Early voting is on for the Constitutional Amendments election. Yesterday and today, Burnt Orange Report is providing some information about the 11 propositions on the ballot. Our aim is to give a broad sense of how different Texas entities perceive these amendments. In the table below, we've compiled their yea, nay, or no-endorse. Sources are all linked at the bottom. Friday, BOR will issue our official endorsements on some or all of these amendments. For more on the Amendment process, see the post on Amendment 1.
Proposition 8: Authorizing the State to Contribute Resources to Veterans' Hospitals
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"Texas now has nine inpatient veterans' hospitals ... The state does not currently have the authority to contribute to a veterans' hospital operated by the federal government. This proposed amendment would allow Texas to partner with the [VA] and local communities to establish additional health care facilities." --League of Women Voters Guide
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| Source: | Endorsement: |
| Austin Chronicle: | YES. "We frankly can't believe it takes a constitutional amendment to get this done, and even the sponsors weren't sure." |
| El Paso Times: | YES. "Even though the hospitals are federally funded, state resources could be used to enhance and improve the facilities. Our veterans deserve this." |
| Fort Worth Star-Telegram: | NO. "Prop 8 says it would be OK for the state to contribute money, property or other resources to help build and operate VA hospitals. But the Legislature also passed a law to do the same thing whether Prop 8 is approved or not. Doesn't that make Prop 8 unnecessary?" |
| Houston Tea Party Patriots: | No Endorsement. |
| Sen. Kirk Watson's "Watson Wire:" | YES. "Most immediately, this would allow the state to help build a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, as required by a law that took effect earlier this year." |
We'll wrap these up in the late afternoon and evening tonight. Endorsements by the Burnt Orange Report staff will follow on Friday.
Sources:
League of Women Voters Guide (PDF)
Austin Chronicle Endorsements, October 16, 2009
El Paso Times, October 18, 2009
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Endorsements, October 16, 2009
Houston Tea Party Patriots, October 15, 2009
Sen. Kirk Watson's Watson Wire, October 12, 2009
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