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After the vote:  For some reason all the Propositions were passed.  Now we are in more debt.

Below are the Proposed Texas State Constitutional Amendments.  I have left out the Spanish translation since you have to be an American Citizen to vote.  According to the USCIS, to be an American Citizen, you have to be born here OR If you are an Naturalized Citizen (Immigrant = LEGAL ALIEN), then you had to have an ability to read, write, and speak English.  If you were born here, then you would have gone through our schools until you were the age to vote.  Otherwise, it would be illiteracy, right???

General Election on November 6, 2007

You can vote before the General Election on November 6, 2007 during the early voting period which is October 22, 2007 thru November 2, 2007.  If you live in Denton County, then see http://elections.dentoncounty.com for voting locations.

     Below are the ballot propositions.  I have looked over most things and think I have read them right but I do want your opinion if you think I am wrong.  Please let me know why I am wrong.  Your points may be something I did not think about.  Every vote counts!

Ballot Language For November 6, 2007 Constitutional Amendment

Proposition 1 - HJR 103

"The constitutional amendment providing for the continuation of the constitutional appropriation for facilities and other capital items at Angelo State University on a change in the governance of the university."

Pros:  Essentially, this amendment updates the constitution to reflect that Angelo State University, once a part of the Texas State University System, is now part of the Texas Tech University System.

Cons:  There seems to be no reason why this should not be passed.

Suggested:  Yes, it will be a way to consolidate resources and better management.

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students and authorizing bond enhancement agreements with respect to general obligation bonds issued for that purpose."

Pros: A program to offer more loans at a lower rate.

Cons: Though the loan program has not dipped into the general fund in the past, it may be something that the tax payers will be responsible for when these loans are not paid.  The government should stay out of the finance business.

Suggested:  Yes??, The loan program has been self supporting.  The lower interest rates can help those needing educational loans.

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide that the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation is limited to the lesser of the most recent market value of the residence homestead as determined by the appraisal entity or 110 percent, or a greater percentage, of the appraised value of the residence homestead for the preceding tax year."

Pros:  This amendment would insure that the appraised value of a residence homestead for property tax purposes won't increase by more than 10 percent in any year no matter how long it has been since the last appraisal. Homeowners who don't have annual appraisals avoid large, unexpected increases in appraisal values and taxes.

Cons:  Most appraisal districts already do annual appraisals making the amendment mostly unnecessary.  Typical property values aren't increasing rapidly enough for property owners to need the protection afforded by this amendment.

Suggested: Yes, nice to have a cap on anything that the greedy appraisal districts might want to do.

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for maintenance, improvement, repair, and construction projects and for the purchase of needed equipment."

Pros: Bonds sold to be used to pay for repair and maintenance on facilities and the creation of new buildings such as prisons.

Cons:  The money is lumped together and the plans for spending have not been viewed.

Suggested: NO, It may do more good than bad but who really knows.  The politicians are going to spend the money the way they see best.  Hopefully, they will make the right choices if it does pass.

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit the voters of a municipality having a population of less than 10,000 to authorize the governing body of the municipality to enter into an agreement with an owner of real property in or adjacent to an area in the municipality that has been approved for funding under certain programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under which the parties agree that all ad valorem taxes imposed on the owner's property may not be increased for the first five tax years after the tax year in which the agreement is entered into."

Pros: The amendment provides tax incentives for downtown revitalization efforts in smaller cities.

Cons:  To make up for the reduced taxes imposed on some property owners, other taxpayers could see an increase in taxes.

Suggested:  No, If they want to spend the money on old buildings then they should pay the taxes on the improvements.  They would have to do the same if they demolish and build new modern buildings.

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle owned by an individual and used in the course of the owner's occupation or profession and also for personal activities of the owner."

Pros: Small business owners who use their personal vehicles in the course of doing business would benefit.

Cons:  All other property used for profit is taxed.  Vehicle should be included.

Suggested: Yes, This tax break is only limited to one vehicle.

"The constitutional amendment to allow governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property."

Pros: Would encourage governmental entities to only exercise eminent domain when there is a specific and immediate plan for use of the property. It would help protect property owners from excessive use of eminent domain.

Cons: People who buy their property back would not pay for the actual value of the property.

Suggested:  Yes, If the State is going to take the property, then the owner should be able to buy it back even though the value may have increased.

"The constitutional amendment to clarify certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds."

Pros:  Current home equity lending practices need clarification in order to circumvent legal technicalities and mistakes that could invalidate a loan.

Cons:  The amendment doesn't go far enough in providing protection to borrowers and monitoring of lenders.

Suggested:  Yes??? - Not sure, clarification is always best.

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled."

Pros: With this amendment, a disabled veteran with a service-connected disability with a disability rating of 100 percent or totally disabled may be exempted from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of their residence homestead. It also adds some clarifications regarding exemptions for disabled veterans with less than 100 percent disability.

Cons: I do not see why not. 

Suggested: Yes, they were disabled on duty.

"The constitutional amendment to abolish the constitutional authority for the office of inspector of hides and animals."

Pros: No one holds this office.  The wording clears up the issue.

Cons: None

Suggested: Yes

"The constitutional amendment to require that a record vote be taken by a house of the legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills, of a resolution proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, or of any other nonceremonial resolution, and to provide for public access on the Internet to those record votes."

Pros: Except for certain votes as described in the ballot language, each house of the legislature must take a record vote on final passage of any bill and archive that record vote, making it available for viewing on the Internet for at least two years.

Cons: ?

Suggested: Yes, Public access is good

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Transportation Commission in an amount not to exceed $5 billion to provide funding for highway improvement projects."

Pros: Time to cash the bonds

Cons:  What's the purpose?  They are making more toll roads to pay for this.

Suggested: NO, maybe they will make less toll roads but I really doubt it.  I though that was what the tolls were for????

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case."

Pros:  Bad people in jail.

Cons: Opponents say Bail is a right if there is no chance of violence.

Suggested: Yes.

"The constitutional amendment permitting a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of the justice's or judge's current term."

Pros: If an elected state justice or judge reaches mandatory retirement age during the first four years of the 6 year term to which they were elected, the expiration of that term would be on December 31 of the fourth year of the term.

Cons: Mandatory retirement is a way to remove an aging justice.

Suggested: Yes

"The constitutional amendment requiring the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizing the issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for research in Texas to find the causes of and cures for cancer."

Pros: Cancer is very costly to Texas.  Finding a cure will save lives and Billions of Dollars annually.

Cons:  The State should not borrow the money.  This should be private industry

Suggested:  NO, Let private industry find a cure.  It is a disease that needs a cure but a government run facility will most likely be a bureaucratic waste of money.

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $250 million to provide assistance to economically distressed areas."

Pros:  Will help meet Water and Wastewater Infrastructure needs.

Cons: Continuing to extend water lines to unincorporated areas encourages people to move in areas that are costly to serve.

Suggested:  NO, I think developers should pay for these improvements.

The Issues