Tan Parker is the 2006 Republican Party nominee for Texas House District 63 race. He defeated Anne Lakusta in an April 11 runoff in Denton County, Texas. This is a text version of this page
This Saturday, August 7th, I will be attending an out of state Legislative Conference, and unable to host my open office hours regularly scheduled for the first Saturday morning of each month.
However, my staff will be in office this Saturday morning, and I will be back the following month (September 4th) to host open office hours from 8 to 10am.
AUSTIN, Texas – In the now-concluded 81st Session of the Legislature, State Rep. Tan Parker stood out as a “hero” for the state's taxpayers. According to the biennial ranking of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Parker received a very strong pro-taxpayer rating of 95.83%.
“State Rep. Parker was one of the good guys this legislative session,” said Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. “Parker worked diligently this legislative session on behalf of Texas' taxpayers and sound fiscal policy. We need more champions like Tan Parker.”
Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) passed two pieces of legislation through the Texas House of Representatives, both aimed at improving the economy and creating more jobs in Texas. The first bill, House Bill 2230, removes outdated and burdensome interest penalties that are added to property rollback taxes when owners decide to change the designation of their agricultural property.
"In this economy," Parker said, "we need to encourage economic development and not financially penalize those who wish to develop land. That is what House Bill 2230 aims to do, reduce property taxes while at the same time incentivizing property owners to develop their property and spur their local economies."
AUSTIN — On today’s deadline for Texas businesses to pay franchise tax, a bipartisan group of lawmakers pleaded for more small businesses to be exempted.
And they predicted lawmakers still will be agonizing over the revamped business tax two years from now, because it slams business owners even when they're losing money.
The Senate's chief budget writer, though, said the Legislature won't pass tax relief for small business this session unless legislators curb their spending appetites.
"I'm feeling like we don't have money left,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. "We're getting ready to decide, do you want to spend more money or do you want to cut taxes?"
On Monday March 23, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee voted to send SB 182/HB 36 known as the “Ultrasound Bill” to the Senate floor by a vote of 7 - 2. Supporting the bill were Sen. Chris Harris (R- Arlington), Carona (R-Dallas), Jackson (R-La Porte), Lucio (D-Brownsville), Deuell (R-Greenville), Duncan (R-Lubbock), and lastly Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) who submitted a motion in writing. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) voted against the bill.
While the bill would ensure that every pregnant woman be given an opportunity to listen to the fetal heartbeat and view an ultrasound image of her unborn child at least two hours prior to proceeding with an abortion procedure, the bill does not require the woman to view the child's image. Two Highland Village ladies, Adryana Boyne and Brandi Chambless, thanked Governor Perry for his support when he publicly supported the Ultrasound Bill by encouraging legislators to vote for it during a pro-life rally on the steps of the Capitol. Brandi Chambless of Highland Village stated, “Other than the obvious priority of protecting innocent lives, I believe this bill is also important in order to protect every woman’s right to know what is going on inside her body. Many women who seek an abortion find out all too late about its link to subsequent health risks such as breast cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, or even infertility. They are led to believe that by admitting their “mistake” and having an abortion that healing will begin more quickly when in fact, they are exacerbating emotional and health issues that will either last a lifetime or, in all probability, decrease their own life expectancy.”
Should state lawmakers decide to accept federal stimulus funding for unemployment insurance, the state would have to make a number of statutory changes to the policies that govern who gets unemployment insurance and why. The total available funding is $555 million.
Gov. Rick Perry noted his opposition to expanding the state’s unemployment insurance program.
“Texans who hire Texans drive our state’s economic engine. During these tough times, Texas employers are working harder than ever to move products to market, make payroll and create jobs. The last thing they need is government burdening them with higher taxes and expanded obligations,” Perry said. “I am here today to stand with Texas employers and the millions of Texans they employ to resist further government intrusion into their businesses through an expansion of our state’s unemployment insurance program.”
Six state legislators who visited Val Verde County Thursday to learn about the problems facing area law enforcement agencies said the trip was an eye-opener.
“There’s no better way for us in Austin to learn about what’s really going on than by making this kind of trip, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be down here,” said State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, who was among the four state senators and two state representatives who participated in a tour of Lake Amistad and the sprawling Rancho Del Rio along the Rio Grande Thursday.
Here’s a story about one politician trying to help you.
State Rep. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, read The Watchdog’s October account of a Lewisville man penalized for an inaccurate vehicle inspection sticker.
Jack Sherrard was on a pizza delivery when a Highland Village police officer ticketed him for an expired sticker that showed the last inspection was in 2003.
The truck had actually been inspected four months before. The inspection station attendant inadvertently transposed the month and year on the sticker.
The Brush Creek Road Bridge, directly north of Denton Country Club, is now open to vehicular traffic after being closed for three and a half years. The bridge was closed in June 2005 after a gas well truck fell through the bridge decking. The new bridge is a two lane concrete beam bridge with concrete railing for a construction value of $490,000.
By Michelle Draper
The News Connection
Denton Precinct 4 County Commissioner Andy Eads said many bridges in Denton County are under extra strain because of heavy trucks traveling the roads to reach gas well drilling sites. “This is a perfect example of the negative impacts that local governments within the Barnett Shale are faced with,” said Denton Precinct 4 County Commissioner Andy Eads. “Destruction to our public infrastructure is a real challenge.” Eads said because of the high volume traffic of heavy trucks, the depreciation of bridges is accelerated. “You might think you have four or five years before a bridge will need work, but it might end up being only a year and a half. This is one reason the bridges have been such a priority to me.”
Political experience won over many Denton County voters Tuesday, as incumbents District 63 state Rep. Tan Parker and District 64 state Rep. Myra Crownover reaped the majority of votes.
And both credited their victories to past experience with the legislature and their ties to the community.
Parker, R-Flower Mound, who is finishing his first term in office, spent Election Day greeting voters with only two hours of sleep to aid his handshakes.
But it paid off with the majority of the vote, Parker said, adding that he was “humbled and honored to win.”
Thank you for interest in contributing. Due to Texas Election Code, we are unable to accept contributions at this time. We will begin accepting contributions on June 22, 2009.
§ 253.034. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND
FOLLOWING REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. (a) During the period
beginning on the 30th day before the date a regular legislative
session convenes and continuing through the 20th day after the date
of final adjournment, a person may not knowingly make a political
contribution to:
(1) a statewide officeholder;
(2) a member of the legislature; or
(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting,
opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or member of the
legislature.
(b) A statewide officeholder, a member of the legislature,
or a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or
assisting a statewide officeholder or member of the legislature may
not knowingly accept a political contribution, and shall refuse a
political contribution that is received, during the period
prescribed by Subsection (a). A political contribution that is
received and refused during that period shall be returned to the
contributor not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt.
A contribution made by mail is not considered received during that
period if it was placed with postage prepaid and properly addressed
in the United States mail before the beginning of the period. The
date indicated by the post office cancellation mark is considered
to be the date the contribution was placed in the mail unless proven
otherwise.
(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution
that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:
(1) in an election held or ordered during the period
prescribed by Subsection (a) in which the person accepting the
contribution is a candidate if the contribution was made after the
person appointed a campaign treasurer with the appropriate
authority and before the person was sworn in for that office;
(2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an
election contest; or
(3) by a person who holds a state office or a member of
the legislature if the person or member was defeated at the general
election held immediately before the session is convened or by a
specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only
that person or member.
(d) This section does not apply to a political contribution
made to or accepted by a holder of an office to which Subchapter F
applies.
(e) A person who violates this section commits an offense.
An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
