Mike Goldman

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  • Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    I’d like to hear more about your suggestion of incorporating firearms training into high school curriculums. Would this curriculum be mandatory at all public school, or only at the option if individual ISD’s or campuses?

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    Ms. Cole,

    Thank you for your question.

    In fact, the Supreme Court overturned only Section of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act in the 2013 case of United States v. Windsor. Notably, Section 2 still stands in federal law, providing that “No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.”

    In fact, the law in Texas is clear, with Texas Constitution Article I, Section 31 providing that:
    (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
    (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.

    This provision entered the state constitution upon passage by a clear majority of the state population, 76.25%, in 2005.

    Given the clear will of Congress and of the people of Texas thus demonstrated, don’t democratic values urge Texans to support the position that marriage is between one man and one woman?

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    Ms. Kraft, thank you for your post. You appear to refer to House Bill 2 (83rd Legislature, 2nd Special Session), which had several effects, notably: 1. banning abortions that take place after 20 weeks of gestation, and 2. raising the health and safety standards of abortion clinics. Which portion(s) of that bill do you oppose?

    You bring up an interesting point in referencing religious beliefs. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson asserted that all people are born to inalienable rights of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Yet there are challenges in defining each of these rights.

    In the case of a human life, when does one begin? At conception? When a fetus can feel pain? When it is viable outside the womb? At birth? All of these positions are supported by some religious and ethical traditions. Science cannot say at what point biological material becomes “human life;” how can that question be approached without regard to the philosophical, ethical and moral traditions of our civilization?

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    Mr. Piraino,

    Thanks for writing in with these thoughts.

    If Health Savings Accounts (“HSA’s”) would not provide the same level of income to insurance companies, how could these companies and medical care providers be encouraged to embrace such a program, while still respecting the principles of the free market?

    Can HSA’s be encouraged at the state level, or would their enactment require federal action?

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    Ms. Bernal,

    Thank you for this response. You present a very interesting issue.

    Is there any legislation that would allow the ADA to better address the concerns of persons with primordial dwarfism?

    How can the State of Texas contribute to this discussion?

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    Mike Goldman, 12 years ago

    Mr. Workman,

    Thanks for writing! I am a policy analyst for the Greg Abbott campaign, and appreciate your starting a needed discussion.

    You bring up a very important topic – transportation infrastructure is one of the most critical needs for our state’s continued growth. Several of your ideas are very interesting and require further exploration.

    1. It caught my attention that you mention that Texas is a “donor state,” and that we give away more federal gas tax than we receive in return. How can we work to change this process so that Texas receives more benefit?

    2. You mention moving from a fixed gas tax to a percentage of the cost sold, analogous to a sales tax. How would that affect the price of gasoline in Texas and nationally?

    Thank you, and we look forward to a constructive ongoing dialogue.

    Mike Goldman
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

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