Representative Ernest Bailes released the following open letter to constituents of Liberty County:
To the constituents of Liberty County;
When I was elected, I took an oath to represent only one group – the great people of House District 18. With each and every vote, I see issues through the lens of how it will impact my constituents. I do not vote for the interests of Houston. I do not vote for the interests of Austin or Dallas. I vote to represent my friends and neighbors in San Jacinto, Hardin, Liberty, and East Montgomery counties.
This past year, I voted to stop a school voucher scam that was predicted to cost taxpayers $500 million, and increase to $2 billion in just two years. I have committed to my voters time and time again, that I am a principled, fiscal conservative – values which simply cannot allow me to support the diverting of your tax dollars to private school entities. While I knew there would be political pushback from those behind this failed policy, it has always been my goal to cut property taxes and government spending – not increase it.
Under the bill, illegal immigrants would also be eligible to receive such a voucher. I have fought tirelessly to increase border security, and I cannot support a bill that would encourage the behavior we are trying to stop.
Due to this vote, many private interest groups wishing to lie about my record and influence this election have gotten involved, donating millions of dollars from outside the state of Texas. They are involved for one reason and one reason, only. These groups are more interested in someone who will blindly do their bidding rather than honestly represent rural Texas. They are twisting my strong conservative record and trying to mislead my constituents with flat out lies about a myriad of topics.
Let’s set the record straight on just a few topics…
- I am in full support of increasing teacher pay and student funding. However, it was the bill author himself who withdrew this robust bill after the voucher portion was removed;
- I voted to allocate over $6 billion dollars to securing our southern border – with an additional $40 million for law enforcement in the Colony Ridge Development;
- In 2017, I placed some of the only restrictions ever placed on the Colony Ridge Development in an effort to manage growth through the filing of an MMD at the request of the city, county, and school district;
- I fought hard for the largest property tax cut in Texas history – providing $18 billion dollars of relief for homeowners and small businesses;
- I supported the strongest pro-life measure ever passed – banning abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detected;
- and I banned transgender surgeries and prohibited drag shows for minors.
When the hits keep coming, and you read something that just doesn’t sound quite right – never hesitate to reach out. I will never compromise who I am or cower to political pressure in order to win an election. Liberty County deserves better.
Your State Representative, Ernest Bailes
About Representative Bailes
Ernest Bailes, a lifelong rancher and agriculturalist, hails from the heart of East Texas where he was raised on his family’s dairy and beef cattle operations. Growing up in Shepherd, his roots in the agricultural landscape were planted, setting the stage for the journey to come.
In 2004, Ernest earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the esteemed Texas A&M University. Following graduation, he founded Repro Select, a groundbreaking company specializing in advanced reproductive services for cattle and whitetail deer producers across the south-central United States. Ernest is active in the community and serves on numerous boards and committees, including the San Jacinto Farm Bureau and the Texas Deer Association among others.
Ernest and his wife Courtney have been married for 19 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Cinco and Rigby, who attend Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, where Courtney is a schoolteacher. The Bailes family are dedicated members of Evergreen Baptist Church.
Thank you for the residental property tax cut, it is nice.
Glad to hear the info in this response. I was unaware of the fact that illegal imagrants would also be eligible to partake of the school tax vouchers also, although; The author’s withdrawal of the bill saddens me for the loose of possible increases in teacher pay and student funding.
Keep up the good work.
I am glad Governor Abbott made them go back and get this done. We all know it never would’ve gotten done unless Bailes was forced to do it.
Keep up the good fight Earnest. I follow your work and proud to be a constituent.
Yeah those lies almost cost you your hard work. I appreciate you for taking the time to care and clearing the air about these issues. Keep up the great fight for us constituents and you will continue to get my vote and loyal support. You and your beautiful family deserve better and the best! Thank you again for all you do!
#VOTEFORBAILES #KEEPTEXASRED #TEXASPROUD
I fire people who give me “lots of hard work” with no results. We need to hire a new rep.
You blocked a “bad” school choice bill. Ok, write a good one.
According to Bailes, he has worked “tirelessly” on the border. If that is the case, we need a state rep who will actually be effective. See also, Colony Ridge.
We all know that you are buddies with Trey Harris and have been for years. If you are that concerned with border security, you would not have paved the way for Colony Ridge to develop in the first place. Corrupt as they come!
Ernest Bailes, come clean on why you took campaign contributions from Colony Ridge developer, and why you didn’t say no when your constraints are being impacted by that development in Liberty County!
Everything that Ron Moore said is the damn truth!!!!!
Bye bye Bailes. You are another ineffective phony. Retire to Colony Ridge, where you will need to carry for crime and bail during flood season. Or move to the border where your “hard work” with Dade Phelan shows.
Did you translate this for your friends and neighbors in Colony Ridge? lol
You helped create an illegal immigrant haven and you want to talk about border security. Come on man, do you really think anyone believes your lies at this point?
Bailes is as crooked as the day is long. He even looks like al Capone
I talked with your people about 6 years ago when they were going door to door soliciting for your vote. I asked if you were conservative and if so, how you stood on improving our school systems and snickering, they told me that since your wife is a teacher you prefer to vote with the teacher’s union. Then they said the kicker, that the people around here were mostly “rural” and couldn’t handle freedom in education. I knew then that you weren’t a conservative but a typical RINO…and I have never voted for you.