With
all the recent focus on the government shutdown, many will miss the fact
that there is also an election just days away, early voting starts
Monday and will run through Friday, November 1. Texas voters will
decide on nine amendments to the Texas Constitution.
View a sample ballot here
The Texas Constitution is a large and complex document because it is
rare that constitutional amendments fail at the ballot box.
With this in mind it is important to point out that these amendments
are often the means of saddling Texans with debt. Texas taxpayers
already find ourselves with the 2nd highest local debt burden in the
country. Yet elected officials still don’t seem to get the idea that
citizens are tired of the runaway spending that fails to pay as we go.
We must live within our means and should not be increasing our debt!
Consequently, We Texans urges voters to “just say no” to most of this
ballot. Yes, that’s right, since four of the nine propositions call for
shifting of or increases in government spending or tax burden, we are
recommending that you vote “against” them; two others, prop 5 and 7, in
our view, also warrant votes "against". Propositions 2, 8 and 9 are the
exceptions for which we can support a “for” vote.
Here’s why:
Proposition 1: Provides a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of certain service members. Read the legislation here (HRJ 62)
While the property tax is a fundamentally flawed means of funding local
government that we are working to completely eliminate, it is the
method that is used in Texas today. Though well intended, this
proposition adds yet another exemption to the long list of property
tax-outs and distorts justice by shifting the cost of local government
to the shoulders of others in the community. We Texans recommends
voting "against" this proposition.
Proposition 2: Removing provisions for the State Medical Education Board. Read the legislation here (HJR 79)
This proposal would remove constitutional authorization for the State
Medical Education Board and the State Medical Education Fund by
repealing Texas Constitution Art. 3, sec. 50a. The Board is inactive as
the functions of the Board have been transferred to the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and the Office of the Attorney General.
The Sunset Advisory Commission recommended the Board be eliminated way
back in 1988; we're finally getting around to doing that. We Texans
recommends voting "for" this proposition.
Proposition 3: Allowing extension of exemption from inventory taxes for aircraft parts Read the legislation here (HJR 133)
Again, while we wholeheartedly agree property and inventory taxes
should be eliminated, they are currently the means for financing local
governments and public education. Providing this exemption shifts the
burden from the effected industries to the shoulders of others in that
same community. Taxes must be equitably and justly distributed.
Singling out one group for a tax exemption, even for a meritorious
purpose, raises issues of uniformity in taxation. We Texans recommends
voting "against" this proposition.
Proposition 4: Tax exemption for disabled veterans whose homesteads were donated by a charity. Read the legislation here (HJR 24)
While the property tax is a fundamentally flawed means of funding local
government that we are working to completely eliminate, it is the
method that is used in Texas today. Though well intended, this
proposition adds yet another exemption to the long list of property
tax-outs and distorts justice by shifting the cost of local government
to the shoulders of others in the community. We Texans recommends
voting "against" this proposition.
Proposition 5: Authorizes a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property. Read the legislation here (SJR 18)
Texans have rightly been skeptical of creative lending schemes
especially when it comes to financing homes. Loosening restrictions on
reverse mortgages would make Texans more vulnerable to being upside down
in their homes, having greater debt than equity. We Texans recommends
voting "against" this proposition.
Proposition 6: Creating funds to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan. Read the legislation here (SJR 1)
This proposal would create the State Water Implementation Fund for
Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas removing
$2 billion from the Rainy Day fund and placing it outside the general
revenue in this quasi-investment bank overseen by the appointed
three-member Texas Water Development Board. Claims about the purpose of
the fund are misleading. The fund can not be used to finance state
water plan projects. These funds can only be use to provide additional
security in the form of debt service, deferred loan structure or credit
enhancement on projects already supported by Texas Water Development
Bonds. Texas voters authorized $6 billion in revolving bond authority
in 2011 none of which has been issued or utilized. These new funds
would provide additional incentive to local governments to utilize these
bonds (i.e., loans, taking on more debt) by providing a reduction in
the interest due on the loan. Local governments generally already have
sufficient credit ratings to complete projects without financial
assistance from the state. Further, since water rights and development
occur at the local and regional level and there are few processes in
place to prioritize water projects across the state, there is little
guarantee the funds will be directed towards the most critical projects.
We Texans recommends voting "against" this proposition.
Proposition 7: Allowing home-rule cities to decide how to fill vacant seats. Read the legislation here (HJR 87)
The proposal would allow home-rule cities (cities with a population of
more than 5,000 that have adopted a home-rule charter) to amend their
charter to allow filling vacancies on the governing body by appointment
rather than by election as is currently required. Cities argue that
filling vacancies by special election within 120 days after the start of
a vacancy, as is currently required, is costly. The proposal would,
however, likely provide incentive for early resignation so appointments
could be made thereby giving newly appointed members an advantage in any
subsequent election. The cost of a special election in the rare
occurrence of a vacancy is a small price to pay to ensure accountability
in city government. We Texans recommends voting "against" this
proposition.
Proposition 8: Repealing the provision authorizing a hospital district in Hidalgo County. Read the legislation here (HJR 147)
The proposal would correct a constitutional discrepancy that limits the
maximum tax rate in Hidalgo County hospital districts to 10 cents while
hospital districts in other counties are limited to maximum tax rates
of 75 cents. Hidalgo County residents would be allowed to create new
hospital districts under the conditions available to other counties. We
Texans recommends voting "for" this proposition.
Proposition 9: Expanding the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's sanctioning authority. Read the legislation here (SJR 42)
This provision would expand the current authority after a formal
hearing to allow the commission to issue a public admonition, warning or
reprimand or require a judge or justice to obtain training or
education. We Texans recommends voting "for" on this proposition.
The Constitution has been amended hundreds of times, and when voters
are asked to tack on yet another law, most of the time they say ‘Yes.”
This is a good year to say “No” to many of these proposals.
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We Texans continues to engage in policy work in areas dear to
freedom loving Texans: private property, gun ownership, state
sovereignty and tax and fiscal policy. You can be a part of the work
that we do by committing to regularly fund our efforts. If you have not
already done so, I hope you will consider becoming a member today.
Attention on political work seems to wane between legislative sessions
but as the Speaker of the House recently pointed out, the blue print
for the next legislative session is being crafted NOW. We can't afford
to slack off. We'll be in Austin often and we'll be working to help
draft legislation that addresses these key policy areas. Your donation of $50, $100 or $250 helps fund our work. If you are able, we would be very appreciative of your generous contribution.
And please, remember to vote and be sure to encourage your family and
friends to review the issues and then cast their vote. With your help,
we can defeat these ill-conceived proposals and slow the growth of
government in Texas.
http://wetexans.com/proposition-opposition/
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