By Matt Long – President – Fredericksburg Tea Party
Proposition 1 –
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.”
IF you believe that purchasing a raffle ticket for a charitable organization is gambling THEN for you it is a NO vote.
Otherwise, it is a YES.
Proposition 2 –
“The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.”
NO – No political subdivision should be able to take personal property JUST because they think you are not using the property in a manner they wish.
Proposition 3 –
“The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.”
YES – I’m not sure why we are voting on this! Freedom of Religion is specifically addressed in The US Constitution and The Texas Constitution.
Proposition 4 –
“The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.”
NO – This will limit the number of candidates that are eligible and does not consider local preferences.
Proposition 5 –
“The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.”
Many conservative Senators and Representatives are in favor of this proposal. I will speak against it and recommend a NO vote. A sitting judge may be punished for the following reasons, per The Texas Constitution – “…may, …, be removed from office for willful or persistent violation of rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas, incompetence in performing the duties of the office, willful violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct, or willful or persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties or casts public discredit upon the judiciary or administration of justice.”
Candidates who have behaved in this manner should be exposed during a campaign. Put this into the hands of voters! This puts power to pick and choose candidates for a ballot into the hands of unelected officials. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, that makes these decisions, has 13 members, 7 of which are unelected.
Proposition 6 –
“The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.”
YES
Proposition 7 –
“The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.”
YES
Proposition 8 –
“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 member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.”
YES
SHORTHAND VERSION
NO to 2, 4 and 5 – YES to the rest.
History of each prop for your own homework.
Go to “capitol.texas.gov” and search for the following bills that created the propositions. Be sure to select the ‘Bill Number’ radio button and the appropriate session – These are from the 87th Regular (R) session.
Prop 1 – HJR 143
Prop 2 – HJR 99
Prop 3 – SJR 27
Prop 4 – HJR 147
Prop 5 – HJR 165
Prop 6 – SJR 19
Prop 7 – HJR 125
Prop 8 – SJR 35