Katie+Kronz

**Name**: Katie Kronz

**State:** Texas

**State Capital:** Austin

**Political Party**: Moderate

**Representative:** My interests and beliefs are most similar to Jim Costa from California. He is very passionate about bills on natural resources and social problems. He is on the National Resources Committee and uses this position to fight for funding for water dams and looking to change unfair water regulations in California. He has written a legislation to create the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to make the air cleaner. He is working to create more jobs in agriculture in California, as he used to be a farmer. He has worked to reduce violent crimes and help victims of such crimes in California. He was recognized by the National Organization for Victim Assistance and received the Donald E. Santarelli Public Policy Award for his work with the victims. I respect his work and hope to also help victims of horrible crimes. He has also fought for more funding and support for education in California's public schools. I believe education is very important and admire his work to improve education.

**President:** I want President Barack Obama to be reelected. I share many similar beliefs with him. He wants the richer people in our nation to pay more money in taxes. than those who are struggling with money. I think that that is a good idea because the people who have more money are more able to pay taxes. While he was in office, over 3.9 million jobs were created, which has really boosted the failing economy. I also like how he has removed the troops from Iraq and is fighting against terrorism. I don't think that we should have sent troops to Iraq, so I love that he took the troops out of there. I also think he will make good choices in office because he has served one term already so he has experience.

HB64 The main goal of our bill is to keep smoking, drugs, and alcohol out of all parts of the national parks. This will help keep crime out of our national parks. This will also decrease the chances of cigarettes and cigars lighting wildfires. The amount of litter in the national parks will decrease from this ban. The animals in the park will be healthier because they do not have the risk of accidentally ingesting drugs, alcohol, or other unsafe chemicals. The air will be cleaner and healthier for the animals in the park and visitors. The park as a whole will be better because the animals will be healthier, the air will be cleaner, the environment will be cleaner, and the people in the park will be able to enjoy the park, free from distractions.
 * Say "No" in National Parks **

Our bill would make our national parks a lot cleaner and healthier. The national parks would be cleaner because the amount of litter from cigarettes and other proposed illegal substances would decrease. The people in the park would be a lot more able to enjoy the parks. The amount of crime in the parks would decrease which would make the parks be much safer for everyone. Please vote for our bill to protect the people and the environment in our national parks.

1.) The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas in 1900, killing over 8,000 people. 2.) The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. 3.) Seven cities have been Texas's capitol: Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, Columbia, Houston, and Austin. 4.) In the history of Texas, there have been eight changes in government. 5.) 70% of Texas population stays within 200 miles of Austin
 * 5 Interesting Facts About Texas: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1.) The Alamo is in Texas, which was an important part of Texas's fight for freedom. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2.) There are many state parks including the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3.) There are popular cruises on the Rio San Antonio. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.) The Johnson Space Station in Texas. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5.) The B-24 Bomber rides over certain parts of Texas.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5 Reasons that a Tourist Would Want to Travel to Texas: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Top 3 types of Agriculture**: Cattle and Calves, Cotton, and Broilers, which are 9-12 week old chickens.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Top 3 Industries**: Hewlett-Packard Computer technology employs more people in the Houston area than anywhere else in the world. Blockbuster video is based in the Dallas area, which employs people from all over the country and even the world. The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world, employing many doctors and nurses.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Illegal Immigration - It is estimated that the illegal immigrant population of Texas is about 1,740,000 people, which is about 7.4 percent of all of Texas's population. The cost of these illegal immigrants costs about $4.67 billion for tax payers, and it is expected to rise. It is also estimated that illegal immigrants have taken 40% of Texas jobs. Illegal immigrants are also committing many violent crimes. However, it has caused many other people to commit violent crimes against anyone they suspect to be an illegal immigrant. Illegal immigrants are also a part of drug cartels. These immigrants then take the drugs and grow their own on their farms. I think that there should be stricter laws and more funding to get rid of the illegal immigration in Texas because it is causing so much danger for themselves and others.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3 Important Issues: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gas/Energy Problems - After the huge BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, stricter laws about offshore drilling were creating, making it harder to get permits to drill oil in the Gulf. Since then, only about 37 new permits have been issued. Onshore drilling, however, has decreased as well, causing many people to lose their jobs. It is encouraged for people to drill onshore for oil. There is believed to be a large amount of natural resources that could make us less dependent on foreign oils. I think that more people should start drilling in Texas, but not in the waters, because that is very risky and could cause another oil spill. Drilling for oil could create more jobs and lower the gas prices.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Education - Funding for education and teachers in Texas has been drastically cut. Lawmakers have cut billions of dollars from educational funding. The District Awards for Teacher Excellence used to receive $400 million. Only two years later, it was cut to $24 million. Many teachers and faculty in schools around the state have been laid off due to budget cuts. Teachers have been found to be unprepared for the classes that they teach. I think that Texas needs to spend more money on education because without education, kids cannot get good jobs to support themselves or their families. I think that Texas teachers need to be evaluated more often and administrators need to choose teachers more carefully to make sure that kids are receiving the best education possible.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1.) For every 100 illegal immigrants that find U.S. jobs, 65 American jobs are displaced. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2.) Every year, more than 72,000 illegal immigrants are arrested for drug offenses. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3.) Teacher Education programs in Texas have big weaknesses and aren't teaching teachers very well. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.) The Gulf of Mexico is a popular place to drill for oil and led to the massive BP oil spill in 2010. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5.) About 130,000 Students in Texas drop out of school per year.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5 Facts Related to My Issues: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Issues of Texas] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Texas Agriculture] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Economy/Industries of Texas] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Illegal Immigration Issue] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Jim Costa - Representative] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Barack Obama's Beliefs] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Facts about Texas] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Tourist Attractions in Texas] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Park Ranger Job Description and Salary] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|No Smoking Sign Cost]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bibliography: **