Giovanni for State Representative

Strengthening Texas’ Economy – Pro-Job/Pro-Growth Strategy

Giovanni will focus on issues critical to businesses, employees, taxpayers and families. The best way to increase overall revenue and employment opportunities in Texas is to radically improve the business climate in Texas.

Giovanni is a small business owner himself, focused on business lending and economic development. In his prior experience, Giovanni was a senior vice president for a small business investment company.

He believes that the “gross margins tax” on Texas business (which has been labeled as a business income tax) should be eliminated. He will work to create a regional small business appeals commission – to help small businesses mediate disputes with state regulators. Giovanni is also in favor of incentives for local businesses that keep their assets and employees in Texas.

Giovanni is a pro-business candidate and will work on reforming the tax code, providing regulatory relief for small businesses and curtailing frivolous lawsuits. In fact, his primary opponent recently scored a 79% on Texas Association of Business’ scorecard for 2011 – one of the lowest scores for Republican lawmakers.

Taxes – No increase in the tax rate, no new fees

Mr. Capriglione is the only candidate in the race who has signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer’s Protection Pledge – committing to never raise taxes.

In June of 2011 Giovanni helped organize and lead a group (KISDFFR) opposed to a massive tax increase in District 98. He helped manage the campaign by raising funds, designing marketing material and creating volunteer phone banks. The resounding victory of this campaign was felt state wide [quote from article] [link to article] The group helped residents save nearly $16 mm a year of extra property tax increases – additional costs that would not have helped struggling families.

In addition, Giovanni led a campaign against Texas Local Option Tax Act (TLOTA), an attempt by Vicki Truitt to increase gasoline taxes for Tarrant County residents. TLOTA never appeared in session again.

Promoting Pro-Life Policies – Champion Life

Each year in Texas, approximately 80,000 unborn children’s lives are terminated. Giovanni believes that life is from conception to natural death.

Giovanni has donated to various Pro-Life advocacy groups and non-profits including Texas Right to Life, Texans for Life Coalition and Pregnancy Help 4 U, a local non-profit pregnancy center.

Giovanni will push to stop ALL taxpayer money from reaching Planned Parenthood or similar organizations.

In favor of the complete reversal of Roe V. Wade and allowing Texas to protect unborn children
In Favor of opting out of any federal health insurance mandates that require coverage for elective abortion
In favor of measures to prohibit coercing a woman into seeking or undergoing an abortion against her will

Promoting Quality Education

Education is a cornerstone of our community and as such is one of the biggest responsibilities Giovanni will tackle. Over the last 40 years we have seen a dramatic shift in the way we deliver education in Texas. We have seen the percentage of taxpayer dollars that go into the classroom decrease. Giovanni will fight for parents, students, and teachers and will advocate for education dollars going towards direct teaching expenses

Ending “Robin Hood” is a priority of the voters of District 98. For years we’ve seen dollars leave our school districts with no accountability of where/how that money is being used. Texas must tie grant money/state money to direct academic improvement and require accountability audits.

Giovanni would like to see more local control handed to the school districts – this means the removal of unfunded state mandates, more community involvement and less money sent to the State for redistribution.

Promoting charter schools and the Texas Virtual School program in order to allow opportunities to all children will improve statewide education. Giovanni also supports the freedom to Home School in Texas and will champion parental rights in education.

Increasing Transparency of Government

It is critical that taxpayers have the opportunity to quickly and easily review how and where the government spends their money.

Repealing the so-called ”Open Transparency Act” (HB 2460) will be a win for taxpayers. This bill does not increase transparency and in fact prevents you and I from reviewing the massively underfunded pensions. Transparency is key to keeping our State Government accountable to the voters. Giovanni will fight against any piece of legislation which builds a wall between voters and information about their tax dollars.

Border Security and Immigration

The federal government has refused to follow through on their responsibility to secure our border. As a result Texas must fill in the gap. We can’t wait for D.C. to fix a problem they refuse to address. We must continue to provide resources to our border in order to protect our economy and curb the flow of illegal immigration.

English should be the official language in Texas and we must repeal the student loan subsidy which Vicki Truitt supported. Illegal immigrants getting taxpayer subsidized student loans is only one problem though, we must remove all benefits to those not in the US legally.

Protecting Our Right to Keep & Bear Arms

Giovanni is a member of the NRA and fully supports our rights to keep and bear firearms. He will always be on the side of gun owners and will support their constitutional rights.