00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:21.600
Welcome to the Hano Talks.
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:22.640
My name is Hiram.
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:23.839
We got a special guest today.
00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.120
We got Gina and we got Domingo on our podcast to talk about the Hanno issues.
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:29.839
How's it going?
00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:30.480
How are we doing?
00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:30.800
Yeah.
00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:34.000
So again, it's this is going to be a very special show.
00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.759
It's that there has not been a Mexican-American governor in Texas since 1835.
00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:40.399
No way.
00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:41.840
And since 1835.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:42.880
It's been a long time, man.
00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:43.200
Wow.
00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.320
My wife, we secured were basically in San Antonio ball.
00:00:46.880 --> 00:01:01.439
So, but I think we have an opportunity to make a difference and change this time because uh right now with us in our in our studio, we have the first Latina running, or actually second Latina to win a major party nomination in Texas.
00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.640
And she's the Democratic nominee for governor.
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:09.439
Uh, she'll be on the ballot in November, and we're proud to have State Representative Gina Anoza.
00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.120
Gina, welcome to Tejano Talks.
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:11.599
Thank you.
00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:12.879
It's great to be with you both.
00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:13.359
Thank you.
00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:14.239
Really appreciate it.
00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:15.920
So, Gina, tell us a little bit about yourself.
00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.760
So people who might not know you might be seeing you for the first time.
00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:21.599
De donde vienes?
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.920
Um I'm from the Valley, born and raised in the Rio Gran Valley.
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.319
I was born in McCallan, grew up in Brownsville, went to Brownsville public schools.
00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:34.480
And um, yeah, very much consider myself a Valley girl.
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:40.480
I have raised my family in Austin, and that's where I've been representing Central Austin in the Texas House.
00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:43.599
But the thing I it I never meant to run for anything.
00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:44.400
Wow.
00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.680
So my family is in politics, right?
00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:48.879
As you know, my dad.
00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:56.799
My husband and I love to talk about politics, but I made him promise to never run for any office before we got married.
00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:57.359
No way.
00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.760
Because I was like, no, this is where we draw the line.
00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.120
I don't want that life for me.
00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:01.439
Yeah.
00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:01.920
Yeah.
00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:05.760
And um, what happened was my son's school was gonna be shut down.
00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:07.680
He was in kindergarten, Muttdale.
00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:09.599
And my firstborn son.
00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:11.280
And um This is in Austin.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:12.479
This was in Austin.
00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:17.360
And this was at Pease Elementary, the longest continually operating school in the state of Texas.
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:18.639
How would they close the school?
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:20.000
Like why what's going on?
00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:21.599
Funding, funding deficit.
00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:22.159
Okay.
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:29.199
Um so I got mad and I ran for the school board and I won, and we saved the schools.
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.319
There it wasn't just that schools, a bunch of schools, inner city schools.
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:38.159
And it was the beginning of a trend of shutting down inner city schools in urban areas.
00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.080
Um, but we stopped it for that time there.
00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:48.719
We saved the schools, we balanced the budget, we gave teachers a pay raise, we cut taxes.
00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.560
Goes to show when you put the work in what you can accomplish, right?
00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:54.719
So um I'm proud of what we did.
00:02:54.879 --> 00:03:02.000
But then I realized the reason why schools are shutting down is because the state takes our money and doesn't put it back into our schools and our communities.
00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:02.560
Oh.
00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.520
And so I ran for the house, and that's where I've been fighting for schools.
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:08.479
And where does that money go if it doesn't go to schools?
00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.400
I thought you'd never ask.
00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:14.879
The money goes to what I'm calling the Greg Abbott corruption tax.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:15.120
Yeah.
00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.639
And so this is what I mean by that.
00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.120
So our property taxes have gone up like 75% under Greg Abbott.
00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:23.919
Okay, whoa.
00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:26.080
But schools are shutting down all over this state.
00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:29.520
Trevor Burrus, Jr.: The charter schools are being funded and the public schools are being starved.
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:32.639
And more and more vendor contracts.
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.919
So, more and more, to your point, more and more money is going to privatization.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:46.879
Vouchers is the latest giant vendor contract, a billion dollars taken out of our neighborhood public schools to give to unaccountable private schools.
00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:47.520
Aaron Powell Okay.
00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:51.680
So they're like calling these things vouchers, but really they're stealing money from public schools?
