Leo's Platform
Cap Property Taxes for Seniors!
With the rising cost of living (prescriptions, healthcare, food, utilities, home repairs, etc.) many of our seniors need our assistance, and we need to be there for them. Let's start by capping property taxes for homeowners over 65, and not just the tax rate. Let's cap the total they have to pay given escalating property tax values. This would ensure that our elders can enjoy the quality of life they've worked a lifetime to create. After all, they built this life for us.
Public Education
The Texas Legislature historically paid the clear majority (55% and more) of our state's public education costs (Foundation School Program) but our State Legislature has balked in meeting its obligation to our children, lowering its state share to 38%, which has shoved the majority of school costs down to our already overburdened local property taxpayer. Moreover, elementary schools with the greatest percentage of low income and bilingual students were injured the most - the State's cuts hurt those who need the support the most. Knowing the worth of education to our families' prosperity and well-being, Leo will fight every minute for the good of our children and our local taxpayers, pushing the state to appropriate its traditional and fair share.
Our state's leaders are sending $800 million to add to President Trump's border security - border security is a federal government responsibility. There's inadequate state money rendered for public schools, and that $800 million should be spent on public education, not public wall building.
Our state's leaders are sending $800 million to add to President Trump's border security - border security is a federal government responsibility. There's inadequate state money rendered for public schools, and that $800 million should be spent on public education, not public wall building.
Higher Education
Over past decades, tuition and fees at public universities have skyrocketed as the State decreased its percentage of this cost. In 2017, the State spent over 25% less per student than in 2009—it simply has not matched population growth and inflation. In the past twenty years, for a local example, the tuition and fees at the UTSA have more than doubled (see: 1998-2017-18 at chronicle.com/interactives/tuition-and-fees.) This escalation of tuition and fees coupled with our state legislature’s decrease in per student investment limits access to our colleges and universities for students and working parents of modest means. Having received degrees from UTSA, TAMUSA, and SAC while working full time and providing for his family, Leo knows very well about the cost and sacrifices to working families and students attempting to enroll in public colleges and universities. He also knows the significant rewards of a college education. He’s viewed higher ed. from multiple sides—as student, employee, faculty, and tuition payer. He’ll also be a champion for access to vocational education, educational partnerships with industry, and apprenticeships in the trades. Leo will explore new ways to decrease the enormous debt accumulated in student loans. The well-being of our families and the future of our workforce depend on affordable access to higher education!
Veterans
We owe our freedoms, rights, prosperity, and ways-of-life to our honorable Veterans. Yet astonishingly, the benefits that Texas has long guaranteed to our Texas Veterans for their dedicated service and sacrifice have faced attack by those seeking to disinvest in our Texas Veterans through State Legislation. For instance, since the 2015 Session, State Representatives have attempted to gut the Hazlewood Act, which provides Texas Veterans and qualified family members with exemption from 150 credit hours of tuition and fees at Texas public institutions of higher learning.
Leo says: "I shall stand strong to preserve the Hazlewood Act that was passed in 1943 and expanded subsequently to acknowledge our great debt to our Veterans and military families. I’ll stand strong with our Texas Veterans against any and all attempts to weaken our pledges honoring our Veterans. Furthermore, I’ll work with Veterans to initiate legislative actions to create or refresh programs to assist the transition to civilian life and prosperity-- for example, to make Texas Land Office and Veterans’ Land Board loans for land, home, home repairs, and long term care more accessible and competitive. My office shall always be open for Veterans concerns."
Finally, you’ll notice that Leo capitalizes the word Veteran out of respect and thanks. He will introduce legislation to capitalize Veterans in all future Texas laws and State documents for the same reasons.
