Angie Chen Button has solid credentials as a Texas lawmaker. First elected in 2008, she is a veteran of the Texas House and has a history of delivering legislation to keep Texas business-friendly. She earns our recommendation in the Republican primary for House District 112.
The district includes northern Dallas, Richardson, Garland, Sachse and other cities.
Button, 71, chairs the Trade, Workforce and Economic Development Committee and is a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, making her an important player in the property tax debate that may dominate the next legislative session.
Button told us she is focused on housing affordability while keeping Texas’ economic engine strong. She proposes reducing the tax burden on individuals while also easing tax and regulatory burdens on businesses.
Opinion
Last year, Button voted for Senate Bill 840, which allows multifamily housing in commercially zoned districts in large cities. She told us she wants to evaluate the impact of this legislation while exploring other ideas to promote the redevelopment of underutilized land to increase the housing supply.
Button is also looking into targeted tax reforms. In the last session, Button filed a bill to eliminate the inventory tax on perishable items such as groceries and medications, which she said would reduce prices for consumers. She said she wants to bring this legislation back in the next session.
Button also understands the importance of reaching across the aisle to shape and pass policies, in contrast to other GOP members of the Legislature who view working with Democrats as treacherous.
“Most bills are not partisan issues. …They are issues for everybody,” she said.
We disagree with some of Button’s stances. In the last session, she championed legislation that became known as the Squatters Bill. We criticized this bill because it curbed tenants’ already limited rights in Texas without giving police the tools to more effectively address squatting.
This editorial page appreciates that Button has worked hard over the years to develop and maintain relationships with people across North Texas, to the benefit of her constituents. Her leadership will be important as the future of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system hangs in the balance. Button, who served on the DART board before running for the Texas Legislature, told us she continues to advocate for the public transit system in conversations with local officials.
Plano and other member cities are planning elections to exit DART. Button was sympathetic to Plano’s concerns that it contributes far more in sales tax than the value of transit services it gets, and she said DART should react to member cities’ concerns.
Also running in this race are Perry E. Barker Sr., Chad Carnahan and Tina Price.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here.
If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com