00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:52.240
That's it.
00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:52.560
Wow.
00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:54.000
It's a voucher scam.
00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.840
The second part of that word is voucher scam.
00:03:58.080 --> 00:03:58.719
Remember that.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:01.120
Because that's exactly what they're doing.
00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:08.639
And the reason why it's corruption is because there are people who are Greg Abbott's donors who stand to make a lot of money off of this.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:14.159
He got the biggest campaign contribution in all of Texas history.
00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:15.840
Talk about making history.
00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:26.639
The governor made history by receiving a$10 million campaign contribution from an out-of-state billionaire, Jeff Yaz, who has an interest in uh financial interest in vouchers.
00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:27.759
He's not even from Texas.
00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:28.079
No.
00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.439
No, and people don't realize, oh, you know, Mexico está bien corrupt.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:34.240
When they saw Texas, this is Texasized corruption.
00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:40.399
I mean,$10 million, no bid contracts, and it's happening right now in uh Texas.
00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.480
And um the ones that are suffering is our kids.
00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.160
That's that's exactly right.
00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:50.639
So we have not only schools shutting down, we have over a hundred school districts at four days a week.
00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.120
They can't operate at five days a week anymore.
00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:53.920
They don't have the money.
00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:55.199
Isn't that crazy?
00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.800
We have teachers leaving exodus of teachers.
00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:03.439
We have the for the first time more non-certified teachers than certified teachers.
00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:08.240
In fact, I've been hearing more and more about teachers who don't have college degrees.
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:08.720
Right?
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:10.560
Oh, yeah, because it's a shortage, yeah.
00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:18.319
So I mean it because we can't find qualified professional teachers who want to work in the schools for what we pay and for the conditions, right?
00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:20.480
So yes, our kids are the ones who suffer.
00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.680
Aaron Powell Let me let me ask you, uh, why did you decide to run for governor?
00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:28.399
I mean, you were a state rep, you were, you know, comfortable there, you've been there conservative terms.
00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:34.240
Why, you know, you know, and being a Democrat running for governor at that house, that's you're the underdog.
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:34.879
Yeah, right.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:35.279
That's right.
00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:37.839
So tell her what what made you decide that?
00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:40.879
2026 is not the year to be comfortable.
00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.480
2026 is a historic year for our people, for our state, for our country.
00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:56.639
What we are seeing across the state and across this country is that we are losing and we are almost at the point of no return, the American dream.
00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:03.519
The thing that when we were young, when we were children, we were taught existed in this country of opportunity.
00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:07.519
It is what attracted, in fact, many of our families to this country.
00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:23.600
It was the thought that if you put in the work, if you work hard, you can buy your own home, own your own home, you can um send your kids to college, you can take a vacation once in a while, you can pay your bills, that you can have a life of dignity.
00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.959
And that life is out of reach for too many working Texans.
00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:45.120
And so I think we are at a place in 2026 where we have a chance, but we have to really do clean slate and fresh start because right now we are paying a lot of taxes into a system that is working against most people.
00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.240
It hasn't worked for most people for a long time.
00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:58.399
And as Democrats, we need to stop defending the indefensible and say this system as it exists right now isn't defensible, does not work for tech sensor.
00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:04.560
Do you think the system is rigged against the working class families here at Tegas, whether they're Latino, black, white, whatever?
00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:05.519
Absolutely.
00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.439
I think the system is rigged, yes.
00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:11.759
We spend lots of taxpayer dollars to subsidize big global businesses.
00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.240
And they bring oftentimes jobs, yes, but then they're hiring people from out of state.
00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.959
How much tax does Elon Musk play?
00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:19.600
Right.
00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.959
Like Elon Musk?
00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.160
Oh bad, we don't let one.
00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.600
He gets rich off of our taxpayer dollars, right?
00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:32.079
So yes, it is rigged and it is rigged in favor of Greg Abbott's donors.
00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:32.319
Trevor Burrus, Jr.
00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:48.399
Gina, like so I mean, what you're saying is so true, but I hear a lot of like people my age that like are turning away from the Democratic Party because they're like, well, they're gonna tax all my money when I'm a millionaire and I'm gonna be broke, and I want to be a millionaire, but I don't want to get taxed.
00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:53.279
So like, you know, they're not really meeting or seeing with the Democratic messaging right now.
