Business and Consumer Issues 2

Budget Issues 2

Campaign Finance Issues 2

Choice Issues 2

Crime & Public Safety Issues 2

Economic and Financial Issues 2

Education Issues 2

Energy Issues 2

Environmental Issues 2

Ethics Issues 2

Foreign Policy Issues – Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea 2

Gay and Lesbian Issues 2

Gun Issues 2

Health Care Issues 2

Immigration and Border Issues 2

Israel 2

Labor and Working Family Issues 2

Other Social Issues 3

Senior Issues 3

Social Issues 3

Political Issues 3

Tax Issues 3

Tea Party 3

Transportation Issues 3

Clips of Interest

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 and the Environmental Protection Agency.” [Ahwatukee Foothills News, 4/30/12]

Budget Issues

Business and Consumer Issues

Campaign Finance Issues

Choice Issues

Crime & Public Safety Issues

Economic and Financial Issues

Education Issues

Said Student Loans Should Be Paid for By Taking from Obamacare

When asked how he proposed helping kids who faced an increase in student loans Parker said he agreed with Speaker Boehner who said let’s take it from Obamacare. He said Obamacare was un-constitutional and un-American. He said he went to school because of Student loans. [azfamily.com, 21:05, 5/1/12]

Parker Advocated for Getting Rid of the Dept. of Education

Energy Issues

Environmental Issues

Ethics Issues

Foreign Policy Issues – Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea

Gay and Lesbian Issues

Gun Issues

Health Care Issues

Parker Said He Would Repeal Health Care Reform

In March 2012, Parker said that while Congress’s top priority must be attracting more jobs to the United States, which he said can be done by lowering the country’s high corporate income tax rate, repealing Obamacare was a close second.

“If we don’t do something about Obamacare, it will destroy future generations because they will be paying for something that has failed across the world,” Parker said. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Pledged to Repeal Healthcare Reform and Replace it with Legislation to Take Care of Pre-Existing Conditions

In 2012, Parker pledged to repeal Obama’s healthcare program when he announced his second run for the U.S. House.

Parker said one of his priorities, if elected, would be to replace Obama's health-care reform law with one that would take care of pre-existing conditions, allow individuals to choose their plans and give tax deductions to families for all health-care costs. [Arizona Republic, 3/21/12]

Immigration and Border Issues

Parker Said He Had a Personal Relationship with Sherriff Joe

In 2012, Parker said he had a relationship with Sherriff Joe that was very personal. He said he talked to students at the Sherriff’s prison – he said the relationship was not about immigration.

Parker was asked if he supported the hard-line immigration laws and he said yes. He said he was sensitive to profiling. [azfamily.com, 6:35, 5/1/12]

Parker Supported SB 1070 Which Allowed the Police to Question Immigrants During Police Stops

In 2012, Parker said he supported SB 1070, which among others things gave police the power to question and arrest suspected illegal immigrants encountered during police stops.

“It's not about race. It's not about color. It's about protecting our border, and it's about doing what the federal government has failed to do,” Parker, a small-business consultant, told the crowd of about 100. “This is a national-security issue. People can walk across the border and bring weapons of mass destruction that can harm our citizens.” [Arizona Republic, 4/24/12]

Parker Said He Supported Building Fence with Mexico in Arizona

In 2012, Parker said he supported building a fence at the border with Mexico in Arizona.

“I look at the border not just as a national security issue, because of terrorists that could walk across the border without being checked, but more importantly to me I’ve seen so many lives destroyed because of illegal drug activity,” Parker said. [Ahwatukee Foothills News, 4/23/12]

Israel

Labor and Working Family Issues

Military Issues

Supported What Generals Would Like to Do on Afghanistan

On Afghanistan, Parker said he supported what the generals would like to do. He said the most important foreign policy that we have is the protection of Israel. [azfamily.com, 12:30, 5/1/12]

Other Social Issues

Senior Issues

Social Issues

Personal Financial Issues

Parker Faced Foreclosure – Said Issue was Resolved Before Home was Auctioned

In 2012, Vernon Parker faced foreclosure. Parker said the foreclosure notice was part of an attempt to refinance his mortgage and that the foreclosure auction was canceled. It was reported that “foreclosure notice was part of an attempt to refinance his mortgage and that the issue has been resolved.”