Leo says: "I shall stand strong to preserve the Hazlewood Act that was passed in 1943 and expanded subsequently to acknowledge our great debt to our Veterans and military families. I’ll stand strong with our Texas Veterans against any and all attempts to weaken our pledges honoring our Veterans. Furthermore, I’ll work with Veterans to initiate legislative actions to create or refresh programs to assist the transition to civilian life and prosperity-- for example, to make Texas Land Office and Veterans’ Land Board loans for land, home, home repairs, and long term care more accessible and competitive. My office shall always be open for Veterans concerns."
Finally, you’ll notice that Leo capitalizes the word Veteran out of respect and thanks. He will introduce legislation to capitalize Veterans in all future Texas laws and State documents for the same reasons.
Healthcare & Insurance
Texas healthcare insurance law and policy need reform. Texas has the highest percentage of residents in the nation without health insurance (US Census), the highest percent of uninsured under 65 [when federal Medicare activates] (Kaiser Family Foundation), and unfortunately it’s maintained the highest percent of uninsured residents for the past ten years straight (Gallup)! Approximately 1 in 6 Texans aren’t covered. This sad situation results directly from the Texas Republican leadership’s decision to reject the expansion of Medicaid for Texas although permitted by federal healthcare law. When the uninsured go to our county hospital’s emergency rooms for basic healthcare services, we taxpayers end up footing a much higher bill for that health care. Leo will seek the necessary, common sense changes required to remove obstacles to health insurance and healthcare for our working class Texans.
As the Texas Medical Association wrote (2016): “Texas is the uninsured capital of the United States. More than 4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance. Texas' uninsured rates, 1.75 times the national average, create significant problems in the financing and delivery of health care to all Texans. Those who lack insurance coverage typically enjoy far-worse health status than their insured counterparts.” Leo will be part of the solution.
Finally, Leo will insist the state assure women access to healthcare and pregnancy prevention programs.
As the Texas Medical Association wrote (2016): “Texas is the uninsured capital of the United States. More than 4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance. Texas' uninsured rates, 1.75 times the national average, create significant problems in the financing and delivery of health care to all Texans. Those who lack insurance coverage typically enjoy far-worse health status than their insured counterparts.” Leo will be part of the solution.
Finally, Leo will insist the state assure women access to healthcare and pregnancy prevention programs.
Transportation
Providing high quality transportation for our growing population is essential. No area has faster growth or more pressing mobility needs than the I-35 corridor, which extends from Austin to our District 118’s Northside and Southside. Action is needed to provide the infrastructure necessary for efficient, fluid mobility for our citizenry. For decades, the State has done too little to decongest this corridor. The inaction has lasted far too long. And, amazingly, the state highway construction funding has decreased year to date 2017 to 2018, as our (a) bridges and roads beg for repair, and (b) our highways become increasingly congested, adversely affecting efficient commuting, business, air quality, and health. All this is wrong. We need to make the essential investments to reap maximum returns in mobility, commerce, health, and safety.
Family & State Budgets
Those of us who have had to live within our means and meet the diverse needs of our family understand the requirement of balancing a state budget while providing state services generating important opportunities and services for our people. We need to meet basic needs (care for seniors, veterans, roads, etc.), invest in opportunities (e.g. fund education, invest in children), and cut misdirected expenditures (e.g., the state‘s squandering of $800 million to support Trump’s federal border policy.) Texas cut $5 billion in 2011 that severely injured public education and that hasn’t been fully reconstituted, yet. The state’s percentage of financial participation in public education has decreased in recent history pushing the cost off onto our local taxpayer— only one area of state lack of wise policy. At present, we need to increase revenues and Leo is open to exploring innovative ways including revenue streams from medical marijuana to limited casino gambling.
Discrimination
Leo Pacheco has fought discrimination throughout his professional career. As an HR specialist at Palo Alto College, he executes anti-discrimination policy and assures fair employment practices. As the former Chair of the Democratic Party, Leo diversified the party’s personnel and assured it reached out to all. As our State Representative, Leo will strengthen the guarantees and eliminate the practices and vestiges of discrimination, assuring an equal chance for every woman, man, and child to succeed.