00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:58.399
Like, what would you tell those like youngsters that want to get rich that are afraid they're gonna get taxed when they get older?
00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:06.560
I think that people view Democrats that way because I think we have been on the wrong track for a minute.
00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.639
But I think that people are seeing the light.
00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:21.199
And I think the reason why is because right now we have about 99.9% of us all in the same boat against like billionaires who are not I don't I don't fault them for being rich.
00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:21.600
Yeah.
00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:27.040
I fault the governor and the politicians who take our money to make them richer.
00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:28.160
That's the problem.
00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:38.000
But the thing about what you're saying about taxation and Democrats, I think in the past we protected programs for oftentimes for poor.
00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:41.519
But meanwhile, we didn't pay attention to middle class.
00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:43.759
Nobody wants wants to be in a program.
00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:44.559
Right.
00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:51.360
People want to be able to work and make money and be successful, right?
00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:59.440
And so I think that's where the that's where my focus is, and that's where the focus of the Democratic Party, I think, is shifting to right now.
00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:14.480
Yeah, well, and and by the way, uh the American dream not only is dead because it's been rigged, people who have that vision, I'm gonna be a millionaire, and I'm a millionaire, but I can just tell you, the people that make it out, it's one percent.
00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:14.799
Yeah.
00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:27.440
The other 99%, they're they they can't it used to be one a one person uh household, the husband working, wife maybe not working, BAB housewife, could take, buy a house, get a car, get the vacation, start a business.
00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:30.399
Uh now both people working can barely make it.
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.159
And they're living paycheck to paycheck, month to month, the vast majority of the honours.
00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:35.440
But let me ask you a question.
00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.000
If you got elected governor of Texas, what would you do different than what our current governor is doing?
00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.919
Clean, slate, fresh start.
00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.960
It's not one, two, or three things that we need to do right now.
00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.879
It and it's gonna take a minute.
00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:48.000
But let's start with schools.
00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:49.440
I because I mentioned schools.
00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.159
Wipe clean the vendor contracts.
00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.360
A lot of them are correct.
00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.000
Get rid of them.
00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.639
Get rid of them, wipe them clean at the state level.
00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.039
All that money that goes into public education.
00:09:59.279 --> 00:09:59.519
Good.
00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:02.159
There's a lot, but our teachers aren't paid their worth.
00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:08.159
And use it to make our teachers amongst the highest paid in the nation, if not the highest paid in the nation, right?
00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:16.000
Smaller class size, make sure we take care of school safety because after Uvalde, there are moms who will not send their kids to school.
00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.039
A lot of people don't.
00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.039
Texas is 47th in education.
00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:19.840
It's so much.
00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.600
I mean, if but for Mississippi and uh, you know, a couple other things, we would be at the bottom.
00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:29.919
And when Ann Richards was governor, the last Democratic governor, the last woman governor, you know, we were in the top 20.
00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.000
That's all going to the Greg Corruption Tax.
00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:34.080
Yes, the Greg Corruption Tax.
00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.559
Yes.
00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:39.039
And we need um an education governor in Texas, and that's what I'm running to be.
00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.440
For over 40 years, Domingo Garcia has fought for Texans.
00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:50.000
Those big settlements and verdicts allow us to give back to the communities here in HTOP, making a difference, fighting the corporate bullies.
00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.120
That's why I became a lawyer.
00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.600
Domingo Garcia, Tehado Tough.
00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:06.559
So let me ask you, is there we have been talking about the things that are important to uh working class Latinos that sometimes what do you think a lot of Latinos voted for Trump?
00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.120
You know pobres.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.879
I mean, they're working class, okay?
00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:18.480
And and they're out there voting for somebody that's a billionaire, doesn't really care about them at all.
00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.879
But los picolos ojos and they voted for him.
00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:27.360
And you saw a lot of counties, especially on the border, that went, you know, red for the first time and you know, since Reconstruction.
00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:33.759
I think Trump connected with people because he said the system is rigged.
00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:34.960
That makes sense.
00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:35.759
Yeah.
00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.480
He was right.
00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.159
Now he's rigged it for himself.
00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.679
That's not right.
00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.720
That's not right at all.
00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:42.720
He's like, it's rigged, and it's not brighter for me.
00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.399
Exactly.