Although Parker’s monthly mortgage payment remained unknown his MetLife mortgage was for $417,000. And Parker had a $500,000 line of credit taken out in 2004. Parker’s spokesman said he was working on refinancing his mortgage to get a lower interest rate. Parker’s spokesman would not answer whether Parker had missed mortgage payments. It was reported “Homeowners wishing to refinance their homes typically do not miss payments.” [Arizona Republic, 4/13/12]

Parker Said He Ran Small-Business Consulting Group – Lost $2 Million Lawsuit to Federal Government

In 2012, Vernon Parker said although he didn’t get paid as a council member in Paradise Valley, he ran a small-business consulting group, VBP Group LLC. In 2008, Parker’s firm was barred from doing business with the SBA after the federal agency said he submitted misleading information to get the company certified to work. Parker appealed the decision and lost in 2009. He filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming $2 million in damages for making false allegations against him. It was dismissed in 2011. [Arizona Republic, 4/13/12]

Submitted Misleading Information to Get Government Contract

In 2008, a federal report showed that Parker submitted misleading information about his status as a federal employee to his consulting firm certified through a small-business program. As a result, Parker’s company VBP Group LLC, received a contract worth $1.2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The contract paid VBP Group to coach small businesses on how to apply for government contracts.

As a result of Parker’s actions the SBA began a process to prohibit Parker from getting other government contracts. The Inspector General also found that Parker was a consultant March 19, 2006, but continued collecting health and life insurance benefits from the USDA until he left in September 2006. The report also said that Parker submitted documents “that were false or of questionable authenticity” to show proof that he had fulfilled other federal contracts. [Arizona Republic, 7/28/08]

Political Issues

Touted Endorsement from George H.W. Bush - Parker Said He Aspired To Be Like Bush

In 2012, Parker touted his endorsement from George H. W. Bush. President Bush wrote “Vernon is a good man who served honorably in my Administration.” Vernon is a leader who demonstrates conservative values, love for country, and commitment to excellence in all that he has done.”

“President Bush epitomizes all that I aspire to be as an American, a public servant, and as this new district’s first Member of Congress. President Bush is a statesman whose legacy will loom large,” Parker said. [Sonoran Alliance, 5/8/12]

Touted Work in Bush Administration

In 2012, Parker touted his experience working in the Bush administration. [azfamily.com, 24:05, 5/1/12]

Had Support of Sports Business Backers

In 2012, Parker had the support of sports business backers for his Republican run for Arizona’s new 9th Congressional District. Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick, his wife Randy, former D-backs and Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo and Nicole Bidwill of the Arizona Cardinals’ Bidwill family are all part of Parker’s campaign committee. Former Insight Enterprises chairman Eric Crown was also on Parker’s campaign team. [Phoenix Business Journal, 4/9/12]

Re-Elected to Paradise Valley Town Council

In March 2012, Parker was reelected to the Paradise Valley Town Council. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Lived Outside of 9th District - Said he Would Move Into District

In March 2012, Parker, who lost the 2010 Republican primary in the old 3rd Congressional District, lived outside of 9th congressional district. But, Parker said, he would move into the district, and noted that many of the other candidates don’t live in the district either. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Called a “Political Opportunist” by Protestor

In March 2012, a protestor at Parker’s congressional campaign kick-off held up a sign calling him a “political opportunist.” It was reported that he “He formed an exploratory committee for the 2010 governor’s race, but switched to CD3 after longtime Republican incumbent Congressman John Shadegg announced his retirement.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Said he Stayed in Town Council Race at the Request of his Colleagues

In March 2012, Parker said he stayed in the Paradise Valley Town Council race, despite his congressional ambitions, at the request of his colleagues on the council.

“I care about the town and my fellow council members, they all encouraged me and they told me, ‘Would you please keep your name on the ballot and would you please stay on the council?’ It was really urging from the mayor and the vice mayor and all of my other fellow town council members. It was their request,” Parker said. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Said he Could Appeal to Independents

In March 2012, Parker said he could appeal to independents in CD9 who want a fiscally responsible federal government, more jobs, a secure border and an end to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Kicked off Campaign Claiming He was the “Only Candidate Who Can Win”

In March 2012, at Vernon Parker’s official campaign roll-out at Arizona State University’s Old Main Building, the newly reelected Paradise Valley town councilman said he was the only candidate who can win in a district.

“The Democrats right now, they are huddling and they are trying to figure out how they can capture CD9. And make no mistake about it, this (would) be a huge pickup for them. But make no mistake about it, they will not prevail. They will not prevail because they did not count on all of us,” Parker said. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Parker Touted Endorsement of Business Leader Jerry Colangelo

In 2012, Parker touted the endorsement of Arizona business leader Jerry Colangelo. A press release from the campaign touted that Colangelo joined Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, Paradise Valley Mayor Scott LeMarr, Paradise Valley Vice Mayor Mary Hamway, former State Representative Mark Thompson, Paradise Valley Councilmembers Michael Collins, Paul Dembow, Lisa Trueblood, and Dan Schweiker in endorsing Parker. [Sonoran Alliance, 3/27/12]

Tax Issues

Advocated for Lowering Corporate Tax Rate

In March 2012, Parker advocated for lowering the U.S. corporate income tax rate. [Arizona Capitol Times, 3/21/12]

Tea Party

Transportation Issues