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Thursday
March 18, 2010 Since 1922 |
Incumbent believes in Texas values
From staff reports
Baytown Sun Published October 30, 2008 Sen. John Cornyn is seeking re-election next month.
Cornyn was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. In a short period of time, he earned a national reputation as a forceful and articulate voice for Texas values. In 2006, Cornyn was selected by his colleagues to become a member of the five-person Republican Senate leadership team as Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
He continues to take a leading role on many important issues in the Senate. He is committed to bolstering the country’s national defense and keeping America safe from terrorism, reducing spending, securing American borders, making health care more accessible, strengthening the economy and expand job opportunities, improving educational opportunity for all Texans, and protecting the most vulnerable in society.
“I strongly believe in core Texas values - encouraging personal responsibility, compassion for others, and supporting family values. Strong families are the foundation for a prosperous and civilized society, and a compassionate government recognizes their importance in fostering successful communities, happier homes, and healthier lives,” Cornyn said on his website.
The senator believes in providing opportunity for all and removing government limitations on freedom so every citizen has the change to realize the American dream. Cornyn thinks the government must provide a “hand-up” for citizens, rather than a “handout,” and that the best gifts government can give to citizens is the ability and skills to improve their lives.
“I support the reauthorization of our nation’s welfare laws,” Cornyn said. “We must continue to ensure that the neediest Americans receive assistance in caring for their families while they work to achieve independence.”
Cornyn has also voiced his opinions on partial-birth abortion, which he is against.
When a federal judge in San Francisco described the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act as unconstitutional, Cornyn stated it was discouraging that this judge would substitute her will for that of Congress and the American people.
“We’ve expected that this fight would go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and I think that’s where it’s heading. I’m afraid that this decision is the first step in what is going to be a long judicial process,” Cornyn said. “The barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion has no place in our society. And I’m committed to continue building a culture that respects and protects every human life, from conception to natural death.”
Cornyn is a co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, which prohibits all partial-birth abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
The Republican is also against same-sex marriages, and declared that a California Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex marriages was another unfortunate example of judges usurping decision-making power from voters and their elected representatives.
“The court’s action strengthens the argument for a Constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, Cornyn said.
At the time of the Massachusetts decision, many people said a federal amendment was not necessary because only one state was affected. Since then, many questions have arisen about how these same-sex ‘marriages’ would be treated under the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution in other states, and whether they would also be required to recognize their validity, he said.
“No state should be forced to recognize the same sex marriage of another state,” Cornyn said. “Congress has the power to respond by advancing a Constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, which is the best arrangement for children and the good of society.”
Cornyn believes that the family is the fundamental institution of our society, and when families are weakened, children suffer the most.
“We are seeking not just to serve those children in need, but to encourage and support the creation of strong and healthy families,” Cornyn said. “Child support enforcement reduces reliance on Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other social service programs. Effective enforcement enables former welfare families, and working families with modest incomes, to receive this important source of supplemental income and gain the self-sufficiency to avoid having to draw on government resources through public assistance programs.”
During Cornyn’s tenure as Attorney General of Texas, the Child Support Division made dramatic increases in collections from deadbeat parents, and the office continues to bring in record collections each year. Texas now ranks second in the nation in total collections—with collections in fiscal year 2006 surpassing $2 billion—a figure that has doubled since fiscal year 2000.
The senator’s accomplishments include, a legacy for child support enforcement as Texas Attorney General to Washington. The Child Support Protection Act of 2007, which will restore child support incentive funds by allowing states to receive federal matching dollars when they reinvest their performance awards into additional child support collections.
He serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. He is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on both the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee.
The senator is a prominent supporter of President Bush’s judicial nominees and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Texas military personnel, veterans and their families. He has played a leading role in securing the nation’s borders, while working to bring about broader reforms of our broken immigration system; and he stands as a dedicated defender of free markets, traditional values and individual liberty. He is also the chairman of the Senate India Caucus and the Senate RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Caucus, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs and a member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade and the President’s Export Council.
While in the Senate, Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2005 Border Texan of the Year Award; the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Children’s Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business’s (TAB) Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; the National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award; the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leader’s (CONLAMIC) Latino Leadership Award; and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce’s (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; among others.
As Texas Attorney General from 1999 to 2002, Cornyn directed many initiatives vital to the interests of Texas families. Cornyn served for six years as a District Court Judge in San Antonio before being elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, where he served for seven years.
John Cornyn was born in Houston on February 2, 1952 and was raised in San Antonio. He graduated from Trinity University and St. Mary’s School of Law, both in San Antonio, and also earned a Masters of Law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1995. He was named the St. Mary’s Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994 and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001.
Cornyn is married to Sandy, his wife of 27 years. They have two daughters.
