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2013 CONSTITUTIONAL BALLOT GUIDE

Text TXBALLOT to 30644 to get this guide on your mobile phone, or print this out and take it with you to the polls.

Progress Texas recommends to vote YES on all Constitutional Amendments except Proposition 3.
Voting is our right, but its not one that Texans exercise nearly enough. In the last three constitutional amendment elections in Texas - 2007, 2009, and 2011 - only 5-8% of registered voters cast their ballots. Thats (sadly) about what youd expect from 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 tomorrow is 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.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 1
Homestead Exemption for Spouse of Veteran Killed in Action

CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 2
Eliminate the State Medical Education Board

CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 3
Exempt Aircraft Part Storage Facilities from Taxes

VOTE YES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 4
Homestead Exemption for Homes Donated to Disabled Veterans

VOTE YES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 5
Allow Reverse Mortgage Loans for Homestead Purchases

VOTE NO
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 6
Transfer $2 billion to State Water Fund from Rainy Day Fund

VOTE YES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 7
Cities Can Fill Govt Vacancies by Appointment Instead of Elections

VOTE YES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 8
Repeal Law so Hidalgo County Can Create a Hospital District

VOTE YES
CONSTITUTIONAL PROP 9
Increase Sanctions Against Judges Who Engage in Misconduct

VOTE YES

VOTE YES

VOTE YES

Voting is our right. Make sure you have what you need to vote. www.GotIDTexas.org
CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS ON ALL THE PROPOSITIONS
(Continued)

GOT ID TEXAS?

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DETAILED PROPOSITION INFORMATION

PROPOSITION 1
Official 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 its ongoing effectiveness and need.

The tax cut is specifically 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
Official Text: The constitutional amendment authorizing 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 2
Official Text: The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which 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 efficient. 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 Board is an obvious decision.

PROPOSITION 5
Official 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.

PROPOSITION 3
Official 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.

Be an informed voter! Text TRAVIS to 30644 to get this guide on your mobile phone, or print this out and take it with you to the polls. (Continued)

2013 BALLOT GUIDE (PAGE 3)

DETAILED PROPOSITION INFORMATION
Prop 5 would make it easier for seniors to finance new home purchases while enshrining protections for homebuyers: all reverse mortgages would be regulated and overseen by the federal government through HUD, financial counseling must be completed before the mortgage is closed, and a notification 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 fifth time should be for Prop 5, which creates a new, helpful option for seniors wanting to purchase a home. Prop 7 allows local voters to decide how a vacancy for a city council seat in their community should be filled 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 fill 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 filled 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 6
Official 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 financing 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 horrific 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 officials 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 come to the ballot, however, voters should pass Prop 6 and help alleviate drought conditions in the state.

PROPOSITION 8
Official 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 fixes 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 officials throughout Hidalgo County support Prop 8 because it allows them to ask for a slight increase in local taxes in order to support a muchneeded hospital district in their community.

PROPOSITION 9
Official 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.

PROPOSITION 7
Official Text: The constitutional amendment authorizing a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the procedure to fill a vacancy on its governing body for which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.

Be an informed voter! Text TRAVIS to 30644 to get this guide on your mobile phone, or print this out and take it with you to the polls.