Texas House of Representatives District 108

Morgan Meyer

Morgan Meyer is the current Representative for State House District 108, and the Republican Candidate. A former Precinct Chair and judicial Clerk, Meyer is an attorney with almost two decades of experience in corporate litigation, and a father to three children. Meyer’s top priorities are investing more state funds in public education, reducing property taxes for Texas homeowners, and enhancing basic services like public safety and access to healthcare.

Morgan Meyer Campaign Website

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

As a State Representative: Meyer authored the “Bumble Bill” which makes sending an unsolicited lewd photo a crime. This critical legislation is designed to fight sexual harassment and give protections to victims who are harassed via digital communications.
As a State Representative: Meyer “Co-authored critical bipartisan legislation providing $50 million to test and catalog all of Texas’ unexamined rape kits. This key legislation will deliver justice to many victims who have waited years for closure and may help future prosecutions.”
As a State Representative: Meyer “Authored legislation to protect elderly and domestic abuse victims from financial fraud by expanding the definition of identity theft, giving these victims additional processes for holding abusers accountable and protecting the credit rating of victims.”
As a State Representative: Meyer “Sponsored bi-partisan legislation creating a student loan payment assistance program that assists in student loan payment for full-time peace officers. Programs like this are critical to increasing benefits and attracting high quality recruits to the Dallas Police Department.”

Education Funding & Teacher Pay

“Led for comprehensive education finance reform that increases education funding while reducing the burden on taxpayers and shifting more cost back to the state. Our new school finance plan includes approximately $550 million over two years to Dallas ISD, and approximately $35 million over two years to HPISD and a 47% statewide reduction in recapture, meaning that more of our tax dollars stay in our local schools.”
“Other Key elements of education reform include: New education programs focused on increasing 3rd grade reading levels, dual language programs, extended year programs that reduce summer brain drain, and the creation of Texas’ first dyslexia identification program
A 400% increase in funding for building and equipping new school facilities.
Funding for discretionary raises for teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses, and funding for merit pay for teachers who take on difficult teaching jobs.”
As a State Representative: Meyer “authored bipartisan legislation requiring school districts to formalize their emergency action plan in the event of an active shooter. Many of our schools have not prepared for this sort of event and creating an emergency plan can save lives.”

Texas Economy & Taxes

“Last session’s property tax reform delivers $5 billion reduction in property taxes statewide, and a new 3.5% cap on property tax rate increases without a citizen vote. And it makes our state’s property tax system more transparent.”

Healthcare

“I worked hard on legislation to protect women, children, students, at-risk populations, and laws that protect and enhance basic services like public safety and access to healthcare”

Immigration

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reproductive/Women’s Health

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Infrastructure & Environment

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Social Services

“I worked hard on legislation to protect women, children, students, at-risk populations, and laws that protect and enhance basic services like public safety and access to healthcare”

Joanna Cattanach

Joanna Cattanach is the Democratic Candidate. Cattanach is an Adjunct Professor in the Dallas County Community College District, and a mother of two boys. Cattanach’s top priorities include investing more state funds in education, expanding Medicaid to cover more Texans, and providing access to affordable healthcare exams for Texas women and children.

Joanna Cattanach Campaign Website

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

“I support responsible gun ownership, and that includes increased background checks, safe storage campaigns, and a state-wide gun surrender policy to keep firearms out of the hands of violent offenders.”
“ I oppose legislation that places an undue burden on educators and students, from campus carry laws to marshall programs that disproportionately affect urban school districts.”

Education Funding & Teacher Pay

“I support reinstating state funding for our public schools, not voucher programs that undercut our kids’ education. Our teachers need to be paid adequately, receive properly funded pensions, and get access to affordable healthcare.”
“The impact of education touches every part of our district. To ensure good educational opportunities for all learners, no matter their age, I support investing in universal pre-K, free community college, and adult education programs to help fulfill immediate workforce needs.”

Texas Economy & Taxes

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Healthcare

“To get Texas families the medical coverage they need, I support expanding Medicaid and accessing the millions of federal dollars available under the Affordable Care Act. I also support increased funding for mental health services and facilities as well as strong oversight for state-contracted Medicaid service providers.”

