Issues important to Darren

Constitutional Issues

Darren believes our Founding Fathers gave us one of the greatest gifts in the history of civilization. Unfortunately, since Teddy Roosevelt we have been veering away from the principles set forth in this document. Forty years ago, Liberalism began an all out assault that culminated with the election of Barack Obama to President in 2008. The assault on the Constitution is as great as it has ever been and we must reverse this trend to save our state and country.

Darren believes the entire US Constitution is important, but recognizes specific assaults on the following: 

  • The Tenth Amendment. Darren is a staunch supporter of State’s rights and will never support any legislation that abates States rights to the Federal Government. The State is the last line of defense against the implementation of unconstitutional laws passed by the federal government.
  • The Ninth Amendment.  Rights not reserved for the federal governement are left to the people. Not more to say there.
  • The Second Amendment. Darren believes the right to bear arms is a vital element of our Constitution. As a proud gun owner Darren will always vote to protect our Second Amendment rights.
  • Separation of Church & State. This DOES NOT exist in the Constitution and it is time to defend our Christian heritage which Liberals attack so viciously. This does not mean religious intolerance or bigotry, but the basic recognition and return of God to our society.


Economy

Darren believes we must stop the outrageous spending in Austin and allow individuals and businesses to keep more of what they earn. While many decisions that have dramatic impact on the economy originate on the federal level, the state has the ability to create environments friendly to growth.

Darren’s Plan on the Economy: 

·        Repeal HB3 from the 79th Legislative Session that has created a horrendous business environment in Texas with the change in the Franchise Tax Law and threatens to devastate the Texas economy in years to come 

·         Find market solutions to Texas issues, not have Austin become a nanny state

·         Provide incentives for small to medium business, financial institutions, and industry sectors to invest and create more jobs.



Education

The education of our children is essential for the success of Texas and America. We cannot allow our education system to become and institution for indoctrination of special interests. Free enterprise must be allowed to thrive alongside government education to promote and provide the best system in the world.

Darren’s Plan for Education:

·         Work with educators and business owners to develop curriculum that is realistic for today’s world. Only 30% of graduates attend college. We need trade and vocational preparation for our children as well.

·         Work for legislation that to offer vouchers as alternatives to low income parents who seek private education for their children.

·         Protect the rights for parents to continue to home school.

·         Hold administrators accountable for the misuse of federal and state funds

·         Review current monies being spent on education to continue successful programs and eliminate unproductive ones.

·         Eliminate “knee jerk reaction” laws that punish good students in unfortunate situations

·         Work to return more power and control to individual school districts

 

 

Energy Independence for Texas

Energy impacts our economy, our plans on National Security, as well as our Foreign Policy. It is critical Texas have a complete effort for energy independence now to ensure our future and help our country. It was the increases in energy that collapsed our economy and exposed bad business practices in our country.

Darren’s Energy Plan:

·        Promote in all means possible the exploration, drilling, refinement, and distribution of oil and gas products in the Texas.

·        Promote in all means possible the process of building nuclear power plants to provide power to residential homes and commercial businesses.

·        Promote the development of wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, hydrogen cells, and electric power for America’s energy independence.

·        Bring new energy industries to district 22 in Texas.

 

 

 Insurance Reform

As a veteran in the insurance industry for over 15 years, Darren actually understands and knows the issues facing Americans and can offer true, non-government solutions.

Darren’s plans for Insurance Reform:

·         Repeal SB14 from the 78th Legislature that created credit scoring in property & casualty insurance

·         If SB14 cannot be repealed in its entirety, amend it where credit can only be used to benefit consumers

 

 

Immigration

America was built by immigrants from Europe and all over the world. Legal immigration has provided our country with talent that has improved all of our lives. Illegal immigration is destroying our education and healthcare system, as well as debasing our labor pool. The laws are in place on this issue – the enforcement is the issue.

Enforcement of our immigration laws does not mean one is a racist. Darren’s bloodline includes the Native American Sioux Tribe and his wife is Hispanic and he understands true issues of racism versus liberal ideologues to weaken our country.