00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:50.240
So the he he diagnosed the right problem that everybody knows.
00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:50.879
Yeah.
00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.919
Of course, he came up with the wrong solution.
00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:54.399
Right?
00:11:54.559 --> 00:12:00.159
The system is rigged, but we need to unrig it and make it work for the people who pay for it.
00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:07.840
Uh Gina, like, one thing that when you were talking and with the conviction you speak to speak of, reminded me of when you say No te dejes.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.159
Yeah.
00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.879
But you told me it was like one of your grandmother's sayings.
00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:17.279
Like, tell us a little bit about like what that means, like in in English and like to people that may not understand the culture, right?
00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.200
Because not everybody speaks Spanish.
00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:22.159
But I want to hear a little bit about I I love I love that quote.
00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:28.639
So I've been I've asked so many Latinos what their translation of Note de Jes is.
00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.080
This is the best I can come up with.
00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.279
Note de is is what my grandmother would tell me as a little girl.
00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:40.399
And and and it means the what I think it means is know your worth and fight for it.
00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.080
No te dejes.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:56.799
Um it's interesting because as I travel the state, the people who come up to me are women who tell me their mother or their grandmothers are who instilled that in them.
00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:03.360
And so it seems like it was uh it was for for girls.
00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:07.279
It was the lesson for girls predominantly instead of for boys.
00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.240
I think that's so interesting.
00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.600
And then it was passed on from our mothers and grandmothers down to us.
00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:17.759
And I and I think it's because our our grandmothers had to be so strong to give us these opportunities.
00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:18.639
Absolutely.
00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:25.600
And look, I there's a whole movement right now of younger folks like myself that are really opening their eyes to like the way that our system works.
00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:33.600
And I I agree that to a very huge extent, like this world is built for like men and to their advantage.
00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:43.679
Uh, but thankfully, I'm seeing a lot of young folks like start to think like, hey, you know, it's time to like let some women take the front, you know, of you know, take take the lead.
00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:47.759
Uh and and you're one of the first Latinas like going out to take that lead here in Texas.
00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:54.879
I'm really excited because I know that a lot of women in my life, like my mother and my grandmother, literally said exactly what you said.
00:13:54.960 --> 00:14:09.279
But now that you put in that context, I understand like they were talking to themselves and to my sister and to all the women, you know, in Texas, I get left behind because of how it's so I under you know, you're from Austin, James Tolerico's from Austin, James is running, you know, for Senate.
00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.480
Uh and I was wondering how are y'all gonna be working together?
00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:18.240
What kind of teamwork are we gonna be seeing as we go into November and getting the vote out?
00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.120
How do we switch?
00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:23.200
You know, we already talked about how do we get Latinos to come back a la casa and vote Democrat.
00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:27.200
How are we gonna how are you gonna you and James are gonna look at working at uh statewide?
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.480
So last week we already tag teamed.
00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:35.919
Last week James Telarico rolled out suspending the federal gas tax.
00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:41.759
And then two days later, I came out calling on Greg Abbott to suspend the state gas tax.
00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.639
Taken together, we can save Texans about five dollars on a take of gas.
00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.120
No way.
00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.000
Gas, yes.
00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.559
So, you know, it's it's money in your pocket at a time when Texans have no more to give.
00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:59.840
The m the government needs to not take it right now because gas is about a dollar more a gallon than it was this time last year.
00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.240
Yeah.
00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.039
And going up.
00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.080
And going up.
00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.480
And people can't afford to to pay that.
00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:11.440
We were in Houston, in right outside of Houston, Cyprus, and there is this plasma center right there.
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:15.440
It this is a suburban middle class area.
00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:32.320
And we went there because I had just read a story a couple of weeks before that people, special a special education teacher, a crane operator, middle class Texans are giving plasma two times a week as a second job because they can't make ends meet.
00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.360
As a second job.
00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:38.960
And the reason why this really struck me is because I grew up in Brownsville, as I said.
00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:46.639
In Brownsville, we're on the border with Mexico, the plasma centers would set up there because in Mexico you can't give your blood for money.
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.360
It's illegal.
00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:54.720
So destitute Mexicans would cross, they would give their blood, and then they'd go back with money.
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:02.799
So and the article said the profit model, the future of that profit model is in these middle class neighborhoods.
