Balance the budget without a tax increase
"Texas will continue to live within its means, and under my leadership, we will do it without a tax increase."
Cut backlog of pending veterans claims
Will reduce a state backlog of more than 38,000 pending veterans claims.
Fund up to 12 more veterans counselors
Fund "up to 12 new veterans counselors to help the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) assist the VA to more quickly process benefits claims."
Fund additional border security efforts
Continue "to commit state funding and resources for additional border security efforts in order to protect our communities and legitimate cross-border trade and travel, while enforcing the laws already on the books."
Designate eminent-domain reform as an emergency for 2011 Legislature
"...we are going to designate it an emergency issue so it doesn’t get bogged down in any of the last-days-of-the-session type of a problem."
Sign eminent-domain reform into law before end of 2011 legislative session
Have an eminent-domain "bill ready and probably passed and signed well before the legislative session is over."
Toughen law against human traffickers
Create a "tougher law to punish human traffickers, with penalties ranging from 25 years to life."
Declare repeal of Houston's "sanctuary city" rules to be emergency
Make the abolition of our sanctuary city rules an emergency item when our legislature meets this next January.
Secure $830 million in federal education funding denied to Texas because of non-compliance with congressional amendment requiring state to spend the aid on public education.
"I will continue to work with the Department of Education to secure" $830 million in education aid that is in limbo because of a standoff over a congressional requirement that Texas commit to spending the money on public schools.
Ensure Legislature acts on a proposal requiring voters to present photo IDs
"This next session of the Legislature ... One thing they (lawmakers) do understand and that is the governor has the ability to keep them in town until they address some issues. So I guess I might as well put them on notice today: We're going to do voter ID in 2011. We can either do it early, or we can do it late. Their call."
Make “losers” pay for frivolous lawsuits
“If a court determines that a lawsuit is groundless or a jury determines a suit is frivolous, then the plaintiff should be required to pay the defendant’s attorney's fees.”
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