Houston Democrats

Chris received several standing ovations for his take on ethics, healthcare and education. He disputes Rick Perry's assertion that "govenment cannot dispense hope", saying that statement "betrays a bankruptcy of spirit". Given the choice between dispensing hope and spreading despair we should choose the former.

He talked about the New Mainstream in Texas that believes in liberty, responsibility, accountability and rewarding hard work in a climate where we can rely on each other and ourselves. Rick Perry does not represent the ethic and values of this New Mainstream.

Chris discussed his take on the budget wranglings going on in the Texas legislature. The budget cuts being made now have a moral and economic price. Balancing the budget at the expense of education, health care, domestic abuse programs and the environment is not only immoral, but degrades our long term economic prosperity. He said that "the law of diminishing returns does not apply to our children." Budgets are moral documents and it's immoral to save $1 in a way that causes a $10 mess.

Is Chris a reform candidate? If reform means rejecting old battle lines, making higher education accessible and holding state government as accountable as we hold our school children, then yes. Real ethics reform should happen not later, not soon, but without Delay.

He knows the race for governor will be a tough fight, but one worth fighting.

Look for his campaign blog which is being developed by Jim Dallas at the Burnt Orange Report. We'll post a link as soon as it's launched.