00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:12.799
So to think about it, they used to have a profit model of destitute Mexicans, and now it's like desperate middle-class Texans.
00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:22.000
Like, isn't isn't that terrible where we are in 2026 that people give blood two times a week to make ends meet?
00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:22.480
Yeah.
00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:25.679
Let me ask you, let's go turn turn to another topic, immigration.
00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:25.919
Yeah.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:33.600
You know, Texas is the only state in America that has a center in Dilly, Texas, where they put children and families there.
00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.559
And Governor Abbott has allowed that to happen.
00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.799
Uh, and he's considers himself a Christian.
00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:44.159
I don't know what kind of Christian allows children and families to be put in a prison, uh, especially under the conditions.
00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.480
I've been there uh protesting at Dilly.
00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:54.320
Uh what would you do as governor uh in r in regards to um detention centers like Dilly and the whole issue about immigration?
00:16:54.480 --> 00:17:02.159
You know, Abbott launched this Operation Lone Star, spending millions and billions of dollars on something that really is a federal issue.
00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.319
So a few things on this.
00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:10.960
Um Greg Abbott has taken tens of thousands of dollars from the private prison companies that now operate these detention centers.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.480
Core Civic and Geogroup are two of the big ones, right?
00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:24.480
And he, after taking that money, created a new kind of licensing that allows for locking up little kids and their parents in these detention centers.
00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.799
That's why it only happens here.
00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.079
Because of Greg Abbott.
00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:32.319
He facilitated Yes, he's the mordida governor.
00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:34.000
Greg Abbott is the mordida governor.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.480
I like that.
00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.519
The mordida governor.
00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.000
Yes.
00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.880
It's not mine.
00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:39.599
I got it from a I got it from a friend in the valley.
00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:39.920
Yeah.
00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:42.480
But yes, he is the mordida governor.
00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:52.160
And then what he did to make it even more profitable for these private prison companies who they're never they're they're only they only exist to make money, right?
00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.319
They're they are a fork-profit corporation.
00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.079
That's not saying anything bad about them.
00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.240
That's just saying what's true.
00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:04.400
He took our Texas National Guard, ordered them to operate these detention centers.
00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:09.279
So now these private prison companies don't have to pay for the staff, right?
00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.799
They get a discount on staffing.
00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.079
They get state employees.
00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:16.960
They get state employees, and so they can further maximize their profits.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.359
Yeah.
00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:23.440
So right, that is the Greg Abbott corruption tax because 100% of those profits are paid for by the taxpayer.
00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.880
So and let me say one more thing about this.
00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.680
This is making us less safe, not more safe.
00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:46.559
The targeting of Latin of Latinos indiscriminate is not only instilling fear, but it is like the Harris County District Attorney will tell me he can't prosecute child sex abuse cases because people are too afraid to come forward and to say what they've witnessed.
00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:51.839
We have in Brown's I mean, in in Austin, somebody tried to report a domestic violence situation.
00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.440
She was deported with her kid.
00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.000
Right?
00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:00.000
So what Greg Abbott is doing right now, targeting cities by trying to cut off their police and firefighters.
00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.440
Dallas, Houston, Austin?
00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.240
Yes.
00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:04.799
Is not because of anybody who's been accused of a crime.
00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.880
Those people they're already holding, right?
00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.279
Right.
00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.079
It's for people who are the witnesses to crimes.
00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.680
And so that is making us all less.
00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.839
Or Juan the Gardner who got stopped on a traffic ticket.
00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.400
Right.
00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:14.640
Right.
00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.200
Yeah.
00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:34.079
So you got a lot of working class parents, you got single moms, two or three kids, and they're getting$15 an hour, maybe, but then they got to pay child care.
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:38.720
What will you think the state should be doing about the issue about childcare and the crisis there?
00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:51.279
The state makes needs to make it easier for the public schools across the state that are under enrolled to start those kind of childcare programs with some of these daycare providers.
00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:59.359
It's very h it's very expensive to operate childcare because the the ratio of student to teacher is very low, right?
00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:08.079
You can't have a lot of um kids, a lot of babies with an adult because it's it's a it's time-intensive work.
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:11.519
Um so so there needs to be help there.
00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:15.920
There are programs like that in Texas, but they're just not prioritized.
00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.559
And you're right, it is a critical issue for families.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:24.640
Also finally, is that Texas has the largest number of uninsured people in the country.
