Greg Travis
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Greg Travis
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 133
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, JD, 1991
Westminster College, Fulton, BA, 1985
WORK & MILITARY
United States Air Force, 2nd Lt., 1985-1987
AFFILIATIONS
Houston-Galveston Area Council, Board Member, Chain Reaction Ministries
Volunteer, DePelchin Children's Center, Volunteer/Coach
St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Member, MENSA
Member, Westchase District Mobility Plan Steering Committee, Member
City of Bellaire Buildings and Standards Commission, Board Member, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Texas
General Counsel, Waller County Republican Party, General Counsel
Harris County Republican Party Finance and Development Committee, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Houston City Council Member--District G, 2015-2022
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Spring Branch Republicans
Texas Right to Life
OTHER (1)
Houston Police Officers Union PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Spring Branch Republicans
Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU)
Houston Apartment Association (HAA)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Allen West (2020)
Gary Gates (2016)
John Culberson (2015)
John Sidney McCain (2008)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2017)
International Union of Police Associations (2020)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Save the life of the Mother
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
My strong belief in personal freedom causes me to disagree with anyone being forced to provide services. I think a person is defined by their principles and I would be hesitant to try to force them to abandon them, even if I disagreed. There is always an alternative to any individual services being offered and I would not want to retain the services of anyone whose heart is not in it.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
No circumstances.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Strongly support our allies in the Middle East and elsewhere and increase our counter-terrorism efforts throughout the world. Let us also not forget that our biggest National Security threat comes from China.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available. We have gone down the road too far to defund these programs and as a society, we have an indication of their support by the public since many now rely on them. While I am not in favor of their expansion, such as Medicare for All, I am supportive of reform of each of these to ensure quality is provided and efficiencies are brought about.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
There should be no covid vaccine mandates. Many have forgotten about the concept of "informed consent". Everyone must be completely informed and give their own consent. People should be allowed to opt out if they withhold their consent and not be treated like social pariahs.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Move towards eliminating property taxes. Simplify and add unmistakable clarity to the Tax Code. Penalize taxing entities that exceed the 3.5% limitation without voter approval. No exemptions. Reduce further the voter approval tax rate. Empower voters with the ability to directly lower tax rates in their area.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I prefer zero based budgeting where every expenditure is justified. I feel we can look at salaries and benefits and force reduction, if need be, to achieve the necessary balance.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Our focus should be ensuring quality education--quality over quantity. We should not encourage people to attend college if college is not right for them. Guaranteeing such schooling encourages a misallocation of societal resources. Trade Schools are just as valuable. The myth that everyone needs a college education has been proven false. Many successful people took alternate routes. The focus should be to ensure that kids graduate from High School proficient in the basics.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Congress should support and oversee the development, funding and implementation of additional border infrastructure, manpower, and technology. Similarly, Congress should recapitalize the Coast Guard, which patrols America’s coastlines to interdict illicit materials and illegal immigration. Most importantly, we need a government committed to enforcing the laws we already have on the books to detain and deport illegal immigrants.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should have a merit-based immigration system to ensure the people we allow into our Country are those who will contribute to and strengthen our nation. The United States also needs an effective temporary worker program that supports seasonal and lower-wage industries. Such a program could take many forms, but in its essence, it would harness the power of the free market while also protecting the United States from the fiscal costs of mass immigration. A temporary worker program should not be a pathway to citizenship; rather, it must be truly temporary. It must ensure that guest workers actually return to their home countries at the end of their work periods—using methods like delaying full payment of wages until the workers have returned home.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
If a convicted felon or individual with severe and documented mental health issues requiring hospitalization.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
A gun is a tool, like a knife. Many violent assault victims are harmed or killed with knives, clubs, or other objects. Would we open them up to litigation too? No. We should look to the individual committing the crime and hold them accountable for their actions.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The basic role of government is protecting our rights and liberties and ensuring the national security of our country. I believe that government should serve as a sturdy but quiet force, empowering each of us to raise our families, perform our jobs, and enjoy our lives as we see fit. I feel that government services should be open and accessible to the entire community, that the services should be performed in the most efficient and effective manner possible, and that citizens should receive the greatest value for their tax dollars. Government should be minimal so that our freedoms are maximized.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
See for example : https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Travis-launches-bid-for-Texas-House-resigning From the article: "Travis was one of the council’s most conservative members and a frequent critic of Mayor Sylvester Turner. He often advocated for fiscally and culturally conservative policies on council, regularly finding himself outnumbered as he proposed or voted for lower tax rates, fees and spending." However, you may also Google Greg Travis--too many articles to list
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am endorsed by the Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU) because I fought the defund the police movement and fought to put more officers on the streets of Houston. I am endorsed by the Spring Branch Republicans because of what they called "my unapologetic conservative views and accomplishments." As a Houston City Council Member, I successfully ended expensive programs like Drag Queen Story Time as well as Robot Sex Brothels. Please see gregtravisfortexas,com for more information.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have a very close and personal relationship with God and subscribe to the Christian Faith. I have a strong belief in freedom and personal responsibility. I strongly believe in Merit, and I cherish Love, Loyalty, Intelligence, and Kindness among other things.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I think the laws I would propose were already enacted in the last legislative session. I would fight against repealing such laws.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. To the extent racism exists in the United States, it is relatively minor and limited in scope. I believe the vast majority of people look to merit and the content of your character. I see the concept of racism as more of a sword wielded against those that others disagree with personally or on policy. I see it being used by some as a way to divide the country and distract us from the real issues such as poor education, high crime and high cost of living (inflation).
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A. Stricter environmental laws cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. That isn't to say there can't be environmental laws and regulations, but there needs to be a Cost/Benefit analysis. Most damage to the environment now comes from poorer nations and Third World Countries attempt to modernize. As economies do better, the environmental strain lessens.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
