Have You Voted Yet? I Already Have

By State Sen. Dan Patrick Early voting for city mayors city council members ISD and community college trustees Municipal Utility District propositions an Emergency Service District creation and constitutional amendment elections are now underway and continue through November 4th. Click below to find the times and all the choices of locations where you may VOTE EARLY.     Click here to find the times and all the choices of locations in Harris County where you may VOTE EARLY. Should you choose to wait tovote on ELECTION DAY November 8th click here to find your actual ballot and your polling location in Harris County. Please consider my thoughts regarding the constitutional amendment propositions on the ballot. There are three amendments I would like for you to focus on. THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS On the November 8th ballot the people of Texas will have an opportunity to vote on ten amendments that if passed will be added to our state constitution. PROPOSITION 1 Click below to view the video discussing Proposition 1 and feel free to share it with friends.

Currently veterans who are 100 disabled are exempted from paying property taxes. This is a very small percentage of the nearly two million veterans in our state. Under present law when these veterans who have given so much for our country pass away their surviving spouse is not allowed to keep the exemption. In some cases the surviving spouse cannot afford to stay in their home because of the new taxes. I believe that these surviving spouses who have also given so much to our country as the caregiver to their spouse deserve to continue receiving the exemption. I passed Senate Bill 516 to transfer the exemption to the spouse until they remarry. Proposition 1 is the constitutional amendment that allows my legislation to take effect. Please help the spouses of our 100 disabled veterans to keep their homes when they lose their loved one. I teamed up with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) the G.I. Forum and the Coalition of Veterans Organizations to get the word out about this important measure.

VOTE YES on Proposition 1

PROPOSITION 4

I voted no on Proposition 4 in the Senate. I do not believe this amendment as structured is in the best interest of protecting property rights in Texas.

VOTE NO on Proposition 4

PROPOSITION 5

This amendment will allow cities and counties to work together on various contracts in hopes of ending duplication of services saving money for taxpayers.

VOTE YES on Proposition 5

I do not have a specific recommendation on the remaining seven amendments. Each have their pros and cons. I would suggest you read all 10 amendments including those that I have made recommendations on and cast your vote based on what you believe is in the best interests of Texas. Resources for further analyses on all of the constitutional amendments:

1. View the Texas House Research Organizations report showing the ballot language along with pros and cons for each of the constitutional amendments proposed on the ballot
2. View the very detailed analyses of the proposed constitutional amendments provided by the Texas Legislative Council.