HernandezforTexas

Great question! http://www.hernandezfortx126.com/cannabis-reform/

We have a whole section for that issue. But short answer I fully support both ensuring we legalize WHOLE PLANT medicinal cannabis use and the legalization of it for recreational purposes.

My first vote was cast for a Democratic presidential candidate--John Kerry. And I voted Democratic all the way through Obama '08, which was an amazing experience. I participated in my first caucus for Obama and I was selected as an alternate delegate. After that I kind of got disillusioned with politics for a time. A lot of trying things up until that point: bailouts, recession, escalating war etc. Somewhere along the way I began to get into political philosophy and economics quite heavily. And it somehow led me to find myself somewhere between Rawls and Hayek--a classical liberal. But my stint in the Libertarian Party was more a protest and also a favor to party members to keep them on the ballot. My greatest realization was that the local can matter a great deal more than the national political scene. It was far past time for me to stop sitting and jabbing from the sidelines; I needed to get into the thick of it and choose a side. I did. It is a party I should have never left. The party I feel has really lost its message. There is nothing truly uniquely Texan any longer. That is the space I think we need to create for Democrats out in the suburbs. A message that works for us to bring the more moderate Republicans into the fold, the few libertarians and greens, and the faithful Democrats too.

I'll hit on as much as I can now and I will be glad to revisit later.

I think the abortion measures passed by the Texas legislature have largely been punitive and harsh.

Harless was one of the key proponents of the Voter ID bill and yesterday I actually did a video on some of the voters we've talked to while we have been campaigning. An elderly woman was about to not vote because she thought if she lost her Voter ID card, she was unable to vote. After we informed her she could use her state ID and the other applicable forms of ID, she was relieved. But this is something not uncommon.

Given the issues with our criminal justice system and crime labs, I think often our zest for the Death Penalty is a bit misplaced. It is not something I support.

Drug testing for unemployment benefits is largely a waste of taxpayer money as numerous studies have shown from states that instituted it. As some people jokingly mock, maybe we ought to be drug testing our elected officials?!

State vs Local--given the Republicans love of small government and Texas long tradition of home rule cities, I find it ironic a state that has such rich tradition of local control and an aversion for top down coercion finds itself the instrument of such hostility to local governments trying to protect their citizens from fracking. What has occurred in Denton and the subsequent legislation that repealed their right to local control, is really terrible. And goes against the very principles I would think conservatives should uphold.

I think we should expand gambling in Texas.

The good thing is there is movements on both sides of the aisle for it. We just need to continue to be vocal and get people to understand both the criminal justice ends of it, the economic benefits, and the medical benefits too.

I would like to address the rise of property tax on two fronts: expanding medicaid and fixing the unfair system of tax protest that favors multi-million/billion dollar commercial properties over home owners who are footing the bill for those breaks.

I would want to push through criminal justice reform on non-violent offenses and decriminalize marijuana.

I would also like to get serious about the funding scheme for schools. Robin Hood is not working and is just a byzantine process very few people even understand.