We need to do everything that we can to ensure that government responds to the people. We are a government "of the people, by the people, for the people".

Campaign finance reform, such as the legislation I have filed, would level the playing field and ensure ordinary voices aren't drowned out.  Those voices also need to be able to reach the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or other state agencies when they have a question or need to enroll in a state program.  Too often, Texans find that we haven't invested in the personnel and technology to ensure that someone simply answers the phone.  They have also found that programs meant to serve them don't always work as planned. In those cases I have brought together community members to meet with state officials from HHSC or other agencies to find solutions that meet their needs.

The world is moving fast, and government must keep up. By understanding the latest breakthroughs in technology and trends in our state, we can save taxpayers money and provide them with the best services available.  As my office helps individuals trying to access state social services, we witness perhaps the greatest need for a "smarter" approach to governing. 

I believe we can innovate in many areas of government.  In public finance, we need to build on my successful legislation to allow city governments to provide low-cost loans to property owners to pay for the upfront costs of solar panels or energy improvements.  By attaching the loan to the property and paying it off long-term through property tax bills, the owners no longer have to worry about recouping the savings before they move.  In interfacing with clients, the government needs to develop more streamlined and convenient procedures, such as the one-stop child care referral shop I established in 2005.  In our internal operations, government needs to more modern approaches, such as the expanded use of hybrid vehicles I mandated in 2009.

We must ensure our state government is always on the side of Texans. Yet, at times, we find regulations or programs on the books that just don't work quite the way they should in the real world.  We also find that some programs can achieve a bigger bang for their buck if take a different approach.  Or we find that we're not investing our limited dollars in the areas that provide the biggest return.

We need to cut through red tape, as I did when I discovered conflicting nursing school laws, or child care regulations that hindered child care centers at work.  We can get more out of our existing programs by enrolling more of the eligible people who would benefit, as I've sought to do for the Women's Health Program, pre-k, and more.  The programs are also more productive when we form partnerships with other public and private entities and streamline multiple projects into one. Rather than publicizing individual government services and requiring Texans to jump through hoops to sign up for each one, we should create local hubs in schools, community tax centers and elsewhere to sign up families for all services they're qualified for and need. Finally, I've tried to steer funding away from questionable programs such as B-On-Time loans and university earmarks that distort funding formulas. Instead, I've worked to direct funding towards investments that save us money in the long-run, such as high-quality early education.

One of the most important principles in government is to treat all people fairly.  One of the areas where this is most important is our tax system. We all rely on our public roads, schools, police and other public investments, and we all expect to make fair contributions to keep them going. 

We need to make sure that no Texans are avoiding their fair share of taxes.  I have worked to uncover and end unfair tax breaks, such as the $10 million refund the state gives companies that might receive school tax abatements if they weren't banned.  Similarly, I have tried to give appraisal districts the tools they need to avoid deflated values that let a few property owners off the hook. 

We also need to make sure taxpayers aren't overcharged.  That's why I've helped to provide more state oversight and assistance to appraisal districts to produce accurate and fair appraisals and tax bills, improve appraisal review boards, and expand appeal opportunities.  The 2009 Legislature passed these proposals as well as my bill to study a property tax relief "circuit breaker" system that assists families whose incomes lag behind their taxes, but the Governor vetoed the study.