Priorities

​1. School Choice

I want everyone to have access to a good and safe education.

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Some people can afford to move to a neighborhood with good public schools or can send their children to a good private school of their choice.

Beto O’Rourke believes that the only choice Texans should have to education is a state funded public school system, no matter how bad it is, where it’s nearly impossible to expel those with the worst behavior. He promises that one day, if enough Democrats are elected and they raise your taxes high enough, they’ll make all public schools great. 

As we see nationwide, Democrats’ promises to throw more money at the current education system without offering more choices, competition, or more safety, which does nothing but waste more money. 

Republicans sometimes talk a good game, but Republicans, including Greg Abbott, have controlled Texas government for decades, yet have failed to deliver on school choice.

Arizona recently passed a ground-breaking school choice plan. Why can’t we do that here in Texas?

I want to reduce the role of government in education, reduce the cost to taxpayers, and give more control and choices to parents and children. 

The Texas Constitution mandates that the state provide an efficient and free education to all Texans. However, it does not mandate that Texans must be educated by the state.

​I support a voucher or tax credit system so even low-income families can afford to send their children to private schools or home school. 

Detractors will say I want to destroy public education. In reality, I want to see the worst government schools shut down, while watching the good schools improve rapidly as they are subject to competition. I care more about parents, children, and their education than the education establishment.

A one-size-fits-all school system is bad for everyone. Parents should be allowed to have a say on what books should be in school libraries, how sex education should be taught, facemask wearing, how much to focus on math versus arts, and standardized testing. 

With school choice, parents can send their children to schools that best match their preferences. 
If you are tired of Greg Abbott and Republicans in Texas dragging their feet on School Choice, send them a clear message and vote for Mark Tippetts and the Libertarians in November.

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2. Immigration

It’s nearly impossible to immigrate to America legally unless you’re a high-tech worker or have family connections.

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Most illegal immigrants come here to work in construction, landscape, clean homes, work in restaurants, and many other low-skilled jobs that most citizens don’t want to do. 

The typical illegal immigrant pays $5,000 to have a coyote smuggle them across the border. Immigrants risks their lives crossing the Rio Grande and stretches of dessert and often must hide in dangerous, and sometimes deadly, hot trucks. The federal government spends billions policing the border and the state spends millions as well trying to stop illegal immigration, but it doesn’t work. 

We could end most illegal immigration by enacting a good comprehensive immigration policy, making it easier for honest, hardworking people to come work and live here legally.

While some immigrants take advantage of free government services and welfare, most economists agree that on average, immigrants use social services much less than American citizens, and are a net positive to the economy. 

I do not minimize the seriousness of the illegal immigration problem (and by extension, drugs, trafficking, crime, etc), and I believe that all countries international borders and points of entry should be respected.  I do not believe, nor do I advocate, that people can or should cross an international border at any point they wish, as to do so is usually trespassing on private property. Just like at my home, I am open and inviting but they must enter my front door not over the rear fence.

However, we must put the problem in perspective, in order to solve it. Governor Abbott declared that we have a robust immigration policy that should be followed by everyone who wishes to migrate to this great nation. What governor Abbott failed to mention is that our immigration policy is more of an impossible immigration policy than a robust immigration policy. He also failed to mention that both Republicans and Democrats have been promising, for decades, to pass a comprehensive humanitarian immigration policy. The reality is that both Republicans and Democrats politically capitalize on the lack of a comprehensive humanitarian immigration policy.

With that said, until we have a true comprehensive humanitarian Federal immigration policy, the only thing a Republican or Democrat governor will do is put band aids on the problem. It will take a Libertarian Governor of Texas, using all the power at his disposal, to force the Federal government, Democrats and Republicans, to enact a comprehensive humanitarian federal immigration policy.

I would like to see a comprehensive immigration policy that would take into consideration the shortage of laborers, the labor offered by immigration, the trade of ideas and commerce between countries and people, while at the same time taking into consideration the humanitarian plight of immigrant women and children.

