< Previous www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 10 Texas Constitutional Amendments On the Ballot this November During this last Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature authorized ten ballot propo- sitions that, if passed by Texas voters on November 5, will become part of our Texas Constitution. Outlined below are the ten propositions, along with some background information and a shor t analysis by State Representative Valoree Swanson. Texans will have the opportunity to approve the following amendments with a majority vote: Proposition 1 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: Texas law already permits a person to be appointed as a municipal judge in more than one municipality, but this amendment would extend that right to a person elected as a municipal judge. Many smaller cities do not have a municipal judge at all, which is vital to dealing with local cases. The passage of Proposition 1 will make it easier for smaller cities to have access to qualified municipal judges for these part-time positions. Proposition 2 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economi- cally distressed areas.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue more general obligation bonds to develop water supply and sewer service projects in areas determined by the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP). EDAP currently provides financial assistance for projects to develop water services where facilities are inadequate to meet state standards. Proposition 3 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg- islature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment entitles an individual who owns property located in a declared disaster area to a temporary partial property tax exemption. Local taxing entities are currently allowed to provide these exemptions, yet several choose not to. Some Texans with badly-damaged homes had to pay property taxes as if their homes were worth their fully- appraised value. Many Texans who suffered devastating losses from Hurricane Harvey were treated unfairly by some taxing entities. Proposition 3 will require local tax- ing entities to provide these exemptions. Proposition 4 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unin- corporated association income.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will ban the creation and implementa- tion of a state income tax. Passage of this proposition will make it significantly more difficult for future legislatures to attempt to pass a state income tax. A vote “FOR” Proposition 4 will ban a state income tax. Proposition 5 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment dedicating the rev- enue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, Valoree Swanson11 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will ensure that taxes that are already collected on sporting goods are fully allocated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission. For years, taxes taken from the sale of sport- ing goods have not been allocated properly, and our parks and historical sites have suffered. Passage of Proposition 5 will ensure these Texas resources are properly funded to keep our Texas treasures protected for future generations. Proposition 6 £ 4 For £ Against "The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg- islature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas." Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will increase the maximum amount of general obligation bonds the Texas Public Finance Authority may issue on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Texas has seen great strides in cancer treatments due to CPRIT loans in the past. The continued funding of CPRIT allows Texas to continue to be one of the nation’s leaders in ground-break- ing cancer research. Proposition 7 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will raise the cap on the amount of dis- tributions from the General Land Office to the Available School Fund (ASF) from $300 million per year to $600 million per year. Due to an unusually high rate of return, recent investments realized by the land board would have allowed greater contributions to the ASF, were it not for the $300 million per year cap. A vote for Proposition 7 will improve funding for Texas public schools. Proposition 8 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will establish the Flood Infrastructure Fund, which will institute regional planning and coordina- tion on flood mitigation projects to attempt to better pro- vide for vital infrastructure in the state; whereas, counties currently handle it on their own. For example, because much of Harris County’s water in creeks and reservoirs comes from other counties, where Harris County does not have jurisdiction, regional flood planning is a critical necessity. Proposition 9 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg- islature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: Allowing for a property tax exemption for precious met- als held in a depository will encourage a higher volume of businesses specializing in precious metals to bring more of their industry to Texas, helping the Texas economy. Proposition 10 £ 4 For £ Against “The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.” Explained by State Rep. Valoree Swanson: This amendment will allow a retired law enforcement animal to be transferred to that animal’s handler at the time of retirement. Currently, it is illegal to transfer these search-and-rescue and drug-sniffing dogs to an individual. Instead, these animals must be auctioned off. Proposition 10 will allow these animals to enjoy their well-deserved retirement with their beloved handlers instead of with strangers. What’s UP with City Finances? www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 12 By Sara Tracey Senior Editor of the LINK Letter The City of Houston needs a change at the helm of its financial leadership. Orlando Sanchez has proposed the following: n Make the Controller’s office independent of the Mayor and City Council n Conduct audits to save taxpayers money n Find and eliminate waste and abuse in major pro- grams n Provide full transparency Who is Orlando Sanchez? Orlando Sanchez grew up in Southwest Houston and graduated from Bellaire High School before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1976. After his tour, he enlisted in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the Texas Air National Guard at then-named Ellington Field. After graduating Cum Laude from the University of Houston, Orlando embarked in a career as a public ser- vant. In 1995, he was the first Latino immigrant elected to a city-wide position in Houston. He served three terms on the Houston City Council, helping pass the first property tax cut in decades. Then, in 2006, Orlando was the first immigrant to be elected for a non-judicial office, Harris County Treasurer, where he served until December 2016. Who is Orlando Sanchez? Recent reports published in local newspapers have dis- closed that only a handful of families affected by Harvey flooding have been approved to receive Federal and State funds allocated to the Houston area for flood relief. Our current Controller has done nothing to see that these funds are distributed as intended. Orlando Sanchez has a plan to improve access to Harvey Flood relief and flood mitigation dollars, ensuring those funds are spent on a “worst-first” basis. Stop the Misuse of Funds! The current administration has awarded million-dollar contracts to consultants for “community outreach” and “feasibility studies”, which are bureaucratic hurdles for applicants. Very little has reached the hands of those who desperately need financial assistance. Furthermore, the administration’s failure to produce a meaningful flood control plan is deterring new businesses from moving to Houston. I believe Orlando Sanchez will be an independent friend of the taxpayer, shining the light on all City spending practices. Orlando truly is an advocate for all of Houston’s taxpