Entrepreneur, Elaine Hays, challenges Thornberry for House

Amarillo.com ^ | July 2nd 2013 | Jim McBride

[Viennacon]

Calling for an end to the status quo in Washington, an Amarillo businesswoman officially kicked off her bid Tuesday to unseat U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry.

Elaine Hays, 55, made the announcement Tuesday that she’s seeking the Republican nomination for Thornberry’s seat before a group of about 100 enthusiastic supporters — including District 15 State Board of Education Representative Marty Rowley — at the Ambassador Hotel.

“It’s time to remind Washington that they work for us,” she told the cheering crowd.

The mother of four, author and certified financial planner said trust in the nation’s government has plummeted amid continued Washington gridlock. She vowed a close examination of Thornberry’s record as a lawmaker.

“Our economic foundation has been crumbling,” she said. “We cannot afford to stay on our current unsustainable path.”

She honed in, however, on the government’s bailouts during the financial meltdown and said taxpayers should not have had to bail out organizations that took risky financial positions.

Hays said she favors a common sense, conservative approach to government.

Hays also said she supports a no-budget-no pay law for lawmakers and the White House. She also said Congress shouldn’t pass laws that don’t also apply to legislators.

[Viennacon]

Mac Thornberry seems to have lied about how long he would serve. He's been there 20 years, and has spoken out against primarying incumbents who fail to be conservative (how convenient).

Is this the woman to replace Thornberry?

[humblegunner]

I hope she isn’t slacking off on her sandwich-making duties.

[rigelkentaurus]

I’m moving to this district in the next 1-2 years, so I sure hope there is a true conservative representative in place.

[RetiredTexasVet]

From what I heard at at Tea Party meeting recently, she is a Tea Party member challenging the initiator of the anti-constitutional detention laws.