Angie Chen Button

Background

Button was born into the seven-person Chen family in Taipei, Taiwan. The Chens lived in a 300-square foot, one-room hut without a bathroom or a kitchen. She came to the United States, where as a graduate student in Public Finance and Management Services at the University of Texas at Dallas, she met her future husband, Darcy Glen Button (born May 31, 1955). For more than three decades, the couple has resided, first in Richardson, and now Garland. They have a grown son, Dane Chen Button (born c. 1985), who is a graduate of Richardson ISD. Button describes her life as "the American dream, Texas style."

Button has a long record of civic involvement. She is a former member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board and is active in the Chamber of Commerce and the advisory board of The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future. She has been honored by the Young Women's Christian Association and Southern Methodist University. She holds the "Corporate Achievement Award" from the National Organization of Chinese Americans. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated Button 85 percent in 2009, when it named her a "Taxpayers' Advocate." She received the "Champion of Free Enterprise Award" from the Texas Association of Business as well as being named a "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition.

Political life

In 2008, the incumbent Republican Representative Fred Hill did not seek reelection in District 112. Button entered a highly competitive primary election. She led with 4,138 votes (37.9 percent) and was forced into a runoff with Randall Dunning who polled, 3,818 votes (35 percent). James E. Shepherd who drew 2,955 votes (27.1 percent). In the second round of balloting, Button prevailed, 3,103 votes (53.2 percent) to Dunning's 2,732 (46.8 percent). In the general election on November 4, 2008, Button defeated the Democrat Sandra Phuong Vule, 30,998 (56.1 percent) to 21,919 (39.6 percent). Another 4.3 percent of the vote was cast for the Libertarian Party nominee, Philip M. White.1

No Democrat challenged Button in the general elections of either 2010 or 2012. In the 2014 primary campaign, Button's opponent, Jared Patterson of Sachse, made an issue of high legislative spending and called for zero-based budgeting, which he had pursued on the Sachse City Council. He criticized Button's failure to lead against illegal immigration; as an immigrant and United States citizen, Button in turn responded: "Please, show your respect and give an opportunity to the newcomers -- I came here legally." Button has voted several times to increase funding the state's border security efforts and against Sanctuary Cities. Button defeated Patterson in the Republican Primary by an 8-point margin.

Button is the chair of the House Committee on Economic and Small Business Development and serves on: (1) Ways and Means and (2) Rules and Resolutions.

Legislative voting records

The winner of the 2009 "White Knight Award" from the Texans for Life Coalition, Button in 2013 supported the ban on abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the measure passed the House, 96-49. She also supported companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers, a move which opponents said could lead to the closure of many abortion clinics in the state. These issues brought forth an unsuccessful filibuster in the Texas State Senate by Wendy R. Davis of Fort Worth, who in 2014 is the Democratic nominee for governor against the Republican Greg Abbott. In 2011, Button supported two other anti-abortion measures. One forbids state funding of agencies which perform abortions. The other requires that a woman undergo a sonogram before procuring an abortion. According to the Texas Right to Life Committee, Button was rated a 102 favorable in 2013 and a 104 favorable in 2011.

Button voted against the establishment of the taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools; the measure cleared the House, 73-58. She co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. She sponsored the successful bill to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. Button voted for the adoption of the biennial state budgets in both 2013 and 2011. She voted to require testing for narcotics of those individuals receiving unemployment compensation. She sponsored the law to forbid texting while driving.

Button supported the bill to prohibit the state government from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. She co-sponsored but did not vote on final passage of the measure to allow college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in buildings and vehicles in the name of campus security. She voted to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit. She backed the redistricting bills for the state House and Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

In 2011, Button voted to reduce funding for state agencies. Button voted to prohibit smoking in public places. She voted to establish eligibility for indigent health care. She voted to establish student centers at public colleges and universities with emphasis on family and traditional values; the measure passed the House 110-24. To guarantee the integrity of the election process, she supported photo identification of voters casting a ballot. The measure finally took effect in October 2013 and was used widely without incident in the primaries on March 4, 2014. In 2013, Button backed related legislation to forbid a voter from turning in multiple ballots.

Interest group ratings

Button has consistently been A-rated and endorsed over her opponents by the NRA and the Texas State Rifle Association since 2011. According to the Texas Right to Life Committee, Button was rated a 102 favorable in 2013 and a 104 favorable in 2011. She was awarded an A+ by the Texas Conservative Roundtable for the 84th legislative session.

Eagle Forum rated Button 79 percent favorable in 2013 but only 40 percent in 2011. The Young Conservatives of Texas gave her a cumulative score in 2013 of 70 percent. The interest group, Texas League of Conservation Voters rated her 57 percent in 2013; the Sierra Club, 27 percent in 2011. In 2009, the Libertarian Party rated Button 66 percent favorable in matters of economic rights and personal liberties.

Reelection to fifth term, 2016

Button won reelection to her fifth term in the state House in the general election held on November 8, 2016. With 31,234 votes (57.2 percent), she defeated the Democrat Jack Blackshear, who received 23,351 ballots (42.8 percent).