering social services. I also strongly support President Bush's initiatives in this area. Traditional social programs are often too bureaucratic and inflexible to meet the complex needs of the poor. The federal government should be a partner with faith-based caregivers. These organizations perform everyday miracles.
Q.
___ Aside from the war on terrorism, what do you feel is the most crucial issue facing America today and what would you propose as a senator to deal with it?
___We cannot tax, spend, regulate and sue our way to economic prosperity. Instead, free enterprise and self-reliance are the cornerstones of economic freedom and economic growth. Freedom and growth are the keys to job creation and expanded opportunity. The money we earn is ours, not the government's to keep and spend as it sees fit. We should return money to taxpayers to allow them to invest in their own ideas--and, in the process, create jobs and growth. I will also fight for common-sense lawsuit reform to ensure that our legal system benefits people who have suffered genuine loss, not trial lawyers who bring frivolous lawsuits.
Q.
___ Who are your heroes?
___I have been fortunate to be surrounded by everyday heroes starting with my father. His dedication to God and country, as well as the commitment of his Air Force colleagues, has always been an inspiration for me. During my time as a district judge and attorney general, I have known numerous police officers who put their lives at risk every day to protect others and ask little in return. I have also met single mothers of handicapped children who work multiple jobs just to put food on the table and a roof over their child's head. There is potential greatness in everybody.
Q.
___ What do you do for fun?
___I enjoy spending quiet time at home with my wife, Sandy, and my daughters, Danley and Haley. I am also an avid reader, particularly of current affairs and history. I enjoy exercising and being outdoors, so I frequently jog and enjoy hunting. |
|
Q.
___ Why do you want to be a senator?
___For too long, our leaders in Washington have focused more on what divides us rather than what unites us. Our nation is facing many challenges, and we all have ideas on how to make things
 |
|
RON KIRK
|
better. Instead of taking part in partisan bickering, I want to work to find common ground with Democrats, Republicans and independents to get things done for the people of Texas and all Americans.
Q.
___ What are the particular qualities and abilities you feel uniquely qualify you for this office?
___As mayor of Dallas, I helped put an end to the divisive politics that dominated the city. I worked with the business community, local leaders, Democrats, Republicans and independents to unite the city, rebuild the Dallas economy and get the city moving again. With over 20 years of legislative experience, including serving as secretary of state, I've built a reputation of bringing people together and getting things done. That is the same approach I want to take to Washington, D.C. I want to work with senators from both parties an
d use common sense to find common ground and find real solutions.
Q.
___ Why did you choose the legal profession as your vocation?
___As a young man, I saw the legal profession as a great avenue to serve my community and for public service.
Q.
___ What person has been most influential in your life?
___My mother and father have been the most influential persons in my life. My mother was a public schoolteacher and my father a postal worker. They taught me the importance of family and involvement in the community.
Q.
___ How important is religious faith in your life?
___My faith is part of who I am and is with me every day.
Q.
___When did you become a Christian, and what church do you attend?
___I was born and reared in a Christian household. My wife, Matrice Ellis Kirk, our two daughters and I are members of the St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church in Dallas.
Q.
___ Explain your position on church/state separation. If elected, what would be your position on faith-based initiatives in social welfare areas?
___As mayor of Dallas, I commended then-Gov. Bush in his efforts to reach out to faith-based initiatives at the state level. I am a strong supporter of President Bush's faith-based initiatives and believe that we need to strengthen support for the broad range of community, civic and philanthropic groups, including the religiously affiliated, that are the foundation of our social fabric. Although charities are not a replacement for government, government cannot do it all. That's why I support common-sense steps to eliminate barriers preventing many faith-based social service providers from competing for federal funding or serving as providers for federal programs.
Q
___. Aside from the war on terrorism, what do you feel is the most crucial issue facing America today, and what would you propose as a senator to deal with it?
___We need to take action to restore public trust in our financial markets and to restore our economic strength. That begins with restoring public confidence in the accuracy of financial information and assuring there are not blatant conflicts of interest that are causing corporations to act irresponsibly.
___I support and commend President Bush for his actions to hold corporations to a higher standard of accounting and reporting information to American consumers and investors. Corporate deceptions and bogus accounting practices have hurt many Texans and drained the retirement nest-eggs of Americans who have fallen victim to these irresponsible actions. These deceptive corporate practices have led to thousands of Texas state employees losing over $200 million from their investment and retirement funds due to the WorldCom and Enron scandals.
___That's why I have proposed a three-point plan to assure that Washington uses taxpayer dollars responsibly. This plan will: (1) prohibit Congress from giving itself a pay raise until the budget is balanced; (2) implement new rules to control government spending; and (3) cut fraud and eliminate loopholes that waste hundreds of billions of dollars. A return to disciplined budgeting is critical if we are to eliminate the nation's deficits and return to the budget surpluses that are the foundation of a stronger economy and a brighter future.
Q.
___ Who are your heroes?___
___I have many heroes, many that inspire me, but none more so than my parents.
Q.
___ What do you do for fun?
___I spend time with my family and friends.
___
|
