From Senator Donna Campbell
It has been a pleasure to serve you in the Texas Senate. I look forward to continuing to work hard to represent your values.
Now that the legislative session has come to a close, I am also looking forward to spending more time with you at events across the district. Already, I hosted two town halls, one in San Antonio and one in San Marcos, with another planned in New Braunfels on September 9th.
The work I accomplished in the Senate this year reflected the exact same issues on which I ran. I promised to find funding for our roads, reduce taxes, foster economic growth through limited government and fiscal responsibility, promote real education reforms, defend our Second Amendment rights, and protect the sanctity of Life. That’s what the people of Senate District 25 elected me to do, and I am proud to say I was able to help deliver and pass meaningful legislation on every one of these issues.
PROTECTING TAXPAYERS
This was a great session for taxpayers. We passed a drug-testing requirement for welfare and unemployment benefits, although the welfare portion later died in the House. We passed measures to address Medicaid fraud and abuse. I aggressively fought against the costly Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare, estimated to cost the state $18 billion over the next ten years.
Small businesses also got a boost. We reduced the margins tax by 2.5 to 5% and made the million dollar exemption permanent. I also co-sponsored legislation to provide incentives and tax credits for innovative businesses that invest in research and development.
EDUCATION REFORMS MEAN BETTER SCHOOLS
This was a great session for our schools. As a member of the Education Committee, I helped implement real education reforms that will make a high school diploma more valuable and allow our students to gain better technological and trade skills, thus contributing to a more dynamic workforce. We reduced the number of STAAR tests from 15 to 5, emphasizing rigor while ensuring students spend more time learning in the classroom. We made the quality of our public schools more transparent and easier to understand, using a grading system of A to F to alert parents to the progress their child’s school is making. And we expanded the number of charter schools and filed several bills to empower parents and increase school choice.
SHORING UP BENEFITS
This was a great session for retired teachers and veterans. We ensured the benefits that have been promised to them will be there, guaranteeing assistance to veterans and their families. We were also able to give retired teachers their first cost of living adjustment increase in over a decade.
FIXING OUR ROADS
This was a great session for roads and highways. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I have been working hard to find solutions to relieve traffic on Central Texas roads and keep commerce moving. Texans truly deserve the best roads, and it starts with the work we do in the Legislator. Texas voters will have the opportunity to approve roughly $1.2 billion a year for road maintenance and construction without raising taxes or tolls. This is the biggest boost in highway funding in over a decade and most importantly, none of that money can be used for toll roads. I also authored a bill that makes it harder to toll current free lanes on our state highways
PROSPERITY FOR OUR FAMILIES
This was a great session for Texas families and businesses. Small and family-owned businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and the policies I helped pass will create more jobs, bring more businesses to Texas, and provide better opportunities for all Texans. I led the charge on pro-life and Second Amendment legislation to keep our families safe and the rights of every Texan secure. In fact starting September 1, Texans will have greater access to attain a concealed handgun license through condensed classes while the same proficiency standards remain in place.
It is my aim to build on these successes in the coming months and have an even stronger conservative session in 2015. With talk of an opponent building, I need your help! Please keep Texas strong by contributing to my campaign now.
Thanks for your prayers and continued support. Contact my office if there is anything I can do to help you or your family. I remind you to drive safe and watch for small children on roads as school starts this week. God bless America, God bless our troops, and God bless Texas!
