League of Women Voters election survey: Sandra VuLe, candidate for the Texas House Rep. - District 112

by Staff of League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on November 4th features a number of local races to decide state and national Senate and House of Representatives seats.

The responses of Sandra VuLe (D), who is seeking election to the Texas House of Representatives - District 112 seat, appear below. VuLe is running against Philip M. White (L) and Angie Chen Button (R).

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

VuLe: My background allows me to understand the needs of hardworking American families and small businesses: BS Business, Washington University; JD - SMU Law; community lawyer for 11 years with own law firm; Advisory Council-Garland Chief of Police; and pro-bono work: Dallas Bar and Catholic Charities.

LWV: The Texas Legislature in 2007 overhauled business taxes to provide property tax relief for homeowners, but many small business owners in Texas now claim that their property tax decrease was far less than their business tax increase. What measures should be taken to maintain adequate state tax revenues without unduly burdening individual taxpayers or small business?

VuLe: Small businesses make up the backbone of our economy. To reduce the burden of the margin tax on small businesses, we should consider raising the small business exemption and exempting small businesses that are not profitable from taxation. The full impact of this tax on the small business community must be examined to determine whether other amendments are necessary.

LWV: Texas deregulated electricity rates with the promise that competition between suppliers would lower consumers’ electric rates, yet rates in Texas remain well above the national average. What measures should be taken to ensure electric power reliability and affordability in Texas?

VuLe: In 2003, the Legislature deregulated the utility markets in our state in exchange for large political contributions from energy companies. Utility companies have taken advantage of deregulation and less oversight to charge consumers extremely high rates. I will work to stop price gouging by big utility companies. We must add more enforcement power to the Texas Public Utility Commission in order to hold utility companies accountable for their rates.

LWV: According to the most recent published data of the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, insurance industry losses in Texas have decreased by 85%, yet homeowners’ rates have fallen by only 4%. What reforms would you support to lower homeowners’ rates in Texas?

VuLe: To ensure that Texas homeowners have access to affordable homeowners insurance, we must: 1) require TDI to review and approve all rate increases before they are passed on to consumers; 2) standardize homeowners policies so consumers can conduct side-by-side comparisons; 3) ban the unfair and discriminatory practice of credit scoring in determining rates; and 4) make the insurance commissioner an elected office accountable to Texans.

LWV: The Texas legislature has not increased the gas tax since 1991, and also diverts millions of dollars of transportation funds to other areas of the state budget such as education and the Department of Public Safety. The public has voiced much disapproval of toll roads and public/private partnerships to build new roads. How would you fund construction of new roads and maintenance of existing roads and bridges?

VuLe: We should not toll any existing free roads. We should search for other funding from local, state, and federal levels before building toll roads. Toll roads should be constructed only after the state has obtained a thorough contract review and received public input. Increasing taxes should be the last resort.

LWV: If diversions from the State’s transportation fund are stopped, how would you pay for those items that are currently funded by gas tax monies?

VuLe: While I do not support cutting funding to important state programs, the gas tax dollar should primarily be to fund our transportation infrastructure. Lawmakers should consider using some of the revenue from the new business tax and projected $10-$11 billion state surplus to fund other areas of the state budget.

LWV: Currently, sales prices of most residential property are disclosed while those of commercial property are not. Do you support public disclosure of commercial real estate sales prices so as to ensure fair and accurate appraisals?

VuLe: Yes. Full disclosure of commercial real estate prices will provide information for accurate appraisals of these properties, ensuring that they are not undervalued for tax purposes. This could translate into millions of dollars in potential revenue to meet the local needs. However, appraisal districts should include clear standards on how they will use the sales data to appropriately calculate value.