Monday, October 22, 2007

Constitutional Amendment Prop 9 to help Disabled Vets



By voting Yes – Prop 9, you will be helping our 100% Disabled Veterans, including those now serving in Iraq & Afghanistan, should they become disabled. Check out the info below disseminated by John Miterko.

Placido Salazar

Subject: Vote for Proposition 9 on November 6th

Reminder: get out and vote for Proposition 9, the first step in obtaining 100% property tax relief for 100% disabled veterans. Even if you are not now rated 100%, you could later be rated 100%, but we might not get another chance to vote for this option.

It is critical for every veteran and every veteran's family vote for this proposition. Thank you in advance for your participation.

John A Miterko

A special election will be held on Tuesday 6 November 2007 for proposed Texas Constitutional Amendments. Among the Amendments being considered is Proposition 9 (SJR 29).

Proposition 9 (SJR 29) would authorize the legislature to exempt all or part of the market value of the residence homesteads of veterans certified as having a service-connected 100 percent disability rating. SJR 29 would also clarify the progression of property tax exemptions available to veterans who are less than 100 percent disabled.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled."

Passage of the proposed Constitutional Amendment would allow for 100% Disabled Veterans to be exempted from 100% of their property taxes.

NOTE: passage of this proposed Constitutional Amendment completes HALF of the legislation required to make this a law. The other half is referred to as enabling legislation or the mechanics of how the proposed bill will work. The Enabling Legislation was the half that died on the Texas House Floor on 22 May 07 when it missed the midnight cutoff by a few minutes. This enabling legislation will be worked on during the intervening months until the start of the 81st Texas Legislature in January 2009.

As Veterans we have a unique opportunity to vote to approve a change to the Texas Constitution which makes 100% property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans an amendment approved by plebiscite vote. Special elections are known for voter apathy. Typically 10-12% of eligible voters participate in special elections.

If we take full advantage of voter apathy and get every registered veteran and their families to vote for proposition 9, veterans as a solid voting block can cause this Amendment to pass. In other words: if veterans want to see this proposition become a Constitutional Amendment, then we as veterans must get out and vote.

Time for grassroots actions on the part of every veteran and veteran organization. Inform every veteran that you know about the proposed Constitutional Amendment, get every veteran and their family registered to vote, and vote for Proposition 9 on November 6th.


John A Miterko
Vietnam Veterans of America, Texas State Council
Government Affairs Chair and State Legislative Coordinator
Vice President, Legislative Affairs, Military Service Coalition
Legislative Coordinator, Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans

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