Protecting Children, Including the Unborn >>
Protecting Vulnerable Adults >>
Valuing Seniors and the Disabled >>
Fighting for Taxpayers >>
Championing Private Property Rights >>
Protecting Communities >>
Promoting More Transparency in Government >>
Promoting Better Highway Safety >>
Improving Healthcare for Patients and Doctors >>
Protecting Children, Including the Unborn
Dan’s compassion for children, and experience gained as a prosecutor, leads Dan to strongly advocate for and pass needed legislation to protect children and severely punish predators. Dan was a leader in passing Jessica's Law in Texas (HB 8, 80th Session) to toughen punishments for child sex offenders.
Dan has also passed legislation that allow judges to increase prison sentences for the possession of child pornography (HB 904, 79th Session); coauthored the law that strengthens children advocacy centers (HB 263, 78th Session); and helped establish a "Laci Peterson" law in Texas (SB 319/HB 246, 78th Session). In a compassionate effort to protect victims from further anguish, Dan shielded the identity of an abused student from being released (SB 606, 80th Session).
Additionally, Dan voted for legislation that increased the number of Child Protective Services caseworkers in order to quickly investigate and address allegations of child abuse.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Dan secured $5 million in new funding for adult stem cell research and treatment via cord blood storage.
Protecting Vulnerable Adults
Dan’s advocacy for the most vulnerable among us also extends to adult victims of crime. Serving on the House Appropriations Committee, Dan was instrumental in restoring funding for battered women services. Dan has authored, sponsored and passed pieces of legislation that strengthen a judge’s ability to deny bail to criminal defendants (SB 599/HB 1662, 79th Session) and that allows judges to stack the prison sentences of predators who secretly take photos, videos or broadcast footage of unsuspecting women in public places such as exercise facilities (HB 904, 79th Session and HB 1804, 80th Session).
Valuing Seniors and the Disabled
Dan joint authored the law that championed the ability of counties, cities and junior college districts to freeze their local property tax rates for those homeowners over 65 years of age or those with a qualifying disability (HB 136, 78th Session). Prior to HB 136 being enacted, these local governments were barred from freezing the tax rate for their residents who typically have a fixed income due to retirement or disability. Voters approved of this measure by an overwhelming 85 percent. Dan also voted to increase funding for Adult Protective Services to better protect those residing in nursing homes and similar facilities.
Fighting for Taxpayers
Dan’s belief in limited government includes the view that all government entities, whether local, state, or federal, should tax sparingly because government should only do a few things and do them well. Dan, as the taxpayers’ advocate, fights hard to ensure that we have a fiscally responsible and balanced state budget. He did exactly that as one of only five representatives selected to serve on the House budget conference for now two sessions in a row. His efforts helped reduce government waste by directing funding to those that are truly in need. Further, Dan helped craft legislation that allows the Attorney General to aggressively combat Medicaid fraud.
Dan has also vigorously fought for and passed truth-in taxation legislation, ensuring that taxpayers who reside in municipal utility districts have notice of any proposed tax increase and the opportunity to petition for a roll-back election (SB 392/HB 2346, 78th Session). Additionally, Dan advocated and voted for the historic property tax relief passed in by the Texas Legislature in May 2006.
Championing Private Property Rights
Dan’s unwavering dedication to the American core principle of private property rights caused him to strongly defend those rights by fighting for greater protection against eminent domain abuses whether the abuses come from private commercial development interests or from a governmental body. Additionally, Dan authored legislation that restricts the ability of municipal utility districts to exercise eminent domain (HB 1208, 79th Session).
Protecting Communities
In addition to the bills mentioned in other sections that protect our communities, Dan passed a law providing criminal punishment for irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to roam loose and maul or kill a person in an unprovoked attack (HB 1355, 80th Session). This bill was named Lillian’s Law, in memory of a Milam County wife and mother who was brutally attacked and killed while working in her front yard by dogs that belonged to a neighbor.
Promoting More Transparency in Government
Dan sponsored legislation that will provide more openness and transparency when taxpayer dollars are used to invest in private equity (SB 121/HB 223, 79th Session). This bill provides more accountability regarding investments in government pension plans, including the Teacher Retirement System and the Employee Retirement System; pensions on which thousands of Texans rely.
Promoting Better Highway Safety
Dan’s attention to solving transportation challenges includes authoring and passing legislation designed to help reduce motor vehicle accidents, and thereby, saving lives. These bills focused on increasing awareness and the penalties for drunk driving (HB 904, 79th Session); increasing the awareness of the danger of crossing a flooded road (HB 1481, 79th Session); and requiring that commercial haulers of gravel and refuse securely tarp their loads (HB 754, 79th Session).
Improving Healthcare for Patients and Doctors
Dan strongly believes that patients should be fully informed as to all aspects related to their healthcare choices. This belief led Dan to author and pass a law that now gives patients the choice to state their pharmaceutical preferences (generic or brand name drug) prior to receiving the prescription (HB 836, 79th Session) and the right to pay the cash price if that price is lower than the co- pay. Dan also passed legislation that helps keep healthcare costs in check by eliminating marked up charges (HB 1557/SB 1832, 80th Session).
