Cast your vote

On Nov. 5, elections will be held across the state to determine the next senator and governor of Texas. Here’s a summary of where each candidate stands on important issues.

U.S. Senate

John Cornyn

Immigration: Does not support general amnesty for immigrants, but rather guest work programs and earned immigrant status

Voting: Opposes Internet voting. Relies on college Republicans to raise support amongst young voters. Says his stance on higher education and a strong economy are attractive to young voters.

Economy: Promises to control taxes, hold down health care costs and simplify the qualification process for home mortgages.

Gay Rights: Supports sodomy law and military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Opposes same sex marriages.

Taxes: President Bush’s tax cuts should be made permanent in order to jumpstart the economy and enforce “fiscal discipline” by tightening the belt on the federal budget.

Social Security: Backs plan to allow young workers to invest payroll taxes in stock market or low-risk government securities. No tax raise or benefits cut.

Ron Kirk

Immigration: Supports immigrant resident status.

Voting: Supports making voting process easier through voter registration and voting over the Internet with ballot security. Conducted workshops to encourage 18- to 35-year-olds to participate in politics.

Economy: Supports state-funded job training programs offering skill training to young workers or current workers who want to hone their skills.

Gay Rights: In favor of federal ban on sexual-orientation discrimination in the workplace. Believes sodomy law and same-sex adoptions are issues to be settled by the state. Supports military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Refused comment on same sex marriages.

Taxes: Federal tax cuts scheduled for 2003 are unaffordable and should be revoked. Estate tax should be abolished.

Social Security: Opposes allowing workers to invest social security funds into stock market.

Texas Governor

Rick Perry

Education: Favors current school testing system. Proposes $5,000 bonus to teachers with masters degrees. Wants to pass legislation protecting teachers from lawsuits. Would increase state spending on public education, while eliminating Robin Hood plan.

Death Penalty: Vetoed bill banning execution of mentally retarded defendants because it would have allowed judges to overturn jury verdict.

Diversity: Opposes reparation payments to minority groups for past actions. Says he supports “affirmative access,” not affirmative action.

Gun control: Supports right to bear arms, with better enforcement of current laws and not more regulation. Opposes ban on concealed weapons.

Budget: Asked all state agencies to find savings and hold spending expansion. Opposes new taxes. Opposes hike in any state fees.

Economy: Supports $184 billion transportation system including high-speed rail, special highways for trucks and other transportation improvements.

Education: Supports testing system of accountability, but wants to allow flexibility to specific schools on when they test their students. Supports increased health insurance and retirement benefits for teachers. Wants to pass legislation protecting teachers from lawsuits. Wants to wait on legislative committee on school finance to issue findings before committing to finance platform. Opposes tax-funded school vouchers.

Death Penalty: Supports ban on execution of the mentally retarded.

Diversity: Says he supports affirmative action, but not quotas.

Gun control: Supports right to bear arms, with better enforcement of current laws and not more regulation. Opposes ban on concealed weapons.

Budget: Wants a “top-to-bottom” evaluation of government spending before budget proposal put forward. Opposes new taxes. Opposes hike in state fees.

Economy: Supports consolidation of Public Utilities Commission and Texas Railroad Commission.

Cast your vote