March Primary and Propositions: What to Know

While most people know the candidates at the top of Tuesday’s ballot, less information is known about the propositions on the ballot.  The Republicans have four propositions; the Democrats six.

Here are the Republican Propositions:

Proposition 1:

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:

Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds.

Proposition 3:

Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks.

Proposition 4:

Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the US 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.”.

 

Here are the Democratic Propositions:

Referendum 1:

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?

Referendum 2:

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?

Referendum 3:

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?

Referendum 4:

Should the United States Congress pass the new Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect all American voters?

Referendum 5:

Should the Texas Legislature allow each public institution of higher education (not only private universities) to opt out of the ability to carry guns on campus?

Referendum 6:

Should the United States Congress pass a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?

LEAP Director Mike Yawn discusses the propositions on the ballot with KSTAR’s Beth O’Brien.

The interview also discusses how these propositions get on the ballot.    This is a little-known process that involves the executive committees of both Texas parties, involving the 31 Senate Districts in the state.  Learn about this process here.