[PAA-Discuss] DVO Speaks Out: Constitutional amendments

Mon Nov 5 13:54:15 EST 2007

See below for David Van Os' picks on the Texas Constitutional 
amendments that will be on the ballot across the state tomorrow.  I 
think he makes a lot of sense.  I had already decided to vote pretty 
much as he recommends and now I think I'll vote exactly as he 
suggests.

Another source for info on the constitutional amenedments (and for 
limited but impartial info on candidates) is the League of Women 
Voters' Voters Guide.  You can download the LWV guide from 
http://www.lwvhouston.com or (if there are any left) pick one up at 
your nearest library.

>Delivered-To: paa at crosierbiomed.com
>Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 06:46:43 -0500 (EST)
>From: David Van Os - Fight-Em On the Ice <vanos at chezsnarko.com>
>Reply-To: snarko4dvo at chezsnarko.com
>To: paa at crosierbiomed.com
>Subject: DVO Speaks Out: And still the Constitutional Crisis escalates
>
>
><http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbyAZg9YCqBpOlUMKwHIlaCI8--xUjUXqswwCHD5QTPe_J2cqsj6BTcJFzz-c1-S-BgMxqGAg-ayhImT6utqBv5ft416zD42SVLPZiiNucBSqw==>
>
>NOVEMBER 5, 2007 :: <>A word on the Constitutional Amendment process
>	<>A word on letting the State borrow money through bond issues<>
>	Recommendation for Proposed Proposition 12<>
>	Recommendations other Proposed Propositions
>
>
>Observations and Recommendations on the Pending Proposed Texas 
>Constitutional Amendments
>
>A word on the Constitutional Amendment process
>
>	...Constitutionalism is deeply rooted in the Texas soul. When 
>the Republic of Texas entered the community of nations as a 
>sovereign republic in 1836, it became only the second nation in 
>modern world history, after the United States of America, to 
>establish self-government through a written constitution. When the 
>people of Texas go to the polls in general elections to approve or 
>disapprove amendments to their Constitution, they are writing the 
>compact among themselves as to how they shall govern themselves as 
>Texans. Great care should be taken in doing so.
>
>	A Texas Constitutional Amendment begins as a proposed Joint 
>Resolution in either the Texas House of Representatives or Texas 
>Senate. The House or Senate Joint Resolution must pass both chambers 
>of the Texas Legislature with 2/3 majorities before it can be 
>proposed to the people in the general election. Then the voters by 
>statewide popular vote decide whether or not to adopt the proposed 
>Amendment. 
><http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbzYSA8qT6aeqSxzJ6i3BnyVfGuvP6ODZY0q-bFWuDCk-blihO7Kb2i_iVgPpPCi-CCJ1Wu_qvzKE_YccF5cDrbvHZDXM3U1jPv31tonOomy5TbRfBJwlt3L3Y7o8j0-Gggd8oEjkoloLXuv3AkfVdSbwGztct3nUYgY_drccmQItw==>READ 
>MORE >>
>
>A word on letting the State borrow money through bond issues
>
>Several of the Constitutional Amendments on the November 6 general 
>election ballot propose to authorize the State to raise money for 
>various projects by issuing and selling bonds. Why do these require 
>Constitutional Amendments? Because Article III of the Texas 
>Constitution prohibits the State of Texas from going into debt.
>
>	A "bond" sold by the State is a document reflecting a loan of 
>money to the State. When a bond is purchased from the State, the 
>purchase money is a loan to the State and the purchaser is the 
>loaner. The bond evidences the loan. The State repays the loan with 
>interest. The payments of interest and repayment of principal to the 
>bondholder, i.e., repayment of the loan, are made out of the general 
>funds of the State; in other words, out of tax dollars.
>
>	Thus, the sale of bonds by the State creates debts of the 
>State. This is why it requires amending Article III, Section 49 of 
>the State Constitution, which prohibits state debt, in order to 
>permit the State to issue bonds.
>
>	I respectfully submit to you, my friends, that we the people 
>have already had way too much of the Bushite borrow-and-spend 
>philosophy. Raising State funds by selling bonds is nothing more 
>than a way for legislators to avoid responsibility. It passes the 
>buck to future generations. It does not avoid spending tax money; it 
>simply defers expenditures to future State treasuries - with 
>interest. 
><http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxA_0U_YPpLFYB4Mu0ZkBqoanzVzcIvClz_KkxSTiJ4FA6GAvrZ13SxQX83TD94zaxuFvAdezKq3Ox6qdSf3Q4wls2SNprZAtyI8njbKXXDNnRrB47OmhetMd4XSHRWTPP3bsbfSxR-2AjI97urvCW99pEq3qXq_8TtdkYeqOwmjw==>READ 
>MORE >>