For more information, visit http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/.
Baytown Sun Published October 30, 2008 Sen. John Cornyn is seeking re-election next month.
Cornyn was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. In a short period of time, he earned a national reputation as a forceful and articulate voice for Texas values. In 2006, Cornyn was selected by his colleagues to become a member of the five-person Republican Senate leadership team as Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
He continues to take a leading role on many important issues in the Senate. He is committed to bolstering the country’s national defense and keeping America safe from terrorism, reducing spending, securing American borders, making health care more accessible, strengthening the economy and expand job opportunities, improving educational opportunity for all Texans, and protecting the most vulnerable in society.
“I strongly believe in core Texas values - encouraging personal responsibility, compassion for others, and supporting family values. Strong families are the foundation for a prosperous and civilized society, and a compassionate government recognizes their importance in fostering successful communities, happier homes, and healthier lives,” Cornyn said on his website.
The senator believes in providing opportunity for all and removing government limitations on freedom so every citizen has the change to realize the American dream. Cornyn thinks the government must provide a “hand-up” for citizens, rather than a “handout,” and that the best gifts government can give to citizens is the ability and skills to improve their lives.
“I support the reauthorization of our nation’s welfare laws,” Cornyn said. “We must continue to ensure that the neediest Americans receive assistance in caring for their families while they work to achieve independence.”
Cornyn has also voiced his opinions on partial-birth abortion, which he is against.
When a federal judge in San Francisco described the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act as unconstitutional, Cornyn stated it was discouraging that this judge would substitute her will for that of Congress and the American people.
“We’ve expected that this fight would go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and I think that’s where it’s heading. I’m afraid that this decision is the first step in what is going to be a long judicial process,” Cornyn said. “The barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion has no place in our society. And I’m committed to continue building a culture that respects and protects every human life, from conception to natural death.”
Cornyn is a co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, which prohibits all partial-birth abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
The Republican is also against same-sex marriages, and declared that a California Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex marriages was another unfortunate example of judges usurping decision-making power from voters and their elected representatives.
“The court’s action strengthens the argument for a Constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, Cornyn said.
At the time of the Massachusetts decision, many people said a federal amendment was not necessary because only one state was affected. Since then, many questions have arisen about how these same-sex ‘marriages’ would be treated under the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution in other states, and whether they would also be required to recognize their validity, he said.
“No state should be forced to recognize the same sex marriage of another state,” Cornyn said. “Congress has the power to respond by advancing a Constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, which is the best arrangement for children and the good of society.”
Cornyn believes that the family is the fundamental institution of our society, and when families are weakened, children suffer the most.
“We are seeking not just to serve those children in need, but to encourage and support the creation of strong and healthy families,” Cornyn said. “Child support enforcement reduces reliance on Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other social service programs. Effective enforcement enables former welfare families, and working families with modest incomes, to receive this important source of supplemental income and gain the self-sufficiency to avoid having to draw on government resources through public assistance programs.”
During Cornyn’s tenure as Attorney General of Texas, the Child Support Division made dramatic increases in collections from deadbeat parents, and the office continues to bring in record collections each year. Texas now ranks second in the nation in total collections—with collections in fiscal year 2006 surpassing $2 billion—a figure that has doubled since fiscal year 2000.
The senator’s accomplishments include, a legacy for child support enforcement as Texas Attorney General to Washington. The Child Support Protection Act of 2007, which will restore child support incentive funds by allowing states to receive federal matching dollars when they reinvest their performance awards into additional child support collections.
He serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. He is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on both the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee.
The senator is a prominent supporter of President Bush’s judicial nominees and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Texas military personnel, veterans and their families. He has played a leading role in securing the nation’s borders, while working to bring about broader reforms of our broken immigration system; and he stands as a dedicated defender of free markets, traditional values and individual liberty. He is also the chairman of the Senate India Caucus and the Senate RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Caucus, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs and a member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade and the President’s Export Council.
While in the Senate, Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2005 Border Texan of the Year Award; the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Children’s Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business’s (TAB) Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; the National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award; the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leader’s (CONLAMIC) Latino Leadership Award; and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce’s (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; among others.
As Texas Attorney General from 1999 to 2002, Cornyn directed many initiatives vital to the interests of Texas families. Cornyn served for six years as a District Court Judge in San Antonio before being elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, where he served for seven years.
John Cornyn was born in Houston on February 2, 1952 and was raised in San Antonio. He graduated from Trinity University and St. Mary’s School of Law, both in San Antonio, and also earned a Masters of Law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1995. He was named the St. Mary’s Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994 and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001.
Cornyn is married to Sandy, his wife of 27 years. They have two daughters.
For more information, visit http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/.