JOUR-PAC is proud to endorse Emily Cook for Texas' State House District 18. This district is currently represented by State Rep. Ernest Bailes, who is running for re-election. Ms. Cook is running to defeat Mr. Bailes in the March 6, 2018 Primary.
Emily Cook is an attorney with a proven conservative reform record of getting results: "As an attorney, Emily has been active in the last four legislative sessions at the state capitol, writing legislation and helping shepherd measures into law. In the most recent legislative session, she successfully helped write legislation requiring patient consent before Do-Not-Resuscitate orders can be placed on a patient in Texas hospitals. Emily also serves as the General Counsel for Texas Right to Life, a statewide Pro-Life advocacy organization. Growing up, Emily watched her parents – Gary and Ann Kebodeaux – build a successful ceiling tile company (Kebodeaux Bros.) in Liberty County. Witnessing the regulations on small businesses and the need such businesses have for sound advice was one reason Emily chose to pursue a career in the legal field. During her time at Baylor Law School, Emily was active in the Federalist Society as Vice-President. Emily had the opportunity to work both in the Civil Medicaid Fraud Unit of the Texas Attorney General’s Office and in the chambers of Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, reading, summarizing and offering suggestions on briefs and petitions. Emily co-founded The 27 Dresses Project, an annual event collecting formal dresses to help lower the cost of attending high school prom while raising funds for scholarships to local high school seniors. Emily also serves as Service Coordinator for the Liberty County Republican Party and is an appointed commissioner on the Liberty County Historical Commission." Here are her views on some important issues: Cutting Property Taxes: "Appraisals should reflect fair market value for houses on the tax rolls. In the absence of appraisal reform, I advocate using the effective tax rate (guaranteeing a homeowner is paying only the exact amount they did in the previous year) in setting local budgets. The state legislature must pass legislation allowing more citizen input into rising property taxes through increasing the ability for the public to vote on whether to accept a proposed increase. Two ways to accomplish more citizen input failed in the Texas House of Representatives during the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature – placing such votes on the November election to ensure more homeowner participation and allowing citizens more opportunities to vote on proposed increases." Education Reform: "Growing up in Tarkington and Cleveland, I know how rural communities are built around their local school districts. I seek policies protecting our rural schools and the communities they serve, and ensuring more funds are directed and used in the classroom. We must keep our promise to retired, current and future teachers, including decreasing retiree health insurance costs and developing a sustainable plan for incoming education professionals." Protecting Life: "Protecting innocent human Life stems from one basic premise – that simply being human, without an accompanying qualifier, is sufficient to warrant state protection and a chance at Life. All unborn lives are worth protecting. Texas law allows for a hospital panel to remove life-sustaining treatment from you or a loved one over your objections (Chapter 166.046 of the Texas Health and Safety Code). I have successfully represented patients in these circumstances and will continue working to remove this draconian law in the Texas Legislature." Why are we supporting this primary challenge in a State House race? JOUR-PAC focuses a lot of our attention on federal races, especially those in the U.S. Congress. However, we do get involved in many state legislature races because one of our goals is to return more power to the states and local governments that are closer to the people. But in order for this to be successful, we need good leaders at the local level who will promote the ideals of Justice, Opportunity, and United Reform (reforms that unite and bring people together). Rep. Bailes is one representative who has shown he is not a true reformer. Texas Right to Life noted about Mr. Bailes, "“When Representative Schaefer offered an amendment to protect preborn children with disabilities from painful abortions after 20 weeks, Bailes opposed the life-saving amendment. Additionally, he added a statement for his vote in the House journal, explaining that his vote against protecting disabled preborn children was “based on convictions beyond mere policy or principle…I cannot in good faith dictate to another individual how they should cope with such a scenario of imminent peril.” Empower Texans, a fiscal conservative group, stated about Mr. Bailes, "In the course of earning that rating, Bailes voted against strong state spending limits, voted to make it easier for school districts to raise property taxes, voted to raid the Rainy Day Fund, and voted to cut off debate on property tax reform efforts." None of these actions alone would be enough reason to defeat State Rep. Bailes, but it is a combination of votes and actions as well as his vociferous opposition to reforms that leads JOUR-PAC to support his primary opponent, a dedicated and true conservative reformer. Emily Cook has the experience in her work as an attorney to serve with honor and integrity as a strong representative for the people of Texas' 18th State House District. She is a just, compassionate, results-driven candidate who will pursue justice, opportunity, and reform in the Texas State House. Therefore, JOUR-PAC officially endorses Emily Cook for Texas' 18th State House District! We urge the citizens of Texas' 18th State House District to support Emily Cook for State House. Here is her campaign website: https://emilycook.org/
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