As outlined by our Constitution, this is a federal issue and must be solved at the federal level.

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​3. Legalize Marijuana

Locking up people for marijuana possession and use has resulted in a diversion of law enforcement resources to victimless crimes and an exploding prison population.

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We do not need federal intrusion from Washington to dictate how we govern Texas. As Governor I want law enforcement to be focused on crimes where people do harm to others. By allowing peaceful people to live their lives in liberty we create a more peaceful world. I would use the power of the office to oppose federal intrusion, including the possibility of nullifying unconstitutional actions through the appropriate means.

Arresting people for marijuana costs a lot of tax-payer money for the police, courts, jails, lawyers, and social workers that get involved. 

Marijuana prohibition causes violence in the U.S. and other countries as drug dealers fight over sales territories. Marijuana should be legal like alcohol and tobacco to end the violence related to its sale and distribution. 

I don’t advocate the use of marijuana. That’s a choice individuals should be able to make for themselves. I do recognize that marijuana prohibition causes more harm than good.

Most polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans support legalization. More and more states are legalizing marijuana each year. In Texas, the platforms of the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian Parties all call for decriminalizing marijuana.

Marijuana has almost been legalized in Texas by the legislature. The main barrier is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick who keeps blocking legislation supported by Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians.

I’ll work to get marijuana legalized in Texas.

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​4. Oppose Mandates

Our elected officials have absolutely NO constitutional authority, state or federal, or any other authority granted to them by the people, giving them power to issue mandates over an individual’s sovereignty or a person's natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Greg Abbott issued one executive order after another closing businesses and churches in response to COVID-19 while a Republican was President. Now that a Democrat is President, Abbott acts like he’s against mandates and hopes we’ll forget about his prior actions. 

I support the right of businesses, churches, and other organizations to set their own policies regarding health and safety protocols. Likewise, individuals have the right to choose which places to do business with. 

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5. Cut Taxes and Spending

I believe that all persons are entitled to the fruits of their labor. As such, I view taxation as the forced taking of property. At most I regard it as a necessary evil, so that the vital functions of government can continue independent of undue outside influence. For this reason, I advocate the reduction of taxation to the lowest feasible level.

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Though many forms of taxation are authorized in the Constitution, I feel that the following warrant specific consideration:

Government Spending:

I believe that smaller government is better. I will seek to reduce the size and scope of government, and sunset or abolish unnecessary or unconstitutional programs and agencies. I support balancing the budgets at all levels of government by reducing and eliminating government spending, as opposed to raising taxes, fines, fees, tariffs, assessments, or asset seizure.

General Taxation:

I oppose any effort of the Texas Legislature to impose income taxes, for any purpose. I support a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority vote by each house of the legislature to increase the rate of any tax. I advocate the repeal of the federal income tax, the federal estate and gift tax.

All taxes should be for a specific purpose and have specific sunset dates. This will allow every legislative session to be held accountable for establishing excessive taxation and prevent perpetual funding of governmental growth.

Property Tax:

I support the elimination of the property tax which cannot be assessed in any objective manner, and which operates to take property from the poor and has a negative effect on ALL Texas property owners. Until such a time when this can be achieved, I support restricting appraisal valuations.

Occupational Licensing:

I believe that the exercise of an occupation or profession is a natural right not subject to regulation or taxation by the government. Therefore, I support the repeal of all statutes regarding licensing occupations or professional practices.

While prosecution against fraud or abuse is acceptable and necessary, government should not be a gatekeeper that converts a right into a privilege.

Government Debt:

Most levels of government operate with systemic and perpetual debt. I support a moratorium on state bond issuance and all other forms of government borrowing. Additionally, state-owned real estate and other valuable property should be liquidated for the repayment of outstanding state debt.

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​Principles and Platform

As your Governor, I am not elected to have all the answers to every problem we face as Texans; but for my vision, common-sense and careful use of resources to accomplish our shared goals.

