Aug 29, 2012
Vernon Parker too Extreme for Arizona
Republicans have selected Tea Party congressional candidate Vernon Parker as their nominee in Arizona’s 9th District, and they couldn’t have picked a candidate who would be worse for Arizona’s middle class. In addition to advocating to put Social Security on the chopping block, Parker has said he would abolish the Department of Education in Congress, which would cost Arizona schools $729 million a year. Voters can be sure of one thing - Vernon Parker is simply too extreme for Arizona.
“Tea party congressional candidate Vernon Parker has already suggested he would cut Social Security and said he would abolish the Department of Education, and it’s clear he would side with the most extreme elements of the Republican Party in Congress rather than Arizona’s middle class,” said Amber Moon of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Arizona simply can’t afford the dangerous policies of Tea Partier Vernon Parker, who is completely out of step with mainstream voters.”
Background
Parker Touted Relationship to Tea Party. In 2010, Phoenix Business Journal reported Parker touted himself as part of the tea party movement. The article stated “Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker and former Arizona Sen. Pam Gorman are touting themselves as part of the tea party movement.” [Phoenix Business Journal, 4/16/10]
Parker Suggested That Social Security Would Have to Undergo Massive Changes. In June 2012, when asked about entitlement reform, Vernon Parker suggested that Social Security would have to undergo massive changes. He said, “This generation, the 18 year olds and up, they have no idea what Social Security is. Everything must be on the table and we must take a look at it and debate it in a very serious way.” [KJZZ Republican Candidate Forum Part 3 of 3, 18:12, 6/25/12]
Parker Advocated for Changes to Social Security Saying “Everything has to be on the Table.” In 2012, Parker said with Social Security “everything has to be on the table” for future generations. “But we have to take a look at entitlements also…But I have an 18 year old son. He has no idea what Social Security is…but everything has to be on the table…When we enacted Social Security the lifespan of the average American was somewhere around 65-70…we have a lot of our seniors now they’re living they’re 80-90. We’re paying out more than we’re taking in and that’s not going to sustain itself. So we have to be able to come up with ways for future generations to say that the system isn’t working.” [Meet and Greet, 2:50, published 7/25/12]
Parker Advocated for Getting Rid of the Dept. of Education. In 2012, Parker advocated for getting rid of the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. “Leah Campos Schandlbauer and Vernon Parker said they would reduce the federal government’s regulation by getting rid of unnecessary departments like the Department of Education.” [Ahwatukee Foothills News, 6/7/12]
Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education Would Cost Arizona $729 million in Federal Funding Per Year. The National Education Association reported that eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would cost Arizona schools $729 million in federal funding per year. [National Education Association, 8/21/12]
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