2013 ballot

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2013 CONSTITUIONAL

BALLOT GUIDE

Text TXBALLOT to 30644 to get this guide oyour mobile phone, or print this out and take iwith you to the polls.

Remember to vote all the way down the ba

CONSTITUTIONAL PROP. 1

VOTE YES

Homestead Exemption for Spouseof Veteran Killed in Action


VOTE YES

Eliminate the State MedicalEducation Board


VOTE NO

Exempt Aircraft Part StorageFacilities from Taxes


VOTE YES

Homestead Exemption for HomesDonated to Disabled Veterans


Allow Reverse Mortgage Loans forHomestead Purchases

VOTE YES


Transfer $2 billion to State WaterFund from Rainy Day Fund

VOTE YES


VOTE YES

Cities Can to Fill Govt Vacancies byAppointment Instead of Elections


Repeal Law so Hidalgo County CanCreate a Hospital District

VOTE YES


Increase Sanctions Against JudgeWho Engage in Misconduct

VOTE YES

CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS ON ALL THE PROPOSITIONS

Voting is our right, but its not one that Texans exercise nearly enough. In the last three constitutional amendment electionsin Texas -- 2007, 2009, and 2011 -- only 5-8% of registered voters cast their ballots. Thats (sadly) about what youd expectfrom a state that ranks last in the nation in voter turnout, and thats even before our states new voter ID law went into effect.

Fortunately, we can change all of that this election season. As LBJ would say, Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrowis ours to win or lose. Go win the future - take this voter guide to the polls and show off that I Voted sticker to your friends,family and co-workers this week. Remember to visit www.GotIDTexas.org to make sure you have the ID you need to vote.

Progress Texas recommends to vote YES on all Constitutional

Amendments except Proposition 3.

GOT ID TEXAS?Voting is our right. Make sure you have what you need to vote.

www.GotIDTexas.org

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2013 BALLOT GUIDE (PAGE 2)DETAILED PROPOSITION INFORMATION

(Continued)

PROPOSITION 1

Ofcial Text: 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 in action.

In 2007, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment

granting homestead exemptions to disabled veterans. In

2011, that was extended to the surviving spouses of disabled

veterans. Prop 1 continues Texas commitment to veterans

and their families by extending the exemption to surviving

spouses of those who are killed in action. The exemption

exists in perpetuity until the spouse is remarried; should the

spouse move and not remarry, the original amount of the

homestead exemption is applied to the new homestead.

Estimates are the exemption would only cost the state of

Texas approximately $49,000 a year. While we generally do

not support open-ended tax exemptions, this low-cost and

compassionate proposal can make a real difference in a

familys life. Still, the Legislature should plan on reviewing the

cost of this tax exemption in coming sessions to measure itsongoing effectiveness and need.

PROPOSITION 2

Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment eliminating

an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education

Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither ofwhich is operational.

The State Medical Education Board and State Medical

Education Fund have been defunct for over 20 years.

Originally, their intent was to help recruit and pay loans for

doctors willing to practice in rural Texas. Other student

loan programs now exist that are more efcient. In 2011,

Democrat State Representative Garnet Coleman passed

a law that allowed rural hospitals to directly hire doctors,

helping alleviate staff shortages. With no staff, funding, or

purpose, formally abolishing the State Medical Education

Boards an obvious decision.

PROPOSITION 3

Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment to authorize

a political subdivision of this state to extend the number

of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad

valorem taxation due to their location in this state for

a temporary period may be located in this state for

purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption.

The tax cut is specically designed for an aircraft parts

company, Aviall, which is a company within Boeing

headquartered in the Dallas area. Aviall is a billion-dollar

corporation that currently employs over 800 workers, and is

threatening to move unless they get the tax cut they want.

Texas is one of 11 states to tax certain inventory; in Texas,

inventory becomes taxed once it has been warehoused over

175 days.

Local districts that approve the tax break will redirect money

for schools to aircraft parts companies. Local taxes will likely

have to increase to make up the difference. Aviall shouldnt

threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working Texans

just so they can get a tax break theyve never needed before

Voters should reject Prop 3.

PROPOSITION 4


the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad

valorem taxation of part of the market value of the

residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or

the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if

the residence homestead was donated to the disabled

veteran by a charitable organization.