>
>Recommendation for Proposed Proposition 12
>
>Proposition 12 - I begin with Proposition 12 because it is the worst 
>of the worst.
>
>	In this proposition, we are being asked to amend Article III, 
>Section 49 of the Constitution in order to permit the Texas 
>Department of Transportation to sell 5 billion dollars worth of 
>bonds.
>
>	This is the same agency that today, this very day, is 
>cynically and arrogantly using your and my tax dollars in a 
>high-pressure marketing campaign, designed by a political consulting 
>firm, to convince us that we want toll roads; in complete disregard 
>of the fact that government is supposed to follow the will of the 
>people, not the other way around.
>
>	This is the same agency that intends to tear up our beautiful 
>Texas with the most gigantic land grab in history, the Trans-Texas 
>Corridor, so that Texas will turn from a state into a highway and 
>the people and farms of Texas will turn into the highway's butlers.
>
>	This is the same agency that Slick Rick Perry uses as his 
>personal toy for the pleasure of the special interests, both 
>domestic and international, whose moneys are expected to continue 
>funding the political ambitions of Slick Rick and his new patron, 
>Rudy Guliani (and it is such a coincidence that the international 
>corporate law firm of Bracewell Guliani is legal counsel to CINTRA).
>
>	Let's put it this way - if you trust TXDOT and Rick Perry, 
>then by all means do cast your vote to amend the Texas Constitution 
>to allow TXDOT to indebt your children to paying off 5 billion 
>dollars more money for TXDOT to build toll roads and the Trans-Texas 
>Corridor with. But if you don't think TXDOT and Rick Perry have 
>earned your trust, then get off your duff and tell everyone you can 
>think of to vote against Proposition 12.
>
>Recommendation other Proposed Propositions
>
>Proposition 1 -	Yes
>
>		Proposition 2 -	Yes
>
>	Proposition 3 - No
>
>	Proposition 4 - 
><http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxA_0U_YPpLFYB4Mu0ZkBqoanzVzcIvClz_KkxSTiJ4FA6GAvrZ13SxQX83TD94zaxuFvAdezKq3Ox6qdSf3Q4wls2SNprZAtyI8njbKXXDNnRrB47OmhetMd4XSHRWTPP3bsbfSxR-2AjI97urvCW99pEq3qXq_8TtdkYeqOwmjw==>Everything 
>I said here about passing the buck to future taxpayers applies here. 
>NO.
>
>	Proposition 5 - NO
>
>	Proposition 6 - YES
>
>Proposition 7 - YES
>
>	Proposition 8 - NO
>
>	Proposition 9 - YES
>
>	Proposition 10 - YES
>
>	Proposition 11 - YES
>
>	Proposition 12 - NO, NO, a thousand times NO
>
>	Proposition 13 - NO
>
>	Proposition 14 - YES
>
>	Proposition 15 - NO
>
>	Proposition 16 - YES.
>
> 
>	<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxtbwVM7UiDEc8IeeWQp4ri1nqYbL_HlWzlV7HC628EwNeob67DUgx5tH0M7_jFOIIwAsEFuGdYU8oEUz9bvLBa-5bbBPeP_PV_Q6awOuulK-D86HSXCzgck0vWBiUisae1wJHIU-_XBvgaDjhJVzwsYLzaH8jxQAIvE_RVEq9N0g==>READ 
>MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSITIONS >>
>
>
>David Van Os
>
>
>Through 31 years of law practice, David Van Os has concentrated his 
>priorities in the defense of Constitutional rights and liberties 
>through the courts, the protection of working people through labor 
>law and union contracts, and the promotion of human rights.
>
>He has been listed in the prestigious reference book Best Lawyers in 
>America by peer review for over 20 consecutive years. In 2005 the 
>Backbone Campaign honored David with its Spine Award.
>
>David is considered a co-founder in 2002 of the Texas Democratic 
>Progressive Populist Caucus, and continues as an ex officio member 
>of the steering committee. In 2007 he was named chairman of the 
>board of the Inter-American Education Consortium and its hallmark 
>project, the Liberty and Democracy Alliance.
>
>For more information contact Rachel Barrios-Van Os 210-332-7080 or 
>visit http://vanosfortexasag.com.
>
>If you have any problems unsubscribing, please contact the list 
>owner: vanos at chezsnarko.com. (PROBLEMS ONLY: You'll get off the list 
>FASTER if you can DIY using Constant Contact.) That's me, snarko. 
>I'll take care of it!
>
>
><http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101395845747&ea=paa%40crosierbiomed.com&a=1101867153187>Forward 
>email to friend >>
>
>David Van Os - Fight-Em On The Ice | 355 East Terra Alta Drive | San 
>Antonio | TX | 78209

-- 
Bill Crosier
paa at crosierbiomed.com     713-641-4941
Progressive Action Alliance   http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
Fear Ends, Hope Begins...   http://kucinich.us/
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