{"id":165996,"date":"2026-02-15T20:46:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T20:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/165996\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T20:46:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T20:46:11","slug":"barbee-funding-his-own-campaign-standing-apart-from-other-candidates-on-taxes-healthcare-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/165996\/","title":{"rendered":"Barbee funding his own campaign \u2013 standing apart from other candidates on taxes, healthcare too"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Bob Barbee has not taken a single donation in his race for Congress \u2013 District 19 \u2013 in the 2026 Republican Primary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only candidate in this race that you can\u2019t go anywhere to donate money to me,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to find an honest politician, find somebody who\u2019s more interested in keeping the money in your pocket than his own,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Ongoing coverage:\u00a0Learn what\u2019s coming as Lubbock Lights kicks off Texas Primary \u201826 coverage<\/a><\/p>\n

Barbee got into the race to replace outgoing Congressman Jodey Arrington of Lubbock because his uncle taught him the ability to help your country comes with the obligation to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finally at a point in my life where I have the ability. \u2026 It\u2019s my civic duty to try to help our government get out of the $40 trillion worth of debt we have.\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

Barbee grew up in a small town north of Abilene called Hawley. His dad was the city marshal and later the city judge. His grandfather and three cousins were in law enforcement.<\/p>\n

He attended Tarleton State and Abilene Christian University before starting his own small business 22 years ago \u2013 installing fire alarm systems for businesses, school districts, nursing homes, hospitals and restaurants.<\/p>\n

His dad also had a business selling and installing alarm systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually built our own fire alarm systems for a long time \u2013 carried them to Chicago \u2013 got them UL [Underwriters Laboratories] listed. Then it got cheaper on us to start selling other people\u2019s equipment than it was to keep our equipment UL listed,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m nearing retirement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s first if elected?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing we have to do is tackle our debt situation. \u2026 It\u2019s not just me saying that we\u2019re fixing to go bankrupt if we don\u2019t do something,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

Barbee was supportive of Elon Musk\u2019s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we don\u2019t get control of our spending, we don\u2019t do something about the fraud, waste, and abuse, and we don\u2019t figure out a way to start making more revenue without increasing people\u2019s taxes, then we\u2019re headed for a wall that we can\u2019t get over,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our country being $40 trillion in debt, the last thing I want to do is go out and start promising people that we\u2019re going to start funneling money,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

Barbee also touted a tax plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of income tax and go to a flat federal sales tax,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Barbee estimated the tax would need to be 8-10 percent.<\/p>\n

In 2024, roughly half of federal revenue was from individual income taxes, according to a congressional report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not naive. I know that when I get there, that I\u2019m going to be fighting the other 434 people in Congress. But I do think I\u2019ll have bipartisan support,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

His other big issue is healthcare costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy healthcare plan starts bringing in new revenue to the government and it\u2019s going to free up tax dollars,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasically, we\u2019re going to take Medicare and offer it to every American citizen as a health care insurance plan,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

He thinks that will bring in $2 trillion but admitted it does not include the cost of paying doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and such.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not net. That\u2019s gross. So you\u2019re going to have to spend that money back out on medical costs for people,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

According to CMS.gov<\/a>, \u201cThe Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent or 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

There would also be costs for administration.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Doctor,\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tDoctor, farmer, veteran Donald May hopes voters send him, a self-described \u2018common citizen,\u2019 to serve in Congress<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 15, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Sell\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tSell hopes experience working with Combest in Congress (emphasizing work on Farm Bill) will sell him to voters<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 13, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Roofer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tRoofer \u2018Fat Matt\u2019 Smith running for Congress with deep conviction \u2013 viewing everything through lens of Scripture<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 13, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Political\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPolitical consultant Newton \u2018never expected to run for office,\u2019 but he seeks county\u2019s Precinct 2 seat with focus on budgeting<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 10, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pounds\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPounds now running for Precinct 2 commissioner to fund volunteer fire departments, fix roads, buildings<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 10, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Martin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tMartin supports budget cuts, wants county government to be \u2018boring\u2019 again as he runs for Precinct 2 commissioner<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 10, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Rackler\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tRackler proud about stand on taxes, Expo Center \u2013 wants to continue representing people in county\u2019s Precinct 4<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 6, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Seay\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tSeay wants his old seat back as Precinct 4 commissioner \u2013 wants to make sure public safety is supported<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 6, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Former\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFormer constable Peterson wants to return to county as Precinct 4 commissioner after navigating life\u2019s ups and downs<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 6, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Learn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn what\u2019s coming as Lubbock Lights kicks off Texas Primary \u201826 coverage<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 3, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Parrish\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tParrish seeking third term as county judge, lists accomplishments but adds \u2018We\u2019ve got some more work to go\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 3, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Houck\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tHouck moved family back to Texas for way of life, now seeking office as county judge, saying leadership needed<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 3, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of my competitors are saying we just need to get out of the healthcare business,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

But he thinks just walking away will leave consumers with high healthcare costs that will never go down. He\u2019d rather have a government program in the hopes of putting pressure on private insurance companies to bring their prices down.<\/p>\n

Barbee was highly in support of the Trump Administration\u2019s border and immigration policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as border security, I think he\u2019s done a fantastic job there. \u2026 The problem is Congress needs to act. We need to codify everything he\u2019s done in order to set all this in stone,\u201d Barbee said.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Related posts\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"James Bob Barbee has not taken a single donation in his race for Congress \u2013 District 19 \u2013…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":165997,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-165996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}