(Weatherford) — Republican House challenger Joe Tison today said that his opponent Phil King’s campaign contributions from Gov. Rick Perry and other Austin powerbrokers show that the politicians and special interests at the State Capitol are fighting for more of the same failed policies that caused electric rates to soar by 56 percent and are now proposing to give Texas the highest sales tax in the nation.

“There’s an old Texas adage — if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got,” Tison said. “District 61 voters are ready for something new — true conservative values that will hold the line on electric rates and sales taxes.”

Reports filed this week show that Perry gave $25,000 to Tison’s opponent, Phil King, who also accepted large donations from lobbyists for energy and utility interests with business before King’s committee. (more…)

(Weatherford) - Republican House challenger Joe Tison today called on opponent Phil King to return a $25,000 campaign contribution from a San Antonio millionaire and leading advocate for siphoning tax dollars out of public schools to fund private-school voucher schemes.

“My opponent has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars from special interests outside our community,” Tison said. “But if he doesn’t give back this particular donation, he might as well just go ahead and declare political bankruptcy.”

Tison, a former classroom teacher and public school superintendent, said King supported a private-school voucher bill pushed by Dr. James Leininger of San Antonio that would take tax dollars out of neighborhood schools to pay for unregulated private schools, including taxpayer-funded vouchers for illegal immigrants. (more…)

(Weatherford) — Republican House challenger Joe Tison today issued a call for all Texans to make copies of their latest electric bill and send them to his opponent, Phil King, to show him how his close ties to the utility lobby have driven up costs for businesses and put the squeeze on families.

“My opponent needs a wake-up call,” Tison said. “While he was accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from utility companies and their representatives, the rest of us were paying an average of 56 percent more to heat our homes and keep the lights on in our businesses.” (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5192807.html)

King has accepted more than $200,000 in campaign contributions from utility and energy company PACs, according to documents filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. (more…)

You can see the embarrassing video here: http://www.click2houston.com/video/15297517/index.html?rss=hou&psp=localvideo

Joe Tison has given years of public service to Weatherford and Parker County–most recently as Weatherford mayor and previously as superintendent of schools, interim president of Weatherford College and head of the Parker County Crime Commission. Now Tison is taking on veteran state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, in the March 4 Republican primary for the District 61 seat representing Parker and Wise counties.

The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Tison based on his leadership ability, civic-mindedness and expertise in education.

Tison, 70, is able-bodied and mentally sharp. He notes with a smile that he is “younger than John McCain.”

King, 51, an attorney, is a capable lawmaker. But as chairman of the powerful House Committee on Regulated Industries, he has gotten too cozy with lobbyists for businesses that his panel oversees. (more…)

District 61 State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) received $281,000 in campaign contributions over the last six months, mostly from individuals and PACs tied to electric power generation and the telecommunications industry, according to a campaign finance report filed publicly Tuesday.

King’s reelection war chest is anchored by $35,000 in contributions from Houston home builder Bob Perry and his wife, Doylene. Perry is known for giving generously to Republican and conservative candidates.

King reported 180 donations from local supporters in Parker and Wise counties, which adds up to about $33,000, or 12 percent of his total. Approximately $17,00 came from Weatherford residents alone, and six of Parker County’s elected officials chipped in.

Former Weatherford Mayor Joe Tison, King’s Republican challenger, reported raising a total of 17,500.

In accordance with Texas Ethics Commission rules, Tison reported all contributions received after resigning as mayor through year end — a period of 10 days. (more…)

(Weatherford)- Republican House challenger Joe Tison today announced that he filed his campaign finance reports on-line last week although they aren’t due until tomorrow to show that there are “no insider deals, no legislative back-scratching, no strings attached” in his campaign to provide North Texas with a positive new voice at the State Capitol.

“The voters of Parker and Wise counties want an election, not an auction,” Tison said. “My campaign won’t have the most money in this race, but we will have enough resources from hardworking North Texans to make our case for putting our own communities first and the partisan agendas of Austin politicians last.” (more…)

(Weatherford) — Weatherford Mayor and Texas House challenger Joe Tison today said a proposal by State Representative Phil King to impose a new tax on doctors, realtors, restaurants, and other services is an unacceptable assault on small businesses and middle-class families, calling it a typical idea from a typical Austin politician.

“I will work day and night to defeat Mr. King’s middle-class tax hike,” Tison said.  “It’s a bad idea that would make it even harder for businesses and families who are already being squeezed enough — another example of how politicians initiate something without asking their local constituents what effect it has on their schools, their government, or their living standards.”

Tison said that experts he has spoken to about the impact of King’s proposal warn that any comprehensive effort to replace the property tax would require taxing virtually all transactions other than those taxed under another tax, such as cigarettes or products used in the manufacturing process.

“I would have a major concern that Mr. King’s idea increases the cost of housing, medical care, food, drugs, auto repair, utilities, and other areas not now taxed — quickly eating up any property tax savings residents might realize,” Tison said. (more…)

(Weatherford) — Weatherford Mayor Joe Tison today announced he will run for the Texas House rather than seek a fifth term at City Hall, saying North Texas needs a positive new voice at the State Capitol working for better health care, education, and transportation services.

“This fast-growing area needs a representative whose top priorities are the hard-working families and small business owners of Parker and Wise counties, not the partisan agendas of politicians in Austin,” Tison said.

Tison, a former educator who started his career in the Aledo Independent School District and served as superintendent of the Weatherford Independent School District for more than a decade, has been Mayor of Weatherford since 2000.  His term ends next spring.

“Over the past two years, I have been asked by many citizens of both Parker and Wise counties to consider running for state representative,” Tison said.  “I accept the challenge and look forward to a positive campaign on the issues our communities face.” (more…)