Immigration

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reproductive/Women’s Health

“Women need access to affordable family planning services and healthcare exams.”
“ I oppose defunding Planned Parenthood and support a woman’s right to choose from a full range of pregnancy-related healthcare options, including abortion, delivered in a professional, non-judgmental, and compassionate way.”

Infrastructure & Environment

“I support strengthening environmental regulations and empowering state regulators to hold businesses and corporations accountable for contaminating our land, air, and water. “
“To protect our future, Texas needs environmental investments like green transportation, community parks, and smarter use of natural resources in urban environments.”

Government Transparency & Ethics

“Fair participation in government starts with maps that ensure every voter has a voice, and I support the creation of an independent redistricting commission to end partisan gerrymandering in Texas. Constituents deserve the ability to choose their representatives—not the other way around.”

Social Services

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Ed Rankin

Ed Rankin (Libertarian Party) is running for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 108. He advanced from the Libertarian convention on March 21, 2020. Rankin is a leadership development consultant and executive coach. He holds a B.S. in psychology, an M.S. in labor and industrial relations, an M.A. in human and organizational systems, and a Ph.D. in human and organizational systems.

Ed Rankin Campaign Website

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

End the war on drugs and police militarization: When the legislature creates victimless crime laws, and tells the police to enforce them, it creates a lot of problems. This is most apparent in the war on drugs. We need to end the war on drugs. The best first step is to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. We need Libertarian legislators who will act like grown-ups, instead of running scared whenever the issue comes up.”
“End Qualified Immunity:The Civil Rights Act of 1871 is a federal law that allows individuals to sue government officials who violate their rights. Over time, those civil rights have been eroded by a legal doctrine called “qualified immunity.” As long as qualified immunity protects police from federal lawsuits, the Texas legislature should pass a law that allows victims of police abuse to sue their abusers in state court.”
End civil asset forfeiture: “Civil asset forfeiture” is a process where police claim that property has been used in connection with criminal activity, and then seize that property. There is no requirement that the owner be convicted of a crime. In Texas, the police departments who seize the property can keep most or all of it for themselves, creating a huge incentive for corruption.”
Restore Gun Rights for ex-felons and eliminate license to carry requirements: Libertarians support peoples’ right to keep and bear arms. Gun control advocates want to prohibit gun ownership to as many people as possible, on the grounds that they might commit a violent crime sometime in the future. We totally disagree with that way of thinking. We believe that, after those convicted have served their terms of punishment, their ability to own and carry firearms should be restored.”

Education Funding & Teacher Pay

“As Libertarians, we believe that government should not force people to pay for other people’s education. Our proposals here are more limited: they are improvements that we think have some chance of being passed by the Legislature.”
“Reduce spending on public education - We propose reducing the budget for education by 4% per year for ten years. Some of that reduction can be achieved by reducing per pupil spending, while some of the reduction can be accomplished by reducing the number of students in the public school system.”
“Expand school choice: Libertarians seek to reduce the number of students choosing government schools by making private schools and home schooling more affordable. Around 5% of Texans already attend private schools and around 4% home school.”
“Lower age of compulsory education: State law requires children ages 6-19 to attend school with some exceptions. Texas has a higher maximum compulsory age than any other state. Libertarians oppose compulsory education laws, and we propose the politically feasible step of lowering the maximum compulsory age from 19 to 16, which is the maximum age in a number of other states.”

Texas Economy & Taxes

“I support the Libertarian Booster PAC plan to cut Texas state spending across the board by 4% per year for ten years. Combined with projected 3% annual current-dollar growth in gross state product, this plan shows how Texas tax rates can be cut in half by 2030, and how state spending (as a percentage of gross state product) can be reduced by half. The plan is “ the “Modest Plan to Cut the Texas Budget in Half.””
“Libertarians think people are better off when they are free to keep more of the money they earn. The lower the taxes, and the stronger the economy, the more people can afford the things they want and need without assistance from the government.”
“Our plan is to make Texans’ lives better by cutting government spending, reducing taxes, and moving many people off government assistance into a thriving free-market economy. While some low-income Texans will have direct government benefits reduced, they will also pay lower sales taxes, lower government fees, have greater job opportunities and an overall lower cost of living.”

Healthcare

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Immigration

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reproductive/Women’s Health

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Infrastructure & Environment

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Social Services

Nothing listed on Campaign website for this issue

Reform Austin