Multiple referenda on parties primary ballots

When voters go to the polls on March 1, they will vote for their candidate of choice from their chosen party. Each party also has multiple referenda or propositions on the ballots for voters to share their voice on. On the Republican primary ballot, there will be four propositions on which voters will be able to cast the ballot. Proposition 1 is in reference to the property tax system, and will be worded “Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.” Proposition 2, which will read “Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds,” and references national immigration laws. Proposition 3, regarding labor union dues, will read “Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks.” Finally, Republican Proposition 4 will read ”Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution which states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Voters in the Republican primary will be asked to either vote for or against each proposition. The Republican Party will then work to pass into law any proposition which is passed in the primary. Voters in the Democratic primary will see six referenda on the March 1 primary ballot. Following the primary, any that are passed will then become a focus for the Democratic Party, as they work to pass those into law. Referenda Item 1, which considers economic security and prosperity, will read “Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass an economic security and prosperity plan for families that includes higher incomes by raising the state minimum wage to a livable wage, passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure equal pay for equal work, guaranteeing paid family leave to care for a child or ill loved one, fully funding public neighborhood schools, and making a debt-free community college education a reality for hardworking students?” Regarding a fair criminal justice system, Referenda 2 will read “Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass criminal justice reform legislation that ensures equal justice throughout our society without respect to race, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors unrelated to behavior, ensuring as well common sense policies to protect the rights of law enforcement officers, the community, and defendants in the criminal justice system?” Democratic Referenda Item 3 will read ”Should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress encourage the transition to renewable, non-polluting energy as a means to slow down climate change and its impact on the planet,” in reference to climate. On the Voting Rights Act, Referenda 4 will read “Should the United States Congress pass the new Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect all American voters?”

To continue reading this article, purchase the January 14th edition of the Steel Country Bee, or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Daingerfield%20BeeID312/default.aspx