Where They Stand: Texas governor candidates on the issues

Last Update: 2/14 9:34 am

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A look at where the candidates for governor stand on some key issues ahead of the March 2 primaries. Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 16.

ABORTION

— Rick Perry (R): Opposes abortion in all cases except rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger.

— Kay Bailey Hutchison (R): Supports the right to choose an abortion before a fetus is viable; also supports abortion restrictions such as the parental consent law and a ban on late-term abortions.

— Debra Medina (R): Opposes abortion in all situations.

— Bill White (D): Supports abortion rights, but favors current restrictions and parental consent laws.

— Farouk Shami (D): Only favors allowing abortions in the first 60-90 days of pregnancy.


BORDER SECURITY and IMMIGRATION

— Perry (R): Says federal government has failed to adequately secure the Texas-Mexico border; favors using state troopers and grant money to beef up state and local law enforcement along the border.

— Hutchison (R): Cast U.S. Senate votes in favor of wall construction along parts of the border; wants to require state agencies to use federal "E-Verify" program to ensure state workers' legal status.

— Medina (R): Calls for dispatching Texas National Guard and Texas State Guard troops to border; Claims that Texas can unilaterally withdraw from international treaties that encourage trade with Mexico; promises to use state government to deport illegal aliens.

— White (D): Says border security is largely a federal role; opposes requiring Texas employers to verify the citizenship status of prospective employees with the federal E-verify database.

— Shami (D): Says he would promote economic development along the border; favors a guest worker program; famously said in televised debate "Without Mexicans, it would be like a day without sunshine in our state."


BUDGET and TAXES

— Perry (R): Has asked state agencies to propose 5 percent cuts in their in their 2010-2011 spending in preparation for an anticipated state budget shortfall; has proposed a constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for the Legislature to raise taxes.

— Hutchison (R): Calls the state's revised business tax, signed by Perry under court order in 2006, a "tragic mistake." Supports property-tax appraisal reforms to empower homeowners to fight ever-rising appraisals.

— Medina (R): Has proposed eliminating property taxes in favor of higher sales taxes; promises to work to reduce the size and scope of state government.

— White (D): Promises to "scrub the budget" to eliminate waste; promotes an expansion of health care coverage for needy Texans.

— Shami (D): Promises to pay the state $10 million if 100,000 unspecified jobs aren't created under his watch; Also says he'll reduce the governor's salary to $1 a year.


TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

— Perry (R): Believes toll roads and private-public partnerships will have to be part of future road-building plans.

— Hutchison (R): Calls for a sweeping audit of the Texas Department of Transportation and would appoint a special committee to find areas of wasteful spending in the agency that could be eliminated; she has proposed a series of reforms, including new restrictions on toll road construction and any future tax increases, also wants to begin developing high-speed rail; she has offered few details on how to pay for it all.

— Medina (R): Opposes all new taxes, tolls, debt or new fees; Proposes audit of TxDOT and would make sure all gas tax dollars are spent solely on transportation, rather than being diverted as they now are.

— White (D): Opposes increase in gasoline tax; proposes giving more funds and authority to local governments but doesn't say where the funds would come from.

— Shami (D): Has proposed an eight-cent increase in the per-gallon gasoline tax.


WORTH NOTING:

— Perry (R): Opposes federal intervention in state policy-making, even rejecting money for schools and unemployment funds so as not to have to agree to federal changes.

— Hutchison (R): Although she violated her own pledge to serve only two terms in the U.S. Senate, Hutchison says she would seek to restrict the governorship to two four-year terms.

— Medina (R): Argues that Texas can ignore and "nullify" federal mandates and programs environmental regulation and international trade agreements; Also doesn't rule out Texas seceding from the U.S.

— White (D): Wants to expand a voluntary summer program he helped start in Houston intended to stop summer learning loss and improve student achievement with four weeks of hands-on science and math for elementary students.

— Shami (D): Says he has a plan that would make electricity free for all Texans, using solar and wind power.


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