00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:35.519
Uh and a lot of times, you know, for a a family, you know, somebody has an accident, somebody that's diagnosed with diabetes, cancer, some illness, and they go broke.
00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:49.920
What do you think the state should be doing to help people that are uh, you know, you know, Obamacare never came to Texas really, because there the Republican governor Abbott said, no, we don't want federal dollars to help with our uninsured poly uh individuals here in Texas.
00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.960
So I'm running on insuring every Texas child.
00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:56.880
We have the most uninsured, not only adults, uninsured children.
00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.720
85% of them are uh Americans, these children.
00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:08.160
And so the way we insure every child is by pull expanding Medicaid.
00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:12.000
But Democrats have been running forever on expanding Medicaid.
00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:15.839
Nobody knows what that means, but they know what it means to insure every child.
00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.680
And it's the same thing, right?
00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.680
So we need to insure every child.
00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.240
That also ensures a million Texans.
00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.599
And for those of us with the health insurance, we're paying more, we're getting less.
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:31.759
We need to rein in the health insurance companies who are making more and more profit and not giving us what we pay for.
00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:38.480
It's harder to see the doctor you need, it's harder to get the medicine you need because of bad faith denials, and we need to ban bad faith denials.
00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:38.880
Yeah.
00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:53.519
Gina, I am curious, and this is a little bit of a you know deviation from what we're talking about, but I'm just curious to hear about like what some of the struggles you face and maybe anticipate uh as a woman, you know, like holding such a powerful position.
00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:58.720
I mean, you're going in clean slate, you know, you're trying to, you know, fix the tax system.
00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.759
I'm sure you're upset.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.119
A lot of people, specifically, probably a lot of really rich men.
00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.039
And like, I want to hear about it.
00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:07.039
Like, what is your experience?
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:12.559
So, um, in the legislature, I make people mad all the time.
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:16.160
Yeah, those are what the right thing is.
00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:22.640
Um, and so, and at the same time, I have good relationships, just personal relationships with my Republican colleagues.
00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.759
They respect it.
00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:29.359
They respect when you don't fear them, and they respect when you're just saying what is real.
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:50.000
And so where we are right now in Texas is that there are a lot of elected Republicans who feel the way we do, who would support the things we support, like Medicaid expansion, ensuring every Texas child, they cannot do it because they are being held hostage in their primaries.
00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:55.440
They feel like they're gonna be taken out if they vote with us, vote their conscience, even vote their districts.
00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:59.519
And on school issues, Greg Abbott will come after us after them.
00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:03.519
So they fear him and they don't vote their conscience much less their district.
00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:06.720
When we remove him from the equation, it creates freedom.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:08.480
Nobody likes Greg Abbott.
00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.119
I will tell you.
00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.319
He's like Ted Cruz.
00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.400
He's like, yes, he is like.
00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:15.039
Yeah, actually they're their unfavorables are about the same.
00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.680
Yes.
00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.480
But no, he's nobody loves Greg Gabbot.
00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.839
Nobody likes Greg Abbott.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.279
They have tolerated him.
00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:26.799
But I will tell you, when I tell people I'm running against him, they're like, how he can run again?
00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.079
Isn't he term limited?
00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:31.119
People don't underst that's the number one response I get.
00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.000
It's too long.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.279
People don't like that.
00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.079
Yeah.
00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.039
Do you think there should be term limits for politicians?
00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:43.599
I mean, you know, right now, I was a city council in Dallas, and we have uh four terms, two years, eight years, and then you gotta move on.
00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:46.720
The mayor has eight-year terms, too, two four-year terms.
00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.960
But, you know, I was in the legislature also.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:54.079
And, you know, there are no term limits for the state reps, for state senators, and there are people that die in office.
00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:56.000
I mean, you know, they've been there forever.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:59.759
I I'm not gonna mention names, but I know several have been there for a long, long time.
00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.519
And Abbott's the longest serving governor in the history of Texas.
00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.640
No term limits.
00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.920
What do you think about that though?
00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.759
I support term limits.
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.400
I completely support term limits.
00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:22.640
Um I think that when you are when you are in office too long, um it you it it's harder to remember why you ran and got there.
00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:28.400
And and especially in the legislature, there are so many lobbyists who are trying to be your friend.