Darren’s Immigration Plan:

  • Secure the Texas borders with all means necessary.
  • Enforce the current immigration laws of any new immigrants caught crossing our borders and entering our ports illegally.
  • Preserve legal immigration to our state & country.
  • Eliminate government benefits that illegal immigrants are utilizing that only U.S. citizens should be granted
  • End loopholes in the marketplace that are exploited by illegal immigrants. 

 

Property Rights

Darren strongly believes that property ownership is a Constitutional right and that government seizure of property is un-American and anti-Texan. As Texas continues to grow, it is imperative that we protect our ranchers, farmers, business, and all property owners from unwanted and undercompensated seizure of our personal property. 

As a private property owner, the people of Texas can be assured that Darren will always defend property rights and the private property owner. 

Darren’s Plan to Protect our Property Rights:

  • Protect the landowner from local, state, and federal government seizing our property without proper justification.
  • Work with state and local officials to ensure the Texas Property Code is properly interpreted for the best interest of private property owners.
  • Work to improve the Texas Property Code to improve compensation to landowners in eminent domain proceedings
  • Work to restrict the power of eminent domain


Respecting Family Values

As a father of four, Darren strongly believes in protecting our core family values. Darren is proud to call himself pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.

Darren’s belief in Family Values:

  • Protect life and ensure that these issues are not determined by politicians in Washington, DC but are left to the Citizens and the States.
  • Support the passage of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one between a man and a woman. 

Veterans

Darren has a deep appreciation of the blood and sacrifice our veteran’s have made for our great country. Darren’s immediate and extended family have a deep tradition serving our country. Darren also knows any or all of his 4 children may be called upon to serve their country. Taking care of those who provide our freedom is a commitment that must be met.

 

Darren’s Pledge to Veteran’s:

 

·         Cut the “red tape” bureaucracy that hinders our veteran’s from having access to the care they need.

·         Work to reduce out of pocket medical costs

·         Continue support for the families of veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice

 

 

 Areas where Darren can help our Federal Counterparts:

Health Insurance Reform

As a veteran in the insurance industry for over 15 years, Darren actually understands and knows the issues facing Americans and can offer true, non-government solutions. Darren believes health insurance is a responsibility, not a right. His ideas can help expand the access and affordability of insurance for all Texans and Americans. Insurance reform is key to helping driving costs down for citizens, but is part of an overall goal we need to achieve in keeping doctors in business and recruiting more students into medicine.

Darren’s approach to Insurance Reform:

·         Use existing Federal Law to eliminate the borders between states that prohibit all health insurance companies from competing in each state. This will increase competition within the State’s borders and will drive down premiums as well as granting Texans and Americans more options for companies and coverage.

·         Amend the Federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 to allow health insurance to be included in the allowable risks provided for under the Act. This will allow Risk Retention Groups and Risk Purchasing Groups to use the law of large numbers to decrease health insurance costs.

·         Allow for the formation of High Risk Pools for insured’s that have high cost or terminal health issues. Companies writing in each State where these pools are formed will have participation requirements equal to their open market premium writings.

·         Any successful reform requires Tort Reform. Balance must be in place that keeps doctors in business to help patients while protecting patients from doctors who abuse them.

Social Security

With 15 years in the financial services industry, as well having been a Registered Representative with a 6 & 63 Securities License, Darren knows firsthand what it will take to get Social Security out of the gutter and onto sturdy ground. When the program was first introduced, there were 16 worker contributors for every benefactor – now that number is just over 3 and projected to drop to 2 by 2030. That is assuming the system will be around.  Also, when the program was initiated the retirement age was 65 and life expectancy was 67. Today, retirement can vary from 62 to 70 while life expectancy is 77 years.

An honest conversation has to occur as to what role Social Security is to play in the retirement scheme in America, how it is to be funded, and the role government should or should not play in an individual’s personal finances.

Darren’s plan to reform Social Security:

  • Prohibit program money from being used for any other federal entitlement
  • Make all benefits paid into the system transferable, income tax free, to the heirs of the benefactor
  • Give contributors an option of investing a portion of their contributions in market instruments. This option would require the funds to be invested with a registered representative or other qualified person. The financial services expert would perform the services free of charge.