Occasionally, a charity will donate a home to a disabled

veteran that could not afford a place to live. Prop 4 will grant

a partial exemption of the taxes that would need to be paid

by the disabled veteran receiving the gift.

We generally do not support open-ended tax exemptions,

though we will make an exception as we did for Prop 1

for this compassionate and low-cost proposal. However, tax

exemptions should have a sunset provision to review their

effectiveness and cost to the state. The Legislature should

plan on reviewing the cost of this tax exemption in coming

sessions to measure its ongoing effectiveness and need.

PROPOSITION 5

Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment to authorize

the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase

of homestead property and to amend lender disclosures

and other requirements in connection with a reverse

mortgage loan.

Prop 5 gives Texans over the age of 62 the option of using

a reverse mortgage loan to buy a new home. Currently, if a

senior wants to move to a smaller home, to be closer to the

kids, or to a community closer to medical care he or she

must go through the full process of selling their old home and

buying a new one, including all the closing costs associated.

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Prop 5 would make it easier for seniors to nance new home

purchases while enshrining protections for homebuyers:

all reverse mortgages would be regulated and overseen by

the federal government through HUD, nancial counseling

must be completed before the mortgage is closed, and a

notication of all the terms of the mortgage must be given to

the borrower 12 days prior to the start of the loan.

In the last sixteen years, Texans have amended this particular

section of the state constitution four times. The fth time

should be for Prop 5, which creates a new, helpful option for

seniors wanting to purchase a home.

PROPOSITION 6

Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment providing

for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund

for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue

Fund for Texas to assist in the nancing of priority

projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability

of adequate water resources.

The most important thing Texans can do to help alleviate the

horric drought conditions in our state is to conserve more

water. Reducing water use for lawns, showers, dishwashing,

and laundry are individual challenges we should accept.

Developing and investing in energy resources that use less

water like wind and solar are statewide challenges we

should push elected ofcials to embrace. Conservation is the

best way to reduce the harmful impacts of the Texas drought.

On Election Day, there is a little more voters can do: support

Prop 6 because it is an essential investment in the future of

Texas. Prop 6 creates two investment funds for the states

water plan, allowing a one-time state investment in state

dollars to go towards a revolving loan program for local

governments. Prop 6 will draw down $2 billion from the

states Rainy Day Fund for the investment.

Conservatives in charge of the Texas Legislature should be

making equal if not greater investments in education, health

care, and transportation. As we wait for those issues to cometo the ballot, however, voters should pass Prop 6 and help

alleviate drought conditions in the state.

PROPOSITION 7


a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the

procedure to ll a vacancy on its governing body for

which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.

Prop 7 allows local voters to decide how a vacancy for a

city council seat in their community should be lled either

by a special election or by an appointment. Most local

communities host an election; however, there are concerns

about the cost of an election that would only ll a seat for 12

months or less. Another option, which Prop 7 proposes and

would have to be approved by local voters, would be for the

seat to be lled by an appointment.

While we do not believe appointments should replace

elections, the issue is ultimately a local one and individuals in

the community should be able to make the decision for what

works best for their area.

PROPOSITION 8

Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment repealing

Section 7, Article IX, Texas Constitution, which relates to

the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.

Prop 8 xes an outdated section of the Texas Constitution so

that Hidalgo County, in the Rio Grande Valley, can affordably

create a hospital district. Currently, most counties in Texas

can tax up to $0.75 per $100 of taxable property in order to

collect money for a hospital district. Hidalgo County is maxed

out at $0.10 per $100. Local ofcials throughout Hidalgo

County support Prop 8 because it allows them to ask for

a slight increase in local taxes in order to support a much-

needed hospital district in their community.

PROPOSITION 9Ofcial Text: The constitutional amendment relating to

expanding the types of sanctions that may be assessed

against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding

instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Judges should be held accountable for their misconduct.

Once a formal hearing of judicial misconduct begins, a judge

can only get a private slap on the wrist. Prop 9 expands the

consequences to sanction the judge with public admonition,

warning, reprimand, and/or require the judge or justice to

obtain training or education.

2013 BALLOT GUIDE (PAGE 3)DETAILED PROPOSITION INFORMATION

2013 ballot

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