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​In that spirit, I share my adaptation of the Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) Platform as reworded below to reflect my personal views. When I first read the LPTexas Platform, I knew I had found a document that was a true kindred spirit to my personal philosophy on how we should treat and live with one another as individuals.

As a Libertarian, I seek a world with true liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their lives and no individuals are forced to sacrifice their values for the benefit of others.

I believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be eliminated from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized. Consequently, I defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful, honest and harmless to others.

The following Platform sets forth my basic principles and some of the policies derived from them. I do not advocate the immediate termination of existing social programs established by past administrations. As a sovereign state we must respect decisions previously made where peoples dignity and lives are affected. We must plan for the future with more informed and free choices while moving away with honor from the mis-steps of the past.

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​Statement of Principles

​I seek the maximum protection of the rights of all people against any violation, be it by other people, other nations, or our own government. I oppose the initiation of coercion (force, threat of force, or fraud) as a means of achieving personal, political, or social goals.

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​Every human being is born sole owner of his or her body and mind; free to live and act as he or she sees fit. We are NOT Government property. As long as a person does not violate the rights of others, he or she should remain free and unrestrained.

I oppose coercion of peaceful individuals. Government may only exist for the sole purpose of defending the freedoms of the people. These freedoms include the right to life; the right to liberty of thought, speech and action; and the right to property.

Government is, essentially, raw concentrated force, and thus, prone to abuse. It is established and tolerated only as the agent and servant of the people—not as their master. The force of government must be used only in response to an attack, fraud, or other initiation of force against an individual, group or government.

Government has no business interfering in voluntary and contractual relations amongst individuals. All people should be equal before the law, free to deal with one another in a free market.

Government should reflect the consent of the governed and should not subject individuals to the tyranny of the majority. Government must be kept to the minimum size and scope necessary to protect the rights of individuals. I hold that all human interaction should be voluntary and consensual, in accordance with the Non-Aggression Principle.

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​Economic Liberty

Taxation

​I believe that all persons are entitled to the fruits of their labor. As such, I view taxation as the forced taking of property. At most I regard it as a necessary evil, so that the vital functions of government can continue independent of undue outside influence. For this reason I advocate the reduction of taxation to the lowest feasible level.

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Though many forms of taxation are authorized in the Constitution, I feel that the following warrant specific consideration:

Government Spending
I believe that smaller government is better. I will seek to reduce the size and scope of government, and sunset or abolish unnecessary or unconstitutional programs and agencies. I support balancing the budgets at all levels of government by reducing and eliminating government spending, as opposed to raising taxes, fines, fees, tariffs, assessments, or asset seizure.

General Taxation
I oppose any effort of the Texas Legislature to impose income taxes, for any purpose. I support a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority vote by each house of the legislature to increase the rate of any tax. I advocate the repeal of the federal income tax, the federal estate and gift tax, and the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision of the Affordable Care Act as an unconstitutional direct tax.

All taxes should be for a specific purpose, and have specific sunset dates. This will allow every legislative session to be held accountable for establishing excessive taxation and prevent perpetual funding of governmental growth.

Gross Margins Tax
I oppose the Gross Margins Tax adopted by the Texas Legislature in 2006. I support the efforts by the legislature to tighten the state’s constitutional spending limits.

Ad Valorem Tax
I support the elimination of the property tax which cannot be assessed in any objective manner and which operates to take property from the poor and has a negative effect on ALL Texas property owners. Until such a time when this can be achieved, I support restricting appraisal valuations.

I support changing all Central Appraisal Districts’ (CAD) board of directors from political appointees to elected officials governed under the provisions of the Texas Election Code and limiting the office to two consecutive terms.

Occupational Licensing
I believe that the exercise of an occupation or profession is a natural right not subject to regulation or taxation by the government. Therefore, I support the repeal of all statutes regarding licensing occupations or professional practices.
While prosecution against fraud or abuse is acceptable and necessary, government should not be a gatekeeper that converts a right into a privilege.

