Archive for November 12th, 2008

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Encouraging Straight Ticket Voting Doesn’t Make a Savvy Voter…

November 12, 2008

State Rep. Joe Straus (R-Alamo Heights) has filed a measure that would ban straight ticket voting in the state of Texas.  In the status quo it’s common for voters to pay little to no attention to down ballot races like judges, county commissioners, city commissioners, mayoral races and even state representatives!

Voters should be encouraged to learn about CANDIDATES not to vote straight ticket.

From WOAI:

“It only takes about two minutes to go race by race, I timed it in the voting booth myself,” Straus said.”If we don’t have two minutes one day every two years, then we have some fundamental problems that need to be addressed.”

Straus’ measure comes as many local Republicans in down ballot races are complaining they lost their seats due to straight ticket votes cast by voters who had no knowledge of their qualifications or their accomplishments.

260,000 of the 530,000 votes cast in Bexar County in last week’s election were ’straight party.’

“Voting is not only a right, it is a responsibility,” Straus said.”Votes need to take the time to consider each race on the ballot individually.”

56% of the ’straight ticket’ votes cast in Bexar County were for the Democratic Party.

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Texas Americans for Prosperity Chapter Urges Spending Limits

November 12, 2008

To all you other states out there, note that the great state of Texas has NO STATE INCOME TAX, limited regulation on the free market, is ranked as the 2nd largest gross state product in the nation, is the largest exporter of goods ANNND raked in a budget surplus.

What does that mean?  Let’s keep our surplus and keep Texas prospering in these tough economic times.  Americans for Prosperity said in a prepared statement:

AFP proposes a spending limit which does several things:

  • Allows government to grow proportionate to the increase in population and inflation
  • Any growth beyond that would  require voter approval
  • Surplus revenue should go to the budget stabilization fund (to be funded up to 15% of the state budget), and to a true emergency reserve cash fund (3% of the budget)
  • Once those funds meet their target, additional surplus should be given in property tax relief.
  • Local spending limits must be in place.
  • Mandates cannot be passed from state to local government without subsequent funding, or the spending limit is adjusted proportionate to the unfunded mandate cost.

“We have good news in Texas, thanks to legislators’ hard work. We have a budget surplus and have enjoyed several years of a good economy. Should taxpayers bemoan a good economy? Certainly not,” Peggy Venable said. “Nor should taxpayers fuel government growth during good economic times, only to be faced with tax increases or threatened with cuts in services during economic downturns.”

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