Erwin Cain
Contributor
Published August 7, 2010

President Barack Obama visits Texas on Monday for fundraising efforts. A conservative state representative would ask the president these three questions that are on the minds of East Texans.

First, Mr. President, how can you honestly claim that ObamaCare does not increase taxes even though states will pay a large portion of this program through unfunded mandates? Projections are that ObamaCare will cost Texas $27 billion by 2020 or $2.7 billion per year. That is 3 percent of the budget from one mandate (Texas Health and Human Services Commission Report, March 31, 2010). Next session, the legislature will wrestle over balancing the state budget without raising taxes in the face of a potential $18 billion shortfall. Where do we get money to fund ObamaCare mandates without raising taxes? Do we spend funds earmarked for education? Do we de-fund law enforcement? Do we forgo building roads needed to develop our local economy? The best health care reform will come from free market principles that empower citizens rather than growing government.

Second, Mr. President, why are you suing Arizona for taking measures to protect its citizens and borders when the federal government has been derelict in its constitutional duty to do so? Texas is currently spending billions to educate, incarcerate and provide health care for illegal immigrants. Additionally, because the federal government has failed to secure the border, Texas has spent millions of state funds to do so. The federal government meddles in matters in which it has no authority yet refuses to fulfill its constitutional mandate to insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare and repel invasions. When a state steps forward to protect its citizens and borders, why should its reward be the full legal wrath of their own federal government? Instead of wasting federal tax dollars provided by East Texans to sue Arizona, we should use those funds to secure the border.

Finally, Mr. President, when your own economic program has led to increased unemployment while Texas is outperforming the nation, why are you attempting to micromanage the Texas economy? The economic stimulus program that was supposed to create jobs has actually increased national unemployment. In spite of that record, your administration seems intent to micromanage how the Texas Legislature deals with important issues such as education, unemployment insurance, permitting of industries that create jobs, and more.

Texans can best govern Texas because of our love for freedom and free enterprise. We do not need the increasing encroachment of the federal government in our state.

Erwin Cain is the Republican nominee for District 3 State Representative in the November General Election.

Source: http://theparisnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4e3d1f2e10362de4