Related reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa111300b.htm
http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2010/08/threealarm-fire-destroys-nearly-all-of-harris-countys/1282942989.column
http://rangevoting.org/VotSystMap.html

           The battle between Democratic and Republican Party operatives over the Green Party’s ballot access petition drive, now headed for the Texas Supreme Court, has the potential for consequences not yet brought to light.  The ban on corporate contributions in Texas campaigns could be ruled unconstitutional by the Republican aligned Texas Supreme Court in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court Citizen’s United ruling, which makes it easier for corporations and labor unions to fund federal campaigns.  The Texas corporate (and union) ban, established in 1905 during the heyday of the populist movement, is one of the few campaign finance laws in Texas.  It is widely supported by voters of all political hues including independent-minded (read:  independent of Rick Perry) tea partiers.

            Attorney David Rogers is an independent Republican who has worked with former Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith.  Rogers currently represents the Green Party in its appeal to the Texas Supreme Court seeking a ballot line in November’s general election.  Rogers believes that the Democrats fighting Green Party ballot access really don’t have a case because petition drives are exempt from the corporate ban as a “normal operating expense.”  Rogers said, “The Democrats are playing a dangerous game. They have, by virtue of naming the two corporate entities involved in the fray, Free and Equal, which managed the petition drive and Take Initiative America, which may have provided the funding to Free and Equal, set the stage for the possibility that the Texas Supreme Court could strike down the corporate ban as unconstitutional, something neither I nor my clients would support.” 

Read the rest of this entry »

CC of HC voterguide 04 10 runoff

Good news, folks!! Ms. Debra Medina (recent Republican Gubernatorial candidate), the good doctor Ron Paul himself, Mr. David Smith (CD 2, TX), Mr. Guy McLendon (Harris County Libertarian Party Chair), Mr. Pat Dixon (Libertarian Party of Texas Chair) and several other politicos were mentioned in a recent Houston Chronicle story.

All eleven State Constitutional Amendments passed.  [See stories, House Research Organization: Analysis on Nov 3rd TX Constitutional Propositions, Where to Vote in the Upcoming Texas Election, and Empower Texans: Recommendations on Nov 3rd TX Constitutional Propositions,  below, for related articles and actual text of proposed State Constitutional Amendments.]

Election results for Houston-area
Annise Parker and Gene Locke will be in a runoff for City of Houston Mayor.  Ronald C. Green and M. J. Khan will be a in a runoff for City of Houston Comptroller.  Check for other City of Houston City Council positions.

Harris County elections results.

Brazoria County election results.

Chambers County election results.

Galveston County election results.

Read the rest of this entry »

What to Bring to the Polls

Aside from a voter registration certificate, a voter may present one of the following documents: a driver’s license, a picture identification of any kind, a birth certificate, a U.S. Citizenship or Naturalization certificate, a U.S passport, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. First time voters who registered by mail and did not provide their driver’s license number or identification number will need to provide another form of identification other than their voter registration certificate.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS MONDAY, OCTOBER 19^TH

November 3^rd Joint Election – Early Voting Schedule

Remember to tell your friends that when you vote during early voting you may vote at any of the early voting locations.  On Election Day you must vote at your precinct’s polling location.  You can find all the locations from our website www.HarrisVotes.com when you click on the ‘Early Voting Schedule’ link.  See the attached early voting posters, available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Voting locations after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

The fine folks at Empower Texans have done the leg work analyzing the propositions for the upcoming November 3rd Texas Constitutional vote. Below are their recommendations.

Source: Empower Texans

We encourage all Texans to participate in the constitutional election of November 3. There are a great many resources you can utilize in learning more about the amendments being proposed, including organizations such as the Free Market Foundation and the Texas Assocation of Business.

What follows are our recommendations.

Propositions to Support

Stopping Eminent Domain Abuse

Proposition 11 – Vote Yes!
“The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.”

Why it’s good: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo v New London decision allowed local governmental entities to take private property for the purpose of economic development, unless the states’ constitutions contain a provision to the contrary. This amendment would add restrictions on the use of eminent domain in Texas, and prohibit legislators from weakening the restrictions without voter approval. Further, it would add important protections against eminent domain abuse by specifically stating the legitimate purposes for eminent domain. Finally, governmental entities taking land through eminent domain would required to use it for a definable public purpose.

Reforming Property Taxes

Proposition 2 – Vote Yes!
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.”

Why it’s good When appraisal districts determines the value of property for tax purposes, the district can right now base it on what the property would be worth if it were used for a more valuable purpose. Therefore, many homeowners have seen appraisals rise substantially, not because the value of the homes increased, but because the land was deemed more valuable as a different use. Texas already prohibits agricultural land and timber land from being appraised based on other possible uses, but no similar protection exists for homeowners. (Video link) Read the rest of this entry »