Proposed Constitutional Amendments for November 8, 2011 Election

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First, you prioritize what you want, and then you build a budget built on what you are willing to tax. In the world, there is this misconception you can pay for everything. ... Read More 

First, you prioritize what you want, and then you build a budget built on what you are willing to tax. In the world, there is this misconception you can pay for everything. You can’t so you prioritize. The rest of the world is learning this the hard way. Look at France, Italy, Greece, and Spain who are bankrupt from too many programs. What amazes me is the first thing people want to cut is veteran’s benefits. A country that does not honor its veteran’s first will not be a country for long. As a veteran who served 25 years in the service, there just isn’t an equivalent to the sacrifices. Yes, I am a disabled veteran. I find it offensive anyone would question my disability. I medical doctor diagnosed me with the conditions and I feel the pain. The process to get the VA disability is a long and difficult process. Ask the thousands who are still waiting years later like my brother-in-law.

I saw so much waste in the military on buildings and weapons programs that someone should be arrested, but it was legal. So, now we have debt crisis and the government is going after our medical benefits which was promised to us. They are going after our retirement benefits, too. Yes, Virginia, the government lies. You want to cut waste. Get rid of the food stamps program for abled body people (we are a fat nation according to pollsters – let’s go on a diet); reduce the free housing we give to abled body people (check out for yourself how much we spend on this program); penalize people who have kids out of wedlock over and over again to get benefits; get rid of the department of education, stop political fraud or crony capitalism (i.e. building billion dollar light rail trains – See Senator Reid), the list goes on and on. Go after the billions of waste to political operatives and pork barrel, etc. Get our military out of Europe; quit subsidizing the world in several many areas. The solutions are easy. Leave the vets alone. In prop 1, when the veteran dies, the spouse loses most if not the entire veteran’s income. Most will struggle. Prioritize what is important – Veteran’s first, and then work from there.

 

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"Its not the veterans that have us in debt, its the rest of the freeloaders we are paying for. "

Well, of course it is not entirely the vets that have bankrupted ... Read More 

"Its not the veterans that have us in debt, its the rest of the freeloaders we are paying for. "

Well, of course it is not entirely the vets that have bankrupted the government. I didn’t say or imply that. But this amendment is just one more example of pandering politicians adding to an already bloated, bankrupt government by playing on our sympathy for disabled Veterans and putting the burden on property tax payers who already are paying too much.

Non-combat service related disabilities are already compensated by the VA, and I feel that is sufficient. If you feel that is not enough, then please suggest where the federal government can cut spending on other programs and special interests groups to pay for higher VA compensation of our vets. I’m sure Congressman Cuelliar will be all ears.

But, if you want to honor those true heroes, the ones actually injured in combat, we must make sure that freeloaders don't take advantage of our local generosity.

"the VA doesnt give it out like candy."

You say the VA doesn't hand out disability ratings easily. I don't know, but I can't help but feel that many non-combat vets are abusing the system. The process is too complex, entirely too subjective, run by bureaucrats and guided by political correctness. I just don’t trust it, and most Vets don't either. And I don’t think we as property tax payers should be subjected to the decisions of yet another inept federal bureaucracy.

 

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Rock n chair rambler, Disabled vets do not get full exemption only those who recieved 100 percent disability rating. I served 27 years in the Army, with 8 tours in Iraq, ... Read More 

Rock n chair rambler, Disabled vets do not get full exemption only those who recieved 100 percent disability rating. I served 27 years in the Army, with 8 tours in Iraq, 4 in Afghanistan, 1 in Phillipines, Somalia and Haiti. I come from a family of military veterans as well and will tell you, that back in the days of the World war 1 and 2 and vietnam, those vets didnt get thier fair share. My grandfather took shrapnel to his back yes while driving for a General and lost a few vertebrates because of it and was only recieving 20 percent disability which get you nothing. No tax exemptions, no DV plates nothing. You have to get at least a 50% percent disability rating to get anything and the VA doesnt give it out like candy. Even if you were to get lets say 70%, well that gets you about 7k off of your property taxes. When you take that to the tax office they will just asses your property is worth more then it truly is, usually by 7k more, so you still pay. I know, this from truth. So 70% really doesnt get you much, 7k off of property taxes, free liscense plates for 1 car only, free parking at meters in town. Now you tell me that is alot for what our veterans have done for this country. Just because you never went to war but served 20 years, you are still a veteran and you may get no disablity rating so you dont get a thing other then your retirement pay, which they earned. I believe veterans should be allowed to be tax free, but the only time that happens is when they are deployed to war or a hostile area. We fought for our freedom and its not the veterans who have this country in debt. Go to the VA hospital and see if they get special treatment. Once you retire, you go to the back of the line for everything the military has to offer from seeing a doctor to getting your meds. I get my retirement pay and that is it, no free medical, no free meds, nothing. I pay my taxes. Its not the veterans that have us in debt, its the rest of the freeloaders we are paying for.

