} Get the latest. height: 22px; Example video title will go here for this video. Texas leads the country in the number of rural hospitals that have closed. color: white; .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { AUSTIN The race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner has focused less on the positions responsibilities and more on the controversies involving the Republican incumbent throughout his almost eight years in office. width: 150px; Sunday vigil, expanded manhunt and more on Cleveland shooting, Shooting survivors: San Jacinto family only sought small favor, Abbott calls Texas shooting victims illegal immigrants', FBI briefly releases photo of wrong Francisco Oropeza, Houston nurses sentenced to federal prison over Medicare scheme, 5 found shot 'execution style' in home in San Jacinto County, Texas shooting: Suspected shooter possibly spotted, sheriff says, Some Galveston County residents 'fed up' with property appraisals, MLB Network's Mark DeRosa hilariously apologizes to Astros, already appeared on the Mark Davis radio show, Editorial: Why we still recommend candidates, We recommend Troy Nehls in GOP primary for the 22nd Congressional District, We recommend Alma Allen in Democratic primary for Texas House District 131, We recommend Susan Hays in Democratic primary for Agriculture Commissioner, We recommend Jack Morman in GOP primary for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2, Who made the Texas Ag Department the fashion police? And thats already happening in Texas. } He was not criminally charged for either trip following investigations into the travel by Travis County prosecutors. .inner_percentage.Libertarian { By not legalizing marijuana, she said the state is missing out on economic development opportunities and tax revenues that could be used for health care funding. .inner_percentage.Democratic { The topic of rural health care has been one of Hays main talking points throughout her campaign. float: left; color: white; Susan Hays. background-color: #ccc; And I watched that hospital stumble and not do well because of the economics of it. By not expanding Medicaid, we strangled rural hospitals economically. The consequences of that ban were on full display in the U.S. Senate when Amanda Zurawski testified about her harrowing ordeal that should never have happened. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Sid Miller, former Dallas County Democratic chairwoman in race Miller, who faced similar attacks during a three-way primary earlier this year that he won handily, said controversies about him are a Democratic strategy and a low way to campaign. As for the marijuana issue, Hays differs from her opponent, Republican incumbent Sid Miller, in that she wants to legalize marijuana, while Miller is only advocating expanding access to medical marijuana. } Attorney Susan Hays filed to run as a Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, taking on the current occupant Republican Sid Miller. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. And I know that legalizing cannabis is a major plank of yours. } width: 90%; Miller also sees the rural health care landscape differently. font-size: 0.9em; background-color: #003388; padding-left: 16px; display: inline-block; An example is the Delta-8 issue. text-align: center; background-color: #f9f9f9; Sid Miller, who was elected in 2014, is seeking a third term as agriculture commissioner. font-size: 1.25em; Its just the wrong way to go about it. margin-bottom: .75em; @media (max-width:600px) { We have the science on what it helps and what it doesnt., Legalizing medical marijuana would still depend largely on the Republican leadership in Texas Abbott, Lt. Gov. We respect each other, and we can sit down and have a conversation. It also oversees the states department of rural health, which helps rural hospitals with financial aid and technical assistance. Ive always been deeply attached to the land, and enjoy being out in it and getting dirt under my fingernails, Hays said. .votebox_legend { Texas has to deal with the issue, get ahead of the problems, or were going to have a hot mess, much like California did when they failed to effectively regulate their cannabis markets, Hays said. And she wants to pay farmers for putting carbon back into the soil to combat climate change, which can be done through methods like cover crops or conservation tilling. On the legalization piece of it, were now seeing poll numbers come out that more than fifty percent of Republican voters want it legalized. However, hemp in Texas hasnt lived up to expectations. Luckily, in every corner of our state, people are ready to move beyond Could this be the week? He later turned it into 20 world rodeo championships. Their visions of government, and its responsibilities, are worlds apart. Aside from trying to help make sure there are more rural health care facilities, she said she would also push for the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a bill expanding Medicaid in the state under the Affordable Care Act. I dont have the power to do that with the snap of my fingers, but I can get down to the Capitol and talk and advocate, Hays said. Candidates for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, incumbent Sid Miller (R) and Susan Hays (D) In the coming November election for Texas Governor, Lt. .widget-row.Republican { Texas However, crop insurance does not make up for the millions of dollars in lost products, whether that be cotton or vegetable crops. AUSTIN, Texas When Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called for expanding medical marijuana use in Texas, his Democratic opponent was quick to question his timing. position: relative; But the Democrat wants the public to know the position is also responsible for rural health care in Texas, and she says she has a plan to save it. The fight to expand Medicaid, save rural hospitals, and create a thriving rural economy, isnt. (Opinion), Israeli-Palestinian progress means mutual recognition (Opinion), Huffines: Lege property tax cut proposals are Band-Aid solutions, Ten Commandments don't belong in Texas public schools (Opinion). padding-bottom: 5px; Hays, 53, grew up in Brownwood, about two hours west of Waco, and lives in Alpine, where she and her husband purchased land several years ago to grow hemp and hops.