Please read a lot, think, and form your own opinions. Do NOT simply
vote YES; statistics show that mostly that happens. It seems that most
constituents assume from the wording of the propositions that their
elected representatives have every person's best interests in mind.
So why did they schedule this vote a month ahead of the general election?
That's rather unusual. Read your Texas history.
| Number
and Issue |
Thoughts |
| 1.
The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans' Land Board
to use assets in certain veterans' land and veterans' housing assistance
funds to provide veterans homes for the aged or infirm and to make
principal, interest, and bond enhancement payments on revenue bonds. |
Wording
sounds like it should help veterans; looking at it another way,
one wonders if this might put individual rights ahead of community
needs. No Position. |
| 2.
The constitutional amendment to establish a two-year period for
the redemption of a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad valorem
taxes at a tax sale. |
Are
individual mineral rights more important than letting somebody start
extracting resources? Or is this really all about making sure that
you don't get screwed by some corporation? Or is it a tax dodge?
Who really owns subsurface resources, anyway? Your call. |
| 3.
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt
from ad valorem taxation property owned by a religious organization
that is leased for use as a school or that is owned with the intent
of expanding or constructing a religious facility. |
Should
we let religious organizations delay paying taxes on property they
own while they decide how to use it? Hey, why don't I just buy some
land and say I'm going to use it to meditate? Tax free, baby. Come
on down, we can do it together. [sarcasm] |
| 4.
The constitutional amendment relating to the provision of parks
and recreational facilities by certain conservation and reclamation
districts. |
This
smacks of a Harris County Republican deal. Check it out. It sounds
really Green: Make parks. Green Belts, Grass Roots. Maybe so. Let's
vote YES then BE the local government! okay? parks, good. |
| 5.
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt
from ad valorem taxation travel trailers not held or used for the
production of income. |
Property
Tax Exemption for Travel Trailers. Snow birds. Whatever. Go figure.
You make your own call... This has not been thought out as well
as it could be. (Greens NO, Chron OK) |
| 6.
The constitutional amendment permitting refinancing of a home equity
loan with a reverse mortgage. |
Reverse
mortgage? Seems like a good deal for folks who understand such things.
Others might get scammed... Individual rights, or protect people
from themselves? (Your call.) |
| 7.
The constitutional amendment to permit a six-person jury in a district
court misdemeanor trial. |
Hmm...
6 down from 12? Better than no jury at all. Designed to take the
strain off the court system. If everyone would do their duty, would
there be a problem? |
| 8.
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit
a person to take office without an election if the person is the
only candidate to qualify in an election for that office. |
Deprive
voters of their right to vote for candidates of their choice? Say
WHAT??? |
| 9.
The constitutional amendment relating to the use of income and appreciation
of the permanent school fund. |
How
long will that principal last if we start drawing on it? All together
now, NO. |
| 10.
The constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities to donate
surplus fire-fighting equipment or supplies for the benefit of rural
volunteer fire departments. |
Donating
used fire fighting equipment sounds pretty good. The only catch
must be the deduction? |
| 11.
A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to enact laws
authorizing and governing the operation of wineries in this state. |
Did
prohibition work? A grassroots objection might resound around local
option and community standards. But we must ask, how far can we
go with the majority oppressing minority freedom? (Tennessee moonshiner
speaking!) |
| 12.
The constitutional amendment concerning civil lawsuits against doctors
and health care providers, and other actions, authorizing
the legislature to determine limitations on non-economic damages. |
No.
Ask your personal physician. (Or does she work for an HMO?) And
think about giving up your right to a jury trial. AND notice those
words in bold! |
| 13.
The constitutional amendment to permit counties, cities and towns,
and junior college districts to establish an ad valorem tax freeze
on residence homesteads of the disabled and of the elderly and their
spouses. |
Tax
freezes? Wouldn't it be better to correct the problem of frozen
incomes? |
14.
The constitutional amendment providing for authorization of the
issuing of notes or the borrowing of money on a short-term basis
by a state transportation agency for transportation-related projects,
and the issuance of bonds and other public securities secured by
the state highway fund.
|
Build
more highways!!! Right, when you're in a hole, keep digging. |
15.
The constitutional amendment providing that certain benefits under
certain local public retirement systems may not be reduced or impaired.
|
Guaranteeing
municipal benefits; hmm. Chronicle says it's fiscally unwise, but
isn't a promise a promise? |
| 16.
The constitutional amendment authorizing a home equity line of credit,
providing for administrative interpretation of home equity lending
law, and otherwise relating to the making, refinancing, repayment,
and enforcement of home equity loans. |
See
Proposition 6. |
| 17.
The constitutional amendment to prohibit an increase in the total
amount of school district ad valorem taxes that may be imposed on
the residence homestead of a disabled person. |
See
Proposition 13. Wouldn't means-testing be better than an across-the-board
freeze? |
| 18.
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit
a person to assume an office of a political subdivision without
an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an
election for that office. |
No;
elections should not be cancelled just because there's no opponent.
(We should be looking to get None Of The Above on ballots!) |
| 19.
The constitutional amendment to repeal the authority of the legislature
to provide for the creation of rural fire prevention districts. |
This
is a very convoluted piece of writing when you look into the details
for yourself at the Secretary of State website, but it seems like
it would increase local control over how tax dollars get levied
and spent. |
| 20.
The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of general
obligation bonds or notes not to exceed $250 million payable from
the general revenues of the state to provide loans to defense-related
communities, that will be repaid by the defense-related community,
for economic development projects, including projects that enhance
the military value of military installations. |
NO!
Go against the majority here. It's all about the economy... Golly.
If you want more business in Texas at any cost, keep those military
bases going and vote YAY. If you'd rather turn around and get
our economy going based on LIFE affirming industry, start weaning
ourselves off the Military-Industrial Complex and vote NO. (Green
consensus AGAINST, Chron for; say no more, turn this ship around!)
|
21.
The constitutional amendment to permit a current or retired faculty
member of a public college or university to receive compensation
for service on the governing body of a water district.
|
This
would allow college professors to get paid for public service, same
as other teachers. Seems like a good idea, on the face of it. Do
you consider them to be public servants? Would paying them to serve
on water boards make them take away time from their students? Why
single out faculty? What about other state employees? (You decide) |
| 22.
The constitutional amendment authorizing the appointment of a temporary
replacement officer to fill a vacancy created when a public officer
enters active duty in the United States armed forces. |
Does
active military service by an officeholder constitute a formal vacancy
in office? Voting YES here would say NO, let the person retain their
office, even when they are in say Iraq or Afghanistan, or taking
orders from a Lieutenant in Colombia or the Philippines or wherever.
And there's no limit on how long it could go on... No. |
N.B.: These comments have not gone through any sort of process to
learn consensus opinions of Harris County Green Party members. They
are simply thoughts that one of the web maintainers has, wearing his
green thinking cap, trying to consider the Ten Key Values. And I have
checked out thoughts of one member of the State Executive Committee
(SA), and the Travis County Green Party opinions (Link).
Sincerely yours, Art B.