00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.039
Oh yeah.
00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:31.359
And they have a lot of friend, actually.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.079
They have a lot of money to be very, very friendly.
00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:45.680
And it's you know, look, there are we have of course we have legislators who have been there a long time and are still doing God's work, of course.
00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.079
Yeah.
00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:53.599
But that kind of system lends to forgetting that you're there to fight for your people, right?
00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:56.640
And so Yeah, that's right.
00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:05.759
And it's um I think what happens is legisl it is the legislators' job to get you closer to them than to your own people.
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.599
You know, because you've been there.
00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:14.880
So I I do think but and the governor everybody tells me the governor has changed.
00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:20.079
Everybody says he's not the same person he was when he was first elected.
00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:28.640
And and I just think something happens when you've been there too long to most people, not all people, but to most people, and I don't think it's good.
00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.039
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely.
00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.519
That's it.
00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:33.119
So let's go change a little bit.
00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.480
Flour or corn tortillas?
00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.519
Corn, sorry.
00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.759
Well, not the cara of flour.
00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:43.039
But I that's but I but you're for the valley, right?
00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:46.160
Well, but a freshly made porn tortilla.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:49.039
I I can't you can't beat a freshly made porn tortilla.
00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.680
And then rest in peace, my grandma, she made the best ones in all of Texas.
00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:53.039
I swear to God, y'all missed out.
00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.680
Sorry.
00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:56.880
Um one more question about Texas.
00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:59.519
Like, all right, so we got Buckies, we got P.
00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:03.759
Terries, you got Whataburger, and then you know, let's say there's a zombie apocalypse.
00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.920
So where do you lock yourself in to survive?
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.200
I mean, Bucky's a little bit unfair, so let's actually nerd out.
00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.880
Because you have everything at Bucky's, right?
00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.200
Right.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.079
Whataburger or Peter's like where where what would you survive on?
00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.799
H-E B.
00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.680
H-E-B.
00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.200
Go go H E B.
00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:22.160
And H-E-B, I mean H- E B, you can't beat it.
00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.640
All right.
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.400
So you're elected governor.
00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:27.359
You're inviting us to the inaugural ball.
00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.079
Absolutely.
00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.839
Who are you gonna have play there?
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.519
Who's gonna be who's gonna be playing there for you?
00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.799
That's a great question.
00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:37.119
So when you go for your first dance with your husband as the governor.
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.319
Who's allowed to run.
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.240
That's right.
00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:40.960
That's right.
00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:47.440
You know, um, it would probably be it would probably be uh Black Pumas.
00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.640
Like Pumasyama?
00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.359
I love them.
00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:49.599
Yeah.
00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.000
Yes.
00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.279
With Adrian Quesada.
00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:59.519
Adrian Quesada played for my husband's 40th birthday party in the park in our neighborhood park.
00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.640
I've known him that long.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.039
Wow.
00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:05.440
And he yes, and so I would probably he's done they've done a major amazing work.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.799
I would probably be there.
00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.160
All right, Gina.
00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.519
Well, she symbolic gracias.
00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:11.119
Thank you for joining us here on the Honox.
00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.480
Wish you the best of luck.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.880
And if people want to get involved in your campaign, what are they gonna do?
00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.799
Ginafortexas.com.
00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:20.079
G-I-N-A-F-O-R-Texas.com.
00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.359
Thanks so much, Gina.
00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.480
Really appreciate you having you here.
00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:22.880
All right.
00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:28.079
And remember, Rasa, if you want to make your voice heard, uh then go vote.
00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:33.119
And if you haven't registered a vote, uh you can register 30 days prior to the election, which is what day?
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.240
When is your election?
00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.119
November 4th.
00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:35.759
Yes.
00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.880
We've got 30 days to register.
00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:44.400
Uh you can register to vote at your uh anywhere uh at your elections department in your county.
00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.279
And you can also just go online and uh register to vote.
00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.440
So your vote, Bale, go vote.
00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.160
Absolutely.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.960
We'll see you next time.
00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.319
This is Tejano Talks.
00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:55.599
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music.
00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:00.160
We're going to be releasing episodes every week with wonderful guests like Gina and Ojosa.
00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:03.920
We have many other guests that have so much to teach us about what it means to be Tejanos.
00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.440
So thank you for joining us.
00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.960
We'll see you next time.