Angie Chen Button

Current roles

• Local Republican Party: Member

Former roles

• Local State House of Representatives: Texas State Representative
• Local State House of Representatives: Texas State House of Reps candidate

League of Women Voters 2008 candidate survey

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Button: I have been an executive at Texas Instruments for 27 years -- most recently in international marketing. I have served on more than 20 local community boards and commissions. My education background is as a CPA. This training and experience should serve me well in the legislature.

LWV: The Texas Legislature in 2007 overhauled business taxes to provide property tax relief for homeowners, but many small business owners in Texas now claim that their property tax decrease was far less than their business tax increase. What measures should be taken to maintain adequate state tax revenues without unduly burdening individual taxpayers or small business?

Button: Taxes are too high. Texas must cut expenses. There are many cost saving opportunities such as: Allow Texans to bid on more work done in-house at agencies. When private Texans can do it cheaper or better, they should. Companies, like the one I work for, have cut expenses to stay competitive for years. Taxpayer funded agencies must do the same. Foster prison faith based programs to reduce the personal and dollar costs of recidivism.

LWV: Texas deregulated electricity rates with the promise that competition between suppliers would lower consumers’ electric rates, yet rates in Texas remain well above the national average. What measures should be taken to ensure electric power reliability and affordability in Texas?

Button: Deregulation has not reached its potential for most Texans. Overall, Texas relies too much on the most expensive power generation due to our high population growth rate as new power sources lag. We use peak power more setting a high rate for consumers. Texas should have a multi-faceted approach to affordable power. We must have additional supply. Texas can lead the world in wind power. Government should better facilitate permitting of new generation nuclear technologies.

LWV: According to the most recent published data of the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, insurance industry losses in Texas have decreased by 85%, yet homeowners’ rates have fallen by only 4%. What reforms would you support to lower homeowners’ rates in Texas?

Button: Competition is the only long term solution to high rates. We should invite more insurers through a federal licensing option. Texans should enjoy nation-wide competitive rates. Regulatory pricing mandates drive out competition, unfairly making insurance unobtainable. Also, 112th District residents should not pay rates of hurricane-prone coastal areas. With the hurricane threat always hanging over some of Texas, the entire state now pays more than it should for insurance. That is being addressed.

LWV: The Texas legislature has not increased the gas tax since 1991, and also diverts millions of dollars of transportation funds to other areas of the state budget such as education and the Department of Public Safety. The public has voiced much disapproval of toll roads and public/private partnerships to build new roads. How would you fund construction of new roads and maintenance of existing roads and bridges?

Button: While the gas tax rate has not increased, taxes paid has soared since 1991 as more Texans drive and buy gas. However, toll roads can sometimes be necessary as gas taxes go to maintain existing roads and bridges. Toll roads should be built only with regional consensus not State imposition.

LWV: If diversions from the State’s transportation fund are stopped, how would you pay for those items that are currently funded by gas tax monies?

Button: I have not proposed diverting money. If we were to do that, we would have to either cut spending (as I recommended in question 1) or raise taxes (of which I am not in favor).

LWV: Currently, sales prices of most residential property are disclosed while those of commercial property are not. Do you support public disclosure of commercial real estate sales prices so as to ensure fair and accurate appraisals?

Button: I do not favor imposing another regulatory burden when the underlying benefit is questionable. Commercial properties are more unique in terms of valuation and financing structures than residential properties. Consequently a transaction involving one commercial property can bear little relevance for another property. Significant transactions are already disclosed in the press so that it is often only a question of delay.