UPDATE II — Sigh. All 16 constitutional amendments on the state-wide ballot passed.

Considering that I opposed 9 of the 16 amendments (all of the new taxes), I’m not happy.

Statewide, with 90 percent of precincts reporting, about 7.54 percent of voters had showed up at the polls, said Texas secretary of state spokesman Scott Haywood. Which sucks. Seems like the only people who showed up were those who wanted something…not those who were opposed to more government, more taxes, and more spending.

UPDATE — Senior Executive Editor Paul Burka at Texas Monthly has posted his voting recommendations. Surprisingly, we agree on 12 of the 16 amendments. Including the biggie (Prop 15), which we are both against.

I like what he wrote in favor of Prop 9: “If you think I’m going to come out against this, you’re nuts. FOR.”

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Today’s election day here in Texas — where we’re voting on 16 proposals for new taxes or changes to our State Constitution.

Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson is predicting an election turnout of fewer than 10 percent of registered voters. I think he’s being optimistic.

Here’s a run down of what’s on the ballot today, as well as how I plan on voting on each issue (the Austin American-Statesman is recommending that everyone simply votes Yes on all proposals. Which is the equivalent of voting a straight Democratic party ticket):

Proposition 1 — Angelo State: Clarifies that Angelo State has been moved from the Texas State University System to the Texas Tech University System.

YES — if it’s already been moved, then let’s make it official.

Proposition 2 — Student loan bonds: Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue $500 million in bonds to finance low-interest loans to college students.

YES — this long-standing program doesn’t cost taxpayers anything because the students’ loan payments are used to pay back bond debt and cover administrative expenses. I don’t really care that it puts private lenders at a disadvantage to government agencies if it makes it easier for kids to get a loan for school.

Proposition 3 — Appraisal caps: Caps the increase in the taxable value of a homestead at 10 percent above the last appraisal, instead of 10 percent per year.

Yes — Most districts already appraise once a year, and thus this new law wouldn’t change anything in those districts.

Proposition 4 — Bonds for facilities construction, maintenance: Allows the state to sell up to $1 billion in general-obligation bonds for state agency construction and repair projects, including three prisons, repairs at state parks and county courthouses, upgrades at state schools for Texans with mental retardation and improvements at Youth Commission facilities.

No — the state is already supposed to be paying for these items out of general revenue. I don’t trust the state to spend this money any more wisely, and I don’t feel like paying for another new tax.

Proposition 5 — Limited tax freeze: Allows small cities to put a temporary tax freeze on properties that receive state redevelopment funding.

No — Make them pay their taxes, too. Just like their neighbors.

Proposition 6 — Tax exemption: Would exempt from business property taxes a personal vehicle that is also used for some business purposes. The exemption would be limited to one vehicle per person.

Yes — Reduces tax for some. Doesn’t increase tax. I’m almost always for that.

Proposition 7 — Eminent domain: Allows Texas governments to re-sell to the original owner land taken through eminent domain — assuming the government no longer needs the land — for the price paid during condemnation, rather than current market value.

Yes — Owners who had their land forcibly taken and lost the use of it for years should be able to pay the same price the government paid, allowing them, not the government, to capture the value of property appreciation.

Proposition 8 — Home equity loans: Allows homeowners in an area declared a state of emergency to take out more than one home-equity loan in a year.

No — This is a law intended to let the government protect people from themselves. If somebody wants to take out second equity loan and risk losing their house when they can’ t pay it back, it’s not the government’s responsibility to save them from their own financial irresponsibility.

Proposition 9 — Disabled veterans homestead tax exemption: Would allow veterans considered totally disabled to have some or all of their homestead exempted from property taxes.

Yes — If you don’t for this one, you really do hate America, and I do question your patriotism. Totally disabled veterans deserve more breaks. Not fewer. Plus, again, as a general principle, more tax breaks for people who deserve them is almost always something I’m in favor of.

Proposition 10 — Abolish hides and animal inspector’s office: Remove the office of inspector of hides and animals from the Constitution.

No — This is just an old, antiquated law still on the books. Removing it doesn’t really “do” anything. It’s a quirky Texas thing. Leave it alone.

Proposition 11 — Record votes: Require members of the House and Senate to cast record votes after the final reading of all substantive bills and resolutions and make those votes available to the public on the Internet.

Yes – more transparency in voting is a good thing. And quicker and easier access to those voting results is an even better thing.

Proposition 12 — Transportation bonds: Allows the Texas Transportation Commission to issue up to $5 billion in general obligation bonds, debt that would be paid back from general state revenue rather than gas taxes or transportation-related fees.

No — Red my lips: No new taxes. We need less government and much less government spending. Not more.

Proposition 13 – Denying bail in domestic violence cases: Authorizes judges to deny bail to a person who has violated a protective order or has violated conditions of pretrial release in family violence cases.

No — sounds good on the surface, and I think protecting victims of violence is important…but…bail is a constitutional right for the accused. Judges in these cases should just set bail at a rate that would make it prohibitive from the defendant actually being able to afford it.

Proposition 14 — Retirement of judges: Allows judges to finish serving out their terms if they turn 75 while in office. Currently, the constitution requires judges to retire at age 75.

No — I’m kind of indifferent to this amendment. If the old codger can still do his job, then let him finish. If the voters don’t want old codgers on the bench, don’t vote them in in the first place.

Proposition 15 — Cancer research bonds: Establishes the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizes up to $3 billion in taxpayer-backed general obligation bonds to research all forms of human cancer.

Hell No — The proposal is too much of a burden on taxpayers; interest payments for $3 billion in bonds could be as high as $1.6 billion. There are other diseases that deserve research money, and, aside from medical research, there are other urgent needs in the state. But I know that this one will pass big, and I’m in a small minority of voters against it here in Austin.

Proposition 16 — Colonia bonds: Allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue $250 million in taxpayer-supported bonds to pay for water and wastewater services in economically distressed areas, particularly in counties along the Texas-Mexico border, where substandard subdivisions known as colonias have proliferated.

No — Grants and tax credits, as well as development controls, are a better solution than bond debt. Again — no more new taxes.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 | Trackback |