Hinojosa lays out her plans on data centers, school testing and household relief
In a Big Country interview, the Democratic nominee for governor proposed pausing new data center permits and the A-F school ratings.
CountyGina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, laid out her platform in an interview with Big Country media the weekend before Election Day.
On data centers, Hinojosa said communities should have more say over whether and how they're built. She proposed a moratorium on new data center permits until lawmakers adopt protections for water supplies, electricity costs, property rights and air quality. Projects already under construction would continue. She said state tax breaks for data centers cost Texas at least $1 billion a year, that household water needs should come before data center deals, and that she would consider using emergency powers to protect water access.
On schools, she said she would replace Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator and review TEA's vendor contracts, which she said have grown from about 40 to more than 200 under Gov. Greg Abbott. She said she would put the savings toward teachers. She also wants to pause the STAAR-based A-F accountability system in favor of tests that measure growth during the school year, such as the MAP test.
On cost of living, she promoted what she calls her 'Money in Your Pocket' plan, which includes a one-time $1,500 payment to every Texas household.
CIVILIAN does not endorse candidates. Gov. Abbott campaigned in Abilene on Oct. 26.
