Katy resident Tim Graney, who is running in the Republican primary for the 14th Congressional District, recently spoke to members of the Galveston Island Pachyderm Club, outlining his “Common Sense Solutions” platform for Island Republicans.
Graney is challenging incumbent 14th District Congressman Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) in the March Republican primary.
GRANEY
The district includes portions of Fort Bend County, including most of Cinco Ranch. It also takes in much of the upper Texas Gulf Coast, including all or parts of Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Calhoun and Aransas counties.
Some of the “Common Sense Solutions” Graney detailed included his priority areas of energy, business growth and American values.
For energy, he said he believes in expanding domestic drilling, supporting nuclear energy and research into alternative fuels. In the area of business growth, he advocated reducing regulation; reducing taxation, especially on small businesses and renewing American jobs.
In the American values arena, Graney cited the need for more stringent immigration policies, border security and adopting English as the official language of the United States.
“I am not a career politician; I am small business owner. I feel it is time for people to step up and challenge long-term incumbents,” Graney told the gathering. “We need common sense solutions in Washington, not career politicians who cling to their seats with a sense of entitlement. If you can’t make your contribution in 12 years, it is time to move on.”
For a U.S. congressman, Graney said “roundtable leadership skills” are important because everyone at the table has one vote. An effective representative has the ability to persuade and work with others at the table, he said.
Graney contrasted his experience identifying problems and finding solutions as a technology consultant with what he called Paul’s track record of “simply voting against legislation.”
“If you just vote ‘no’ all the time, then people will not be willing to work with you because you’re not willing to work with others,” Graney said. “Ron Paul is a libertarian; he’s not a conservative. As your representative, I will go to Washington and work with other conservatives toward common sense solutions.”
Graney also criticized what he called Paul’s “weak, stick-your-head-in-the-sand” stance on foreign policy. He said Paul’s goal of bringing troops home from all bases throughout the world is unrealistic given the real threats we face around the globe.
Graney stressed this was one of the key differences between him and Paul that will give the voters a clear and distinct choice in the March 2 Republican primary.
Following Graney’s presentation, one Pachyderm Club member said “90 percent of us agree with 95 percent of what you said,” but pointed out how hard it can be to unseat a 20-year incumbent in a district that covers 10 counties.
Graney responded that the campaign was the primary focus of his time and effort, and that included proving himself to be a viable candidate and worthy of support both electorally and financially.
How many other candidates are in this race? In an earlier report it looked like 3. Who are they?
It looks like a straw man argument to me guys. Most want less big government in our lives along with keeping more of our hard earned money in our pockets. Paul is a good guy and has principles. He follows the constitution unlike so many others who merely use it for sloganeering and wiping their noses on. I like the man but will keep an open mind as the elections approach.
Time for him to go.
Must be nice to pick and choose what issues he thinks belong at a state level. Meanwhile, his constituents don’t want gay marriage but he’s voting against their wishes.
I believe much of what is being stated against him is hyperbole. His stance on gay marriage is that it doesn’t belong as a federal matter, a position he applies to all marriage, not just single sex unions, he believes it is a state issue. That doesn’t mean he supports it. I like his fiscal conservatism and anti-tax anti-globalization positions. He knows not to compromise on the important issues like the constant bailouts at our expense. He can’t brought like so many in D.C. and that is what angers most in his party.
Of course that’s just my opinion. Paul does have some stance I agree with as well. His opposition to the death penalty I
can’t get past for sure tho. Also he’s pro gay marriage.
We need to protect out interests around the World. It’s really easy to say we should bring all our troops from
all over the World home but it’s simply naive and would
never happen in a thousand years. He knows it too. Why
advocate something you know will never ever happen?
Sorry to have missed this question and response megabite and southerncomfort. I think you covered the main points for me SC. I think his NAFTA position would be healthy for us all and I too don’t believe we need to be the unpaid police for the world.
What foreign policy? Paul doesn’t have one. He basically thinks we should be hermits. Isolationists.
Just like Graney says, Paul is a libertarian, not a conservative. Going against everyone all the time just
to do it gets us nowhere. He’s there to represent us,
not to grandstand all the time.
It looks to me like Granny is attacking Paul’s foreign policy stances. Paul is a strict constitutionalist and opposed NAFTA while the rest of the mainstream republicans and democrats pushed for it. He’s also fought hard against one global government (globalization movement), which would further destroy the constitution and our individual liberties. Granny says he is defending the mainstream republicans against Paul and attacking his foreign policy stands. NAFTA has cost us millions of good manufacturing jobs over the last decade. I can’t speak for others in here, but I’m waiting to see what all the candidates have to say, but I have nothing against Paul either. He is a good man and not afraid to speak his mind.
How can you tell he’s a NAFTA supporter, 1TC? Is it the beard? heheh
I think NAFTA sucks.
Is that sounded out as granny or graney?
He’s right on the money about Dr. No!
Drill here. Drill now.
I’m always a little concerned when politicians start saying “common sense”. Graney looks like another NAFTA supporter to me.
For energy, he said he believes in expanding domestic drilling.In Alaska last Frontier HELL NO!!!
“…adopting English as the official language of the United States”
YES WE CAN!!