Business Tax Reform [1]
Environment [2]
Insurance [3]
Transportation [4]
2nd Amendment Rights [5]
The Sanctity of Life [6]
Immigration [7]

Business Tax Reform

Sen. Mike Jackson takes a strong stand against tax increases. In 2005, he voted against the franchise tax which required many small businesses to pay a new tax even if they had a zero net profit. As a small business owner, Mike understands that our economy depends on small businesses to create new jobs and boost the economy. One of his top priorities for the next legislative session will be to reform and restructure this detrimental business tax system by exempting a greater number of small businesses.

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Environmental Issues

Beach Protection

Throughout his 20 years in the State Legislature, Senator Mike Jackson has made the environment his priority, working to protect the beaches and the fragile Galveston Bay region.

Sen. Jackson is working to protect and restore our beaches and waterways in order for future generations of Texans to enjoy and experience all that the coastal region has to offer. In 2007, he received the Coastal Stewardship Award from the American Shore and Coastal Preservation Association for his continued work to safeguard our beaches.

As a specific example of his efforts to protect and restore our beaches and waterways, Sen. Jackson passed legislation that authorizes the Texas Natural Resource Conservation to accept federal grants and award grants and enter into contracts to implement the estuaries program.

Because of this legislation, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program is one of two estuary programs in Texas overseen by TCEQ, and only one of 28 National Estuary Programs in the country. The purpose of the estuary program is "to provide comprehensive ecosystem management through collaborative partnerships and to ensure preservation of the bay’s multiple uses."

Under Senator Jackson’s leadership, Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) funds were appropriated for 11 beach re-nourishment and protection projects within Galveston and Harris Counties, such as the Galveston Seawall, Sylvan Beach and Pine Gully.

Senator Jackson is fighting to protect our beaches, not only to beautify our community but also to keep tourism strong. According to the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Office, the tourism industry contributed $12 billion to the coastal region during 2007 while employing more than 142,000 people.

Air Quality

As a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Sen. Jackson has been fighting for better air quality. Recognizing that cars and trucks are the greatest contributors to air pollution, he helped pass legislation in 2007 to make available $2,500 vouchers for Texans who were willing to take their old gas-guzzling, air-polluting vehicles off the road and purchase newer, more fuel efficient vehicles.

This same legislation requires all state agencies to meet or exceed the federal Energy Star standards when purchasing replacement appliances in order to reduce the state government’s carbon footprint.

Since the passage of this legislation in 2007, over 1,440 energy reducing projects have been approved in the Houston, Galveston and Brazoria (HGB) non-attainment zone. And, thanks in part to the streamlining of Texas Emission Reduction Program (TERP) these projects will reduce Nitrous Oxide (NOx) emissions by almost 61,000 tons in 2009. Senator Jackson is fighting for increased funding for local districts, city and county governments be more energy efficient by fighting for increased funding for these programs.

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Renewable Energy

Senator Jackson has also worked to incorporate more renewable energy such as biomass and solar energy for Texas. Our state has utilized millions of dollars in available federal funds to subsidize transmission lines for transferring wind energy from its sources in West Texas and the Panhandle to the high population centers, and every day more and more Texans can utilize this green energy.

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Insurance

Homeowners Insurance Reform

Since Senator Jackson’s first legislative term in 1988, he has been fighting to keep insurance rates affordable for all Texans. He has demanded that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), who sets the rates, be accountable to the citizens of our state.

Senator Jackson is also determined to investigate whether the implementation of the “file and use” system, which was put into place to lower homeowners’ insurance rates, is working correctly so that homeowners will actually see lowering of their rates.

Windstorm Insurance

Senator Jackson worked tirelessly in 2007 to create a master planto resolvethe windstorm insurance crisis in Texas and is fighting for increased funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s Catastrophe Relief Trust Fund (CRTF)in the event of a catastrophic storm for the Gulf Coast area.

Mike firmly believes that the State of Texas should not be in the insurance business. However, because the citizens of this region must be able to insure their homes against a catastrophic storm, such as a hurricane, it is important for the state to purchase bonds that will become cash reserves, and replace the current system of buying costly reinsurance.

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Transportation

In 2007, Senator Jackson was a co-author to the bill creating a two-year moratorium on the Trans Texas Corridor, allowing local elected officials more power in making transportation decisions rather than bureaucrats in Austin, and granting the Harris County Toll Road Authority the right to build six much needed projects that had been stalled by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Mike will continue to fight to prevent the ownership of toll roads by foreign companies and ensure that taxpayers are not taken advantage of when private capital is used to pay for toll roads in Texas.

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2nd Amendment Rights

Senator Mike Jackson is a strong supporter of Americans’ undeniable right to keep and bear arms. An avid hunter and fisherman, Mike is a member of the Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) and has received a 100 percent TSRA/NRA voting record during his ten years in the Texas Senate. He is the only candidate in this race with an A+ endorsement by the TSRA/NRA.

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The Sanctity of Life

Senator Jackson believes that life begins at conception and has worked for 20 years to protect the sanctity of life in Texas. In 1999, Mike received the Family and Freedom Award from the Texas Eagle Forum for his work on protecting life and, in 2003 and 2007, he received a 100 percent voting record from Texas Right to Life. Senator Jackson has been endorsed by Texas Right to Life in the upcoming election.

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Immigration

Senator Jackson is fighting to stop our failed federal immigration policies from continuing to endanger the lives of Texans. During the 2008-2009 budget process he worked to increase the state presence on the border by increasing funds to law enforcement agencies by $274 million. By September 2009, these funds will add more than 150 new Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and support staff, 3 new aircraft to patrol the border region, a new border region headquarters for better coordinated regional operations, and new and improved crime lab operations. In addition, $20 million was dedicated to grants for overtime surge operations to border sheriffs and other local law enforcement officials.

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