 

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Election day polling placex

Wilson County voters wishing to weigh in on the 10 proposed amendments to the Texas constitution can cast votes today at the following polling ... Read More 

Election day polling placex

Wilson County voters wishing to weigh in on the 10 proposed amendments to the Texas constitution can cast votes today at the following polling places. Polling is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.

•Boxes 101, 421, and 422: Oak Hills Community Church, 90 Eagle Creek Ranch, Floresville

•Boxes 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 210, 211, 212, and 423: Wilson County Courthouse Annex III, 1103 Fourth St., Floresville

•Boxes 208, 209, 213, and 214: Poth City Hall, 200 N. Carroll St., Poth

•Boxes 315, 316, 317, and 318: La Vernia Volunteer Fire Department, 12190 U.S. 87 W., La Vernia

•Boxes 419, 420, and 424: Stockdale Community Building, 700 W. Main, Stockdale.

 

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"Obviously you never served your country"

Obviously you don't know me very well. And it is obvious that you don't read very well either. ... Read More 

"Obviously you never served your country"

Obviously you don't know me very well. And it is obvious that you don't read very well either.

Disable vets already get a full exemption, regardless of how they were disabled. Did you all know that? That's right. A guy who was a typist or maybe drove the captain around and never saw a day of battle in his career could get a full exemption from his property taxes even if he, or she becomes disabled from cancer or something and not a road side bomb. I don't know if that's how it was intended, but as we all know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Be that as it may, this amendment extends the exemption to his or her spouse, for life.

Now, I'm all for supporting the military and all they do and sacrifice for our freedoms. But, this is purely one of those feel-good politically motivated moves that does nothing but makes politicians look like they care and well, who could be against the vets??? This crap costs money and this is exactly why the State is 25 billion in debt.

 

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I will consider voting for Prop 1, BUT forget the rest. I agree the military is the backbone of this Nation. I need to think about this exemption because it is for the spouse ... Read More 

I will consider voting for Prop 1, BUT forget the rest. I agree the military is the backbone of this Nation. I need to think about this exemption because it is for the spouse and not the Veteran, if I understand it correctly. Just not sure about this.

 

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We owe our veterans all that we can aford to give them and we should honor and appreciate them. It's the freeloaders who live off our hard work and tax dollars who need ... Read More 

We owe our veterans all that we can aford to give them and we should honor and appreciate them. It's the freeloaders who live off our hard work and tax dollars who need to take up the slack. It is absolutely time to revise our tax system so that everyone pays. Also the immigration laws need to be enforced. Enough is enough.

 

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Veterans get enough already? Really? Obviously you never served your country. They are the ones that SHOULD get exemptions. They fought wars so you can enjoy the freedom ... Read More 

Veterans get enough already? Really? Obviously you never served your country. They are the ones that SHOULD get exemptions. They fought wars so you can enjoy the freedom of mouthing off about anything that gets your craw. So you can express your self, and pretty much do anything you want so long it is legal. They have given us the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, and those who survived have to live with the horrors witnessed fighting the enemy. Everyone else should pay their taxes. Veterans earned the exemptions.

 

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You can find voter recommendations on the propositions here: http://bit.ly/tcgrecommends

 

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Anything that starts out with "bond issue" and follows up with "ad velorum taxes" just means higher taxes for me. I'm going to "just say NO" ... Read More 

Anything that starts out with "bond issue" and follows up with "ad velorum taxes" just means higher taxes for me. I'm going to "just say NO" to all of it.

And puleeeease... stop with the exemptions. I'm sick and tired of paying the way for everyone else, and disabled vets get enough already. Their spouses can stay where they are. Where does it stop?????

If everyone had to pay an equal share of the tax burden, we wouldn't have the corrupt, inept and bankrupt system we have. Too damn many people aren't paying their fair share, so they continue to vote for their neighbor's taxes to be raised for all this garbage we don't need.

 

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Oct 17th I attended a meeting which speaker David Wall of the Liberty Institute, presented a non-partisan short summary of the ten proposed Amendments. ... Read More 

Oct 17th I attended a meeting which speaker David Wall of the Liberty Institute, presented a non-partisan short summary of the ten proposed Amendments.
Pros and cons were presented and after hearing both sides the 100+ who attended found little they would support. Many of the Propositions would support Agenda 21's objectives ( one example is Prop 4 HJR 63 which could raise sales tax for transportation, use property taxes to build toll roads, & grant tax breaks to who they want).
Please visit www.wilsoncountypatriots.com or www.freevotersguide.com to view the pros and cons they list. We all agreed to support Prop.1 SJR 14.

 

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