Cornyn praises Texas economy

June 14, 2008, 10:11PM
SUNDAY CONVERSATION
Cornyn praises Texas economy


Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, is seeking re-election this year. He answered questions from Chronicle reporter R.G. Ratcliffe a few days before the Texas Republican Convention in Houston. His Democratic challenger, state Rep. Rick Noriega of Houston, was featured in last week's Sunday Conversation.

Q: Texas so far has avoided the national economic downswing, but with interest rates dropping and gas prices rising, the state may not be far behind. What can the government do to stabilize the economy?

A: Our Texas economy is strong. If you look at Ohio and Texas, there are clear differences between what works and what doesn't. Since 2000, they have lost more than 200,000 manufacturing jobs and real family income is worse — not better — than it was seven years ago. Why has Texas been headed in the other direction?

Here's what the Wall Street Journal said: "Ohio's most crippling handicap may be its politicians. Ohio has an economy burdened by high taxes and work rules that impose heavy costs on employers. Texas embraces free trade, keeps taxes low, doesn't impose unions on business and has tooled itself for 21st century global competition." Here in Texas, we can't afford to make the mistake of Ohio.

Q: Should the nation adopt a gas tax holiday? Should there be a windfall profits tax on U.S. energy companies? And should we explore for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and on the outer continental shelf?

A: I am not opposed to suspending the gas tax. What I am opposed to are politicians who propose quick fixes that have the effect of making gas more expensive. If Congress is serious about the gas tax holiday and it is just one part of a larger solution that gives Texans real relief at the pump and reduces our dependence on foreign oil, then I could support it.

I am strongly opposed to instituting a windfall profits tax. Neither it, nor the gas tax holiday alone, do what is needed: increase our supply of energy. I have consistently pushed for development of new U.S. domestic energy, in ANWR, on the outer continental shelf and elsewhere.

Q: Should funding for the war in Iraq be restricted until a deadline for withdrawal of troops is set? Should we maintain permanent military bases in Iraq?

A: One would think that the entire U.S. Senate would support giving our troops the funding they need to defeat al-Qaida in Iraq and not hold up this critical funding in a partisan attempt to pass an arbitrary timeline for withdrawal. We have a strategy that is working in Iraq because we have rejected politically motivated deadlines and mandates. We are finally making progress, and I am not going to support anything that changes that.

It's too early to see whether we will need a U.S. military presence in Iraq long-term. A U.S. presence has been invaluable in stabilizing other regions, but our goal should be having a stable, democratic Iraq that is able to manage its own security.

Q: A recent FBI inspector general's report said agents at one time kept a "war crimes" file on military personnel and CIA agents who used tactics that could be described as torture on suspects. Would you favor a U.S. war crimes tribunal that would investigate allegations of torture and prosecute violators?

A: No. Torture is illegal under U.S. criminal and military law. The federal criminal justice system and our military courts-martial are fully capable of handling violations.

Q: You supported a virtual fence on the border to halt illegal immigration, then voted against it and then voted for funding for partial fencing at hot spots. You supported the DREAM Act to provide a college education to the children of illegal immigrants and then voted against it. How do you explain these shifts?

A: I have always supported securing the border and enacting comprehensive immigration reform that could be enforced. Securing the border will require a number of steps, including increased numbers of Border Patrol agents and fencing in appropriate locations. Occasionally, there have been votes on competing plans, or on measures that include objectionable additional spending, but my approach has been consistent.

Similarly, on the DREAM Act, I voted for one version of that in committee, and voted against considering an entirely different proposal on the Senate floor years later. While I support the overall intentions of the DREAM Act, the recent version that came before the Senate was poorly written. For instance, there was not a requirement to complete background checks.

Q: Should the Constitution be amended to deny automatic citizenship to children born in this country of illegal immigrants? And should illegal immigrants be required to leave the country to apply for re-entry as a condition of gaining citizenship?

A: There is no serious support for a constitutional amendment in the Congress now. The issues associated with abuse of the current situation can best be resolved by securing our borders, enacting comprehensive immigration reform and enforcing the law. My 2005 immigration reform legislation did require those who entered illegally to leave the country before getting legal status.

Q: Health care costs are rising for Americans, while millions more people are left without health care coverage. Should the nation consider a universal health care system?

A: The key to better health care, and making it more affordable, is giving people more choices and more control, not government mandates.

A government-run, single-payer model would lead to rationing of services, fewer alternatives for individuals, an impaired doctor-patient relationship and decreased quality of health care. I support reforms that ensure patients continue to pick their own doctor.

We must make it easier for people to take their insurance with them when they change jobs. We should help individuals and employees of small businesses by giving them access to the same tax advantages employees of bigger companies get.

r.g.ratcliffe@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5838197.html