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--></style><title>DVO Speaks Out: Constitutional
amendments</title></head><body>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>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.</div>
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<div><br></div>
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<blockquote type="cite" cite>Delivered-To: paa@crosierbiomed.com<br>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 06:46:43 -0500 (EST)<br>
From: David Van Os - Fight-Em On the Ice
<vanos@chezsnarko.com><br>
Reply-To: snarko4dvo@chezsnarko.com<br>
To: paa@crosierbiomed.com</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Subject: DVO Speaks Out: And still the
Constitutional Crisis escalates</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src=
"http://rs6.net/on.jsp?t=1101867153187.0.1101395845747.3702&ts=S0292&o=http://ui.constantcontact.com/images/p1x1.gif"alt=" "width="1"height="1"></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><a
href=
"http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbyAZg9YCqBpOlUMKwHIlaCI8--xUjUXqswwCHD5QTPe_J2cqsj6BTcJFzz-c1-S-BgMxqGAg-ayhImT6utqBv5ft416zD42SVLPZiiNucBSqw=="><br>
</a></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src="http://vanosfortexasag.com/gfx/hd_fight_david.jpg"
alt="vanosfortexasag.c/7372FD93.jpg" width="500"
height="117"></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="right">NOVEMBER 5, 2007 :: <a
href="">A word on the Constitutional Amendment process</a><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><a href="">A word on
letting the State borrow money through bond issues</a><a href=""><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>Recommendation for Proposed
Proposition 12</a><a href=""><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>Recommendations other
Proposed Propositions</a><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src="http://vanosfortexasag.com/gfx/banner_bar.gif" width="500"
height="11"></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center">Observations and
Recommendations on the Pending Proposed Texas Constitutional
Amendments<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>A word on the Constitutional Amendment
process<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab>...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.<b> 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.</b> Great
care should be taken in doing so.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.<b> Then the voters by statewide
popular vote decide whether or not to adopt the proposed
Amendment.</b> <a
href=
"http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbzYSA8qT6aeqSxzJ6i3BnyVfGuvP6ODZY0q-bFWuDCk-blihO7Kb2i_iVgPpPCi-CCJ1Wu_qvzKE_YccF5cDrbvHZDXM3U1jPv31tonOomy5TbRfBJwlt3L3Y7o8j0-Gggd8oEjkoloLXuv3AkfVdSbwGztct3nUYgY_drccmQItw=="><span
></span>READ MORE >></a><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>A word on letting the State borrow money
through bond issues<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.,<b> repayment of the loan, are made out of the general funds of
the State; in other words, out of tax dollars.</b><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.<b> It does not avoid spending tax money; it simply defers
expenditures to future State treasuries - with interest.</b> <a
href=
"http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxA_0U_YPpLFYB4Mu0ZkBqoanzVzcIvClz_KkxSTiJ4FA6GAvrZ13SxQX83TD94zaxuFvAdezKq3Ox6qdSf3Q4wls2SNprZAtyI8njbKXXDNnRrB47OmhetMd4XSHRWTPP3bsbfSxR-2AjI97urvCW99pEq3qXq_8TtdkYeqOwmjw=="><span
></span>READ MORE >></a></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Recommendation for Proposed Proposition
12<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b>Proposition 12</b> - I begin with
Proposition 12 because it is the worst of the worst.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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<b> 5 billion dollars worth of bonds.</b><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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.<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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).<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>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,<b> then
get off your duff and tell everyone you can think of to vote against
Proposition 12.</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Recommendation other Proposed
Propositions<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b>Proposition 1</b> -<x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Yes</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 2</b> -<x-tab> </x-tab><b>Yes</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 3</b> -<b> No</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 4</b> - <a
href=
"http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxA_0U_YPpLFYB4Mu0ZkBqoanzVzcIvClz_KkxSTiJ4FA6GAvrZ13SxQX83TD94zaxuFvAdezKq3Ox6qdSf3Q4wls2SNprZAtyI8njbKXXDNnRrB47OmhetMd4XSHRWTPP3bsbfSxR-2AjI97urvCW99pEq3qXq_8TtdkYeqOwmjw=="><span
></span>Everything I said here about passing the buck to future
taxpayers applies here.</a><b> NO.</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 5</b> -<b> NO</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 6</b> -<b> YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b>Proposition 7 - YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 8</b> -<b> NO</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 9</b> -<b> YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 10</b> -<b> YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 11</b> -<b> YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 12</b> -<b> NO, NO, a thousand times NO</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 13</b> -<b> NO</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 14</b> -<b> YES</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 15</b> -<b> NO</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab>
</x-tab><b>Proposition 16</b> -<b> YES.</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite><x-tab> </x-tab><a
href=
"http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001KAlIg6aXLbxtbwVM7UiDEc8IeeWQp4ri1nqYbL_HlWzlV7HC628EwNeob67DUgx5tH0M7_jFOIIwAsEFuGdYU8oEUz9bvLBa-5bbBPeP_PV_Q6awOuulK-D86HSXCzgck0vWBiUisae1wJHIU-_XBvgaDjhJVzwsYLzaH8jxQAIvE_RVEq9N0g=="><span
></span>READ MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSITIONS >></a><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src="http://vanosfortexasag.com/gfx/signature.gif" width="173"
height="37"></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>David Van Os<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src="http://vanosfortexasag.com/gfx/banner_bar.gif" width="500"
height="11"></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>For more information contact Rachel
Barrios-Van Os 210-332-7080 or visit http://vanosfortexasag.com.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center">If you have any problems
unsubscribing, please contact the list owner: vanos@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!<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><a
href=
"http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101395845747&ea=paa%40crosierbiomed.com&a=1101867153187"><b><span
></span>Forward email to friend >></b><br>
</a></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-2">David Van Os - Fight-Em
On The Ice | 355 East Terra Alta Drive | San Antonio | TX |
78209</font></blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div>Bill Crosier<br>
paa@crosierbiomed.com 713-641-4941</div>
<div>Progressive Action Alliance
http://progressiveactionalliance.org/<br>
Fear Ends, Hope Begins... http://kucinich.us/</div>
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