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Hutchison promotes campaign, GOP
Published August 27, 2009
LAKE JACKSON — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, stopped at a Lake Jackson woman’s home Wednesday as part of what she says is an effort to bring the Republican Party back to the people.
The GOP gubernatorial candidate made her fifth visit to Anne McKeithan house to discuss her campaign and promote a grassroots effort to re-energize the GOP in Texas.
“I just love her,” Hutchison said of a smiling McKeithan. “I can call her for anything and I know she’ll be there. She’s been such a friend and supporter for so long.”
Hutchison talked about lowering taxes and reducing the size of state and federal governments as some of her goals in running for governor with about 60 people gathered in McKeithan’s large living room.
Calling on all Texans to support her campaign, Hutchison said current Republican Gov. Rick Perry has allowed the GOP’s stronghold on the state to slip, with the state House of Representatives now just a few votes from falling into the hands of Democrats.
If such erosion is allowed and Texas becomes a “blue state” in a presidential race, it could tip the balance of power in the country for years, she said.
“I want to bring the party back to the grass roots,” she said. “It’s time for us to realize the consequences of this election. If Texas doesn’t stay solidly Republican, we will not have another Republican president in our lifetimes.”
Current Democratic President Barack Obama’s health care plan would be disastrous, she said. Handing a large chunk of the U.S. economy over to the government is a bad idea, she said.
“The takeover of our health care system is the worst thing that could happen to our country,” Hutchison said. “If we allow any part of this to pass, it will be the end of our choice in health care. I will fight government health care all the way.”
She said she’d support a system in which a patient would be switched to a government-run plan in the case of catastrophic illness. Any health care reform should include lawsuit reform, she said.
Closer to home, Hutchison said she would change the structure of the Texas Department of Transportation from a “top-down” approach to one more responsive to the needs of communities. She drew applause when she called the department “arrogant” for attempting to force toll roads on communities.
“We need a TxDOT that listens to local leaders about what they need in their areas,” she said. “If they do want a toll road, there should only be a toll until the road is paid for, then no more.”
Taxes on Texas businesses and property owners are too high, she said. And education, from pre-kindergarten to college, should be higher quality and more easily accessible to all. Teachers who are let go for poor performance in one district shouldn’t be allowed to move to a new district, but should be out of the profession.
All young people should be able to attend college, even if it’s a community college at which they learn a trade to support their families, she said.
Perry has been in power a decade, which is “long enough,” said Hutchison, who was rumored to have been considering a run four years ago.
“I feel so strongly that we need a change,” she said, adding she supports a two-term limit for Texas governor.
Hutchison took a handful of questions from the audience, saying there’s enough oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge to replace all current Middle Eastern imports. The refuge is “the size of South Carolina” but would require a drilling footprint the size of Houston’s Hobby Airport, she said.
The number of jobs in Texas can be increased by lowering business taxes and “encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit,” she said.
McKeithan said she has supported Hutchison since she was state treasurer almost two decades ago.
“I admire her,” McKeithan said. “She works hard and is a conservative Republican. She’s just the type of woman I like.”
Sharon Rogers helped host the event.
“It’s wonderful to see her here,” Rogers said, introducing Hutchison as “the next governor of Texas.”
John Lowman covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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