Briscoe Cain
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Briscoe Cain
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 128
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, Juris Doctorate, 2012
University of Houston - Downtown, Houston, Texas, Bachelors of Arts, 2008
San Jacinto College, Pasadena, Texas, 2004
WORK & MILITARY
Fulton Strahan Law Group, PLLC, Senior Counsel, 1
Strahan Cain, PLLC, Partner, 2
The Cain Law Firm, Owner, 4
Texas State Guard, Captain, 5
AFFILIATIONS
Faith Family Church - Baytown, Member, Right to Life Advocates, Inc. (Foundation for Life
Board Member, Operation Rescue, Texas State Legal Counsel
National Institute of Family & Life Adovacates, Founding Member, Legal Advisory Counsel, Pro-Life Future (Students for Life of America
Member, Legal Advisory Board, La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, Member
Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, Dist. 128, 3
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%
2019
100%
2019
99%
2019
97%
2019
95%
2019
94%
2019
94%, 92% (cum.)†
2019
82%, 82% (cum.)†
2019
|100%
2019
|99%
2019
|97%
2019
|95%
2019
|94%, 92% (cum.)†
2019
|82%, 82% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
14%
2019
20%, 10% (cum.)†
2019
F
2019
0%
2019
|14%
2019
|20%, 10% (cum.)†
2019
|F
2019
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (8)
Gun Owners of America
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Right to Life
Texas State Rifle Association
OTHER (7)
C Club of Houston
Greg Abbott
HRBC, Houston's Premier Business Coalition
*National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Texas Right to Life
National Rifle Association
Texas Values-Action
Gun Owners of America
Texas Homeschool Coalition
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
Bob Hall (2017)
Dennis Paul (2020)
Empower Texans (2017)
Jared Patterson (2019)
John Devine (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (52)
Action Dallas (2014)
Andrew Murr (2019)
Ben Leman (2020)
Bradley Buckley (2019)
Capital Leadership Fund (2019)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Houston Retired Firefighters Association (2018)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2018)
International Union of Police Associations (2016)
Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I am proudly pro-life without exception. Abortion is a stain on the moral fabric of our Nation. It must be abolished. Abortion harms women, men, and families. Thankfully, I believe there is healing for those affected through Jesus Christ.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The Texas Constitution requires that we pass a balanced budget. The federal constitution should be amended to require that Congress do the same. However, even though Texas is constitutionally bound to pass a balanced budget every two years, the state spends too much--especially on programs that are not the role of government, such as film and music subsidies.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Contrary to popular belief, the phrase “Separation of Church and State” does not exist anywhere in the U.S. Constitution. The phrase is a reminder to me of how far away the courts have drifted from the intent of our Nation's founders. The true purpose of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment was to protect religion and religious institutions from corrupting interference by the federal government and not to protect the civil state from the influence of, or overreaching by, religion.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Due to Obamacare, which Congress has continually failed to repeal and other anti-free market regulations (both state & federal), the cost of healthcare has continued to rise beyond inflation rates. While, I am no expert on these issues, there are several things the Texas legislature could do to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. Such as passing laws to: • allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines. This would be an effective way for consumers to bypass state mandates and decide which coverage suits them best. • improve prescription drug price transparency. Toward this goal, I voted for the new law (HB 2536) which requires drug manufacturers to submit a report to HHSC stating the current wholesale acquisition cost information for FDA approved drugs approved sold in Texas. Moreover, the legislature must continue to oppose Medicaid expansion (Obamacare). I have voted against expanding Obamacare every time the issue has come up for a vote.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who want to be welcomed to our country should be expected to respect the rule of law, assimilate, and contribute positively to America’s future. Therefore, immigration should be granted on a merit-based system and national-origin immigration quotas need to be repealed. Those who have not achieved citizenship status should not qualify for any government assistance. We need reforms to legal immigration, border security, and enforcement. Each issue should be addressed individually as stand-alone bills, not as another doomed comprehensive bill. If Congress won't support building the Wall, Texas should. That's why I, along with Rep. Biedermann, authored and filed a bill this past session to help fund and build parts of the Wall on the Texas border using Texas construction companies, state resources, and requesting federal reimbursement. (sadly the bill failed to pass)
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born again Christian. I believe: There is one and only one living and true God. Salvation comes through faith by grace to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Christ is the eternal Son of God, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I also believe: The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man; it is perfect and inerrant. All Christians are under an obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our lives and we have a duty to endeavor to spread the Gospel of Christ and to make disciples of all nations.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
In my two-terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, I have consistently been rated as one of the most conservative members of the Texas House. Aside from my actions and voting record as a House member, I have consistently used my talents as an attorney to fight for conservative and Christian values
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Actions speak louder than words. My voting record along with my willingness to fight for Christian values is evidence that I'll continue to keep my word to constituents. Actions before I was elected: 2014: Attorney on case where Houston subpoenaed pastors' sermons. 2015: Defended rights of Beaumont police officers when city banned them from having Bible studies on lunch breaks; Attorney for teacher fired for refusing to call a 6-year-old girl a boy as her same-sex dads demanded; Wrote Texas Supreme Court amicus brief for pastors advocating need for religious liberty in schools. 2016: Won lawsuit to overturn law that prohibited using video recordings of legislature from being used to show public what really happens in Austin; Obtained invoices proving that 4 TX medical schools purchased aborted baby parts with tax dollars. Since 2013, I've served as Texas legal counsel for Operation Rescue, the group that created the Center for Medical Progress (undercover Planned Parenthood videos).
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
PERSONAL: I am married to the woman of my dreams. My wife and I are homeschool parents of four boys, all of whom are named after Texas counties (Briscoe IV, Walker, Crockett, Maverick). My family and I attend Faith Family Church in Baytown where my wife serves as a member of the worship ministry. VOTING RECORD: •I am the first member ever to be ranked as the #1 most conservative member of the Texas House by the objective, scientific, and non-partisan legislative voting record study conducted by Rice University (2019: 86th Reg, 2017: 85th Reg & Spec). •Eagle Forum: highest in 2019, second highest in 2017. •Texas Right to Life: Perfect Score 2019 & 2017. •Texans for Fiscal Responsibility: highest in 2017, 2nd highest in 2019. •National Federation of Independent Business: Perfect Score 2019 & 2017. •Texas Values-Action: Faith & Family Champion 2019 & 2017.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
An armed society is a safe society. Texas must continue to repeal laws that create gun-free zones. This past session I helped pass laws to allow handgun license holders to carry at church (SB535); and expanded t school marshal program to let schools arm as many teachers as they want (HB1387). Texas also needs to pass constitutional carry so that law abiding citizens are able to protect themselves, their family, and property without jumping through red-tape.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
• If reelected, I plan to again carry and file the Texas Heartbeat Bill which prohibits abortion when an unborn baby's heartbeat is detected. • Ban taxpayer funded lobbying so that government is prohibited from using taxpayer dollars to lobby the legislature. • If reelected, I also hope to again file legislation to repeal the defenses in the penal code for child obscenity so that it will be a crime to teach children about obscene sexual acts including showing them pictures and drawings.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
First, I believe it important to say that I believe words have meaning. Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. The modern trend by the left is to use the noun 'racist' to identify anything they disagree with or find offensive. Therefore, while I do not believe it is the kind of threat the leftist, socialists, and Marxists are trying to make it out to be, I do believe that racism divides a nation and foments discord. Most racism in America, whether for the likes of BLM, white-nationalists, or anti-Semites, is based on lies. All lies, including racist lies poison our public discourse and prevent us from fighting for deeply held universal values and our shared future.
