Hey Texas, did you know that there is an election November 2011? Not just in College Station to fill the open seat in HD-14 that Fred Brown just vacated, a seat that, though Brown won it for 7 straight elections most recently without opposition, Democrats could pick up if Bob Yancy and Rebecca Boenigk split the Republican vote allowing Democrat Judy Webb LeUnes to sneak in, and hold the seat next year when redistricting consolidates the seat in Bryan and College Station without any ultra Republican rural areas.
After a legislative session in which the future of Texas was sold down the river to ensure that the richest of landowners could keep their tax cuts. A session in which crazy out-of-state legislation, written for us courtesy of ALEC, will make the DPS the collectors of a new poll tax. A session in which it seems every vote was bitterly split down party lines, it is surprising to see that 10 referendums on the ballot this fall to amend the Texas constitution are not about bringing the crazy or the extreme, and often received unanimous support.
The Texas Secretary of State has helpfully posted a guide to the questions on the ballot this coming November 8.
Prop 1: Disabled Veterans Widows Tax Cut
See Texas does have a heart, Prop 1 né SJR 14 would authorize the legislature to exempt widows of disable war veterans from real estate sales taxes. It was introduced in the Senate by Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston).
SJR 14 passed both the Senate and the House unanimously.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
You cannot oppose this bill without opposing widows of our disabled veterans.
Prop 2: Water Board Bond Limits
Texas is in the middle of an immense drought. Even Rick Perry's prayers haven't worked. Prop 2 né SJR 4 would amend the constitution to authorize the Texas Water Development Board bonds worth up to $6 billion to ensure adequate water supplies for people and industry.
Introduced by state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and state Rep. Allan Ritter (R-Nederland). It passed the Senate 30-1 and the House 141-1.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.
This is merely a bonding issue and appears to have broad support from the oil and gas industry to environmental groups, but the fact that every energy company in state seems to have signed on gives me pause.
Prop 3: Student Loan Bond Act
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would be authorized by Prop 3 né SJR 50 to finance student loans.
Introduced by state Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), SJR 50 passed the Senate 26-5 and the House 142-3.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.
I am not sure if this is providing access to higher education for low income Texans or just state financing of the next bubble.
Prop 4: Greyfield & Brownfield Development Bonds
Prop 4 né HJR 63 would authorize counties to sell bonds with a lien against future tax revenue in order to promote redevelopment of blighted or formerly industrial areas. Introduced by Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) this was a big agenda item for the Texas Association of Counties.
Introduced by state Rep. Joseph Pickett (D-El Paso), HJR 63 passed the Senate 28-3 and the House 133-11.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
This one I am strongly in favor of because I'd much rather see blighted areas redeveloped that new sprawl going into greenfields.
Prop 5: Streamline City-County Consolidation
Saving money by eliminating overlapping services is a major goal Prop 5 né SJR 26 which would allow cities and counties to enter into interlocal contracts without going through the current necessary bureaucratic nightmare. According to the Texas Association of Counties, Prop 5 will allow cities and counties to jointly operate services such as, "criminal justice buildings, animal shelters and equipment maintenance facilities."
Introduced by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) SJR 26 passed the Senate 30-1 and the House unanimously.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to allow cities or counties to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund.
Having been born and raised in Virginia with its unified county governments wholly independent of cities I see this as a great first step to reducing the incredibly wasteful overlapping layers of government in Texas. Layers that lead to wasteful duplicate spending, voter apathy, and unwillingness to take part in the process.
Prop 6: Access to Public Education Trust Fund
According to the Texas Tribune, this is the "magic" solution to Texas' current school funding crisis as HB 2646 and its enabling amendment Prop 6 né HJR 109 allow "the School Land Board to transfer at least half of the net revenue it collects from a land trust it oversees to the Available School Fund (ASF), an endowment that puts money directly into public schools in Texas. According to state Rep. Rob Orr (R-Burleson) that "pot of money has risen to more than $2.5 billion in market value and contains more than $1 billion in cash. If that trend continues, the fund could supply the state with an additional $500 million in the next biennium."
Given all the partisan acrimony surrounding the 2011-2 budget, it is incredible that HJR 109 passed both the Senate and the House unanimously.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.
Short of returning property taxes to 2006 levels, this probably the only reasonable option for funding primary education in Texas.
Prop 7: El Paso Parks
Sponsored by state Sen. Jose Rodriguez Prop 7 né SJR 28 will add El Paso to the list of counties allowed to raise taxes in order to fund parks and recreational facilities.
SJR 28 passed the Senate 30-1 and the House 126-13.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.
My only problem here is, why is there a "list"? Why not just pass an amendment that says counties with over 500,000 residents may have this authority?
Prop 8: Water Stewardship Exemption
Did I mention that Texas was having a drought? Prop 8 né SJR 16 would add water stewardship to the open space exemptions traditionally given to farmers, ranchers, and the timber industry.
Sponsored by state Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), SJR 16 passed the Senate 30-1 and the House unanimously.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of open-space land devoted to water-stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.
Hopefully the tax revenue lost by us all will be made up for by the water gained by us all.
Prop 9: Expansion of Gubernatorial Reprieves
State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) was awfully busy this year as Prop 9 né SJR 9 is his third amendment. Prop 9 would allow the Governor to grant a pardon, reprieve, or commutation of punishment to a person who successfully completes a term of community service meaning most people who commit minor offenses should have their records expunged with proper service and good behavior.
SJR 9 passed the Senate 30-1 and the House 135-7.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.
Any small thing that reduces the power of the prison-industrial complex is good in my book.
Prop 10: Lengthen Campaign Season
Unfortunately the Governor already appears to be exempt from this law.
The Federal MOVE Act requires that states make ballots available to overseas soldiers at least 45 days prior to an election. Due to Texas' ridiculous first week of March primary, the 45 day MOVE requirement is pushing the 2012 filing deadline up to December 2011. Current law require County officeholders seeking to move up to a higher office to resign their office one year after filing to run for the next office. Prop 10 né SJR 37 would change that resignation period to 13 months.
Introduced by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano) SJR 37 passed the Senate 29-1 and the House 142-3.
According to the Secretary of State this proposed amendment will appear on the ballot with the following words:
The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district officeholders if they become candidates for another office.
While I truly appreciate Sen. Van De Putte, I think she's wrong on this one. The better move for the people of Texas would have been to move the primary date back to the summer so that our current officeholders could spend more time doing the jobs we elected them to rather than extending the campaign season to the point that our officials spend more time campaigning than working. Dumb laws like this make me appreciate the British six week campaign that much more.
Trivia: On the 6 questions where there was just a single vote against an amendment in the Senate, it was always state Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) who cast the lone nay.