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Ashley Bean Thornton para el Distrito 56 de la Cámara de Representantes de Texas

How Curry & I Voted on the Amendments and Why it matters

(Early Voting for the November 4 election is going on right now. This is our opportunity to vote on 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. Here’s a link to how I voted on all the propositions and why: Propositions and How ABT is voting. But, make up your own mind!  Just get out there and vote, y’all! – ABT) 

Pat Curry says he is voting YES on all 17 of the propositions being considered on the November 4 ballot.  I voted YES on 10 and NO on 7.

Assuming he has already voted, we voted the same on more things than not. 

We both voted YES on investing in Texas (Props 1,4 & 14) and helping out people in bad circumstances (Props 7 & 10).  

We both voted YES on several property tax exemptions (Props 5, 9, 11,13).  I think most of these exemptions could be structured better, but I know a lot of people need the relief right now, so I voted YES even though I have some reservations.   

We both voted YES on bail reform (Prop 3).  That’s another one I don’t love, but in the end the safety considerations (barely) outweighed my other concerns.

Here’s what we disagreed on…

He voted YES on three propositions limiting our ability to impose taxes in the future on capital gains (Prop 2), inherited wealth (Prop 8), and selling securities (Prop 6).  All three of these needlessly limit our future ability to raise needed Tax Revenue that could help pay for services most of us need and want.  Not incidentally, all three would most likely benefit people in the upper income ranges. I voted NO on all three of these.  (Read more about why I oppose these propositions here: Never will we ever – Props 2,6, & 8 – Ashley Bean Thornton)

He voted YES on Prop 12 which would allow the governor to appoint the majority of people to the commission that is responsible for monitoring the conduct and ethics of judges in the state of Texas.  I think this is a dangerous move that is more likely to politicize the judiciary than it is to build confidence in our justice system.  I voted NO on this. (Read more about why I oppose this proposition here: Who judges the judges? – Prop 12 – Ashley Bean Thornton)

He voted YES on Prop 15 and 16,  two unnecessary propositions whose only purpose, as far as I can tell, is political gamesmanship with a side of fear and divisiveness.  I voted NO on these two.  (Read more about why I oppose these two dumb propositions here: No thanks to dumb political games – Props 15 & 16 – Ashley Bean Thornton)

What does this tell us?

First of all, I think it tells us that we probably agree on more than we think.  Our media and social media would have us believe that there is no common ground, but that is simply not the case.  I believe when it comes right down to it, we still have more in common than we have dividing us.  Our agreements and differences are on a continuum, not a stark divide. This is very hopeful because that means when it comes right down to it, we can still make decisions that we can all live with, even if we do not support them 100%. That ability is the very heart of government “by the people.”

I do think, though, that it is also very important to notice the nature of our differences. 

I think the proposed bans on future taxes are more likely to help well-off people than people who are working hard every day to afford the basics.  I think that shows a clear difference in orientation.  If you believe our communities are better off if we help well-off people do better, you agree with him.  If you believe our communities are better off if we help people who are striving to move up the ladder, you agree with me.  There are trade-offs to both of these of course.  This has been a push-pull in politics for as long as there have been politics.  Disagreement on this kind of thing doesn’t bother me. We have always had to haggle out this balance as we go.

Our other differences are more troubling to me.  To me they point out the difference between what I think of as “normal” Republicans, and the current gang of “Permanent Power at any Price (PPP)” Republicans.

Prop 12 would give the governor the power to appoint the majority of the people who monitor our Texas judges.  I cannot help but think this would result in more of the judges who disagree with the governor coming under more and more public scrutiny and criticism.  This, to me, is a part of an overall philosophy that the people in power (Republicans for the moment) should have absolute power.  I think this is the exact opposite of what we want from our government.  It’s the exact opposite of what I want for sure.

Curry also voted YES on Proposition 15 which would supposedly ensure that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.  He also voted YES on Proposition 16 which would supposedly ensure that only United States citizens be allowed to vote.  I voted NO on both of these.

 To me, these propositions are troubling attempts to sow fear and division. 

Certainly, it is important that parents be the primary decision-makers for their children and certainly it is important that only citizens vote.  So important, in fact, that both are already covered in Texas law.  There is no need for a constitutional amendment to ensure them – both are already ensured by the laws we have.

So why have these unnecessary “amendments” been proposed at all?  It seems to me the PPP Republicans have been stoking the unfounded “Liberals are ruining our children” fear and the “immigrants are taking over” fear for quite some time as a way of scaring normally reasonable people into supporting them in their grab for permanent power.  I believe these propositions are a fairly shrewd chess move to force people to reinforce that fear mongering or else be labeled as anti-parent and anti-citizen.  I’ll give the PPP credit – it’s a crafty move if your goal is power. 

The problem is the goal should not be permanent power gained through fear. The goal should be to govern wisely and well in a way that promotes freedom and prosperity for all.

I am not a Republican – although I have voted Republican here and there through the years.  I have always respected the Republican party.  Even though I often disagreed with them and voted against them, I have always thought they were an honorable and necessary balance for governing ourselves in all our diversity.  It grieves me to see that the Republican Party (not necessarily all Republicans) has been lured onto this low road of promoting fear as the path to power.    

I don’t even know if Mr. Curry really agrees with this philosophy.  It doesn’t matter whether he does or not though, because he will vote in alignment anyway or else run the risk of being “primaried” out of his position by his own party.   That’s another part of the PPP philosophy – enforcing strict party purity instead of encouraging conscience or cooperation or concern for what your constituents might think.

Come on, Republicans!  We need you to do better!  I hope you do.

In the meantime, I am going to do whatever I can to make sure you don’t accomplish your goal of Permanent Power at any Price.

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