Government Debt
Most levels of government operate with systemic and perpetual debt. I support a moratorium on state bond issuance and all other forms of government borrowing. Additionally, state-owned real estate and other valuable property should be liquidated for the repayment of outstanding state debt.

Certificates of Obligation
The Texas Legislature bypassed voter approval for political subdivisions to borrow money by enacting the Certificate of Obligation Act of 1971 (Section 274.041 Local Government Code) as local governments viewed bond referendum requirements as “too burdensome.” Since that time, many local governmental entities have driven their communities deep into debt with no approval from the voters. Unlike bonds, a Certificate of Obligation simply requires a 30 day public notice of a corresponding ordinance to enact. Should the public oppose the measure, they have 30 days to petition, requiring 10% of all registered voters as a minimum, to prevent the ordinance from being enacted.
As such an unfair process is a clear danger to taxpayers and residents of the state; I support the repeal of the Certificate of Obligation Act of 1971.

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Education

I will seek to eliminate truancy laws and other barriers to school choice, and support competition in education, in accordance with community standards. I believe that parents/guardians should have the authority to decide where and how their children are educated.

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I support measures to restore decision-making regarding education to parents, guardians, teachers, and/or local education boards.
I reject any involvement of the federal government in our local school systems, including funding. The Department of Education should be abolished.

I support a nonpartisan education funding policy that would provide equitable use of funds to eliminate waste and decrease bureaucracy.

Standards in Education
I will seek to repeal all federal mandates on public education, eliminating the need for federal funding and any strings that come with it. Standards and objectives for education should be determined by individuals in the free market.

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Freedom to Travel and Migrate

​​​I believe the right to work or travel is an inherent personal liberty that should not be unduly impeded by the laws of governments.

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​I seek to encourage immigration of students, workers, and business owners willing to invest in Texas.

I believe in and encourage free and fair trade among individuals from all nations which allows the easy exchange of currency, goods, labor, and services. I support the spirit of the American Dream, where even the poorest immigrant can start anew, and through hard work, responsibility, and free market principles, may prosper and thrive.

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Transportation

​​I support eliminating barriers to free market construction and maintenance of infrastructure. Let market demand and willingness to fund dictate which routes are developed.

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​I oppose costly projects intended to benefit land developers through the abuse of eminent domain.
I also oppose any unelected boards charged with transportation planning; as such boards are not accountable to constituents or local authority.

Toll Roads
I support legislation that would forbid tolls on any highway right-of-way which was obtained with tax dollars, or through the use of eminent domain, or condemnation.

Toll roads should not be used to restrict people’s freedom of movement, only to enhance it.

I uphold the right of private enterprise to construct and operate private toll roads, provided that such private toll roads are established through free market transactions and private negotiation for purchase or lease of property.

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Omissions

​My silence about any particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to imply approval or disapproval.

​Personal Freedom and Civil Liberties

Rights of Individuals, Children, and Families

Speech
I uphold the ideals embodied in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; specifically, that government should not interfere in matters of personal conscience, such as religion, speech, creativity, or political activity; nor should any majority be allowed to use government power or support to force the minority to accept their moral, religious, or political beliefs.

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I call for an end to so-called “free speech zones,” which are in reality a means of isolating and silencing dissent in the public arena. Public officials have no right to be insulated from the voice of opposition to their policies.

Religion
I support the principle of separation of church and state, and that there is no freedom of religion without freedom from religion. I oppose government funding or endorsement of any religious or nonreligious position over any other. I call for strict supervision of how government payments or tax subsidies to all religious organizations are used, to insure they are not used to support indoctrination.

Self-Defense
Self-defense is an inherent individual right, and must not be restricted or impeded. Therefore, I support the right of individuals to keep and bear arms in a manner consistent with the Non-Aggression Principle.

Equality Under the Law
I support the full and complete protection of all people from biased legislation that violates individual rights. I believe government does not have legitimate authority to define or restrict personal relationships or associations to any group of people. I believe that “Hate Crime” legislation is unconstitutional, and that our nation has prospered under the concept of “equal protection under the law.”

Marriage and Domestic Partnership
I believe that marriage should be a matter of private contract, and should not be defined or licensed by government. I believe that government should not treat individuals differently based on their marital status.

Family Values
Government has no business defining what a family is or what values a family should hold. I believe the government’s only role in a family should be to preserve and protect their liberty in pursuit of happiness as they choose in accordance with the Non-Aggression principle.

Parental/Guardian Rights
Legal rights of parents/guardians must not be infringed on by the state based upon unsubstantiated claims, without due process.

Family Welfare and Government
I view government welfare programs as unnecessary as they drive out private charity organizations and replace the role of the family and of the community. As such, I generally oppose government charity programs. These programs can be better served by the local/private sector of society in the form of private charity.

I believe there is a great amount of wasted tax dollars in government programs due to mismanagement, fraud, and foolish spending. I would seek to replace, where possible, all welfare programs with private charity organizations.

Eminent Domain
I will seek to close the exceptions and loopholes in the state prohibition against the use of eminent domain for private economic development. Under no circumstances should government have the power to force the transfer of land from a private entity to another against the will of the owner. I strongly oppose state and local government’s abusive use of eminent domain laws for the creation of toll roads, transportation corridors, and semi-public or private use projects.

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Government and Health

Government should neither provide, control, nor require health care. I do not believe that people have a right to be provided with healthcare at other peoples’ expense.

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I will advocate the phasing out of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIPS programs. I support free market based healthcare systems and health insurance. I oppose a “single payer” concept and the federal legislation known as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Obama Care). I oppose any and all forms of unearned tax credits, tax subsidies, and tax penalties that are directed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obama Care.”

Drug Policy
I oppose the War on Drugs. Consistent with the principles of self-ownership, consenting adults ought not be restricted from partaking in activities that harm no one else. This includes possession, consumption and/or market transactions of substances for medicinal, recreational, or other purposes. Individuals seeking or providing medical treatment should not be subject to prosecution. Individuals seeking or providing treatment for addiction or offering Good Samaritan aid should not be subject to prosecution.

End of Life Choice
I believe in self-ownership and support the inherent right of individuals to end their lives with dignity. I oppose the prosecution of physicians and loved ones who participate in consensual assisted suicide.

Reproductive Rights
Recognizing that reproductive rights are a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, I believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

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Privacy and Universal Identification

I believe in an inherent right to privacy. As such, I oppose any legislation that permits government to become involved in our personal affairs where such authority has not been exclusively granted via a constitutional provision.

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I hold that the purpose of government is to protect our rights and property, and should never become a threat to the very things it was established to protect.

Real ID Act
I reject the presumption of federal authority in requiring universal identification. Given the opportunity, I would reject the federal “Real ID Act” and join the growing list of states that are safeguarding their citizens’ privacy.

Police Powers – Searches
I call for the complete repeal of the USA-PATRIOT Act. I also call for the repeal of any and all laws which authorize the wiretapping or other search and seizure of private communications or property without a warrant issued in a free and independent court of law including, but not limited to, utilization of drones, NSA eavesdropping, internet data interception, etc.

I support legislation or judicial rules that forbid the execution of “no-knock” warrants unless there is substantial probable cause with supportive evidence that they are necessary to avoid death or serious injury to an innocent person. I would require that all warrants be presented to the subject for examination, with an original signature and a copy of the affidavit attached, and that the subject have an immediate opportunity to contact the court that issued the warrant to verify its validity.​

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Elections

I support transparency in all publicly funded elections through verifiable ballot receipts and/or electronic tracking. I oppose any efforts to count the votes outside of public view.

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Party Affiliation
I oppose legislative efforts which would require an individual to affiliate with a political party (or remain independent) at the time of registration. I support the current affiliation process and the People’s right to freedom of association. I oppose partisan labels on the ballot, as well as one-punch straight-ticket voting.

Primary Screen-out
I support the right of voters to decide who will be on the ballot. As such I support removing restrictions regarding eligibility to sign candidate and party petitions to appear on a ballot. All eligible voters should have the opportunity to voice their opinion. Their voice should not be silenced due to their participation in a primary or convention election or their decision to sign an alternative candidate’s petition.

Initiative and Referendum
I support the right of citizens to propose state laws or constitutional amendments through a referendum process.

Electoral Recall
I support the rights of the People to recall elected or publicly appointed officials from any public office within their jurisdiction.

Election Reform
I support election reform that does away with a two party duopoly and the uncontrolled corporate and PAC influence that exists today. I believe that party primaries are not a function of the state, and rather are processes which should be self–funded.

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Crime and the Justice System

Federal authority to prosecute “crime” is limited to only a few subjects (treason, counterfeiting, piracy, offenses against the laws of nations, and violations of rights by state agents). I find no authority in the U.S. Constitution for extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction or expenditure of tax dollars to interdict drug trafficking.

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Judicial Reform (Grand Juries)
I support reviving direct citizen access to grand juries for presentation of public complaints and for private criminal prosecutions, in which the grand jury authorizes private prosecution by issuing the indictment to the complainant. An adequate number of grand juries should be impaneled to provide sufficient time to investigate and deliberate on each complaint.

I support making grand juries independent from public prosecutors and encouraging them to exercise oversight on governmental operations within their district. I also support enabling grand juries to decide whether an official has acted within his jurisdiction, and remove immunity from suit for any who has not.

Judicial Reform (Informed Juries)
I support a return to the original standard of due process for jury trials. When there are mixed questions of fact and law, as there are in all criminal cases, all parties shall have the right not to have the bench make decisions on questions of law until all parties have completed making their arguments.

Furthermore, all parties may defer making those arguments until they can be made to the jury; the only exception would be for motions by the defense to exclude evidence in which the issues of law cannot be argued without disclosing evidence properly excluded.

Judicial Reform (quo warranto)
I support the revival of the long established but recently suppressed remedy of writs of quo warranto sought by any person in the name of the people. The challenged official, bearing the burden of proof, must prove an unbroken logical chain of derivation of authority, current or proposed, from the Constitutions of the United States and/or the State of Texas, within 3-20 days. If said official fails to thus prove his or her authority, he or she must cease and desist any exercise thereof. If the challenge is to his or her holding the office, said office must be vacated.

This writ would remove the official immunity of officials so they could be civilly or criminally prosecuted for exceeding their jurisdiction or abusing their power. The writ would be decided by a trial jury of twelve randomly selected citizens if demanded by petitioner.

SLAPP Suits
I support enacting SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) protections for the citizens of the State of Texas and deny corporatists the ability to bankrupt individuals for the simple act of voicing an opinion. Though sufficient anti-SLAPP protections exist for corporations, no such protection exists for the individual.

SLAPP suits are utilized primarily by corporations (and Government) to silence opposition to any given objective. It is the ultimate form of the denial of our right to free speech. The decision on whether or not a suit brought against an individual is frivolous must be decided by a jury, not a panel of judges.

State Bar Act
I support the repeal or sunsetting of the State Bar Act and ending the prosecution of persons for the unauthorized practice of law. This act serves not to protect the public, but to raise the costs of legal services by creating unfair competition, to protect the legal profession, and to bring its members under undue control. Those who criticize judges or attempt to reform the legal system are especially affected.

Vice and Morality Based Laws
I support the repeal of all Vice and Morality based laws that are against consenting adults and that do no harm to others. The State has no right to either criminalize or legalize the morality of adult individuals and their interaction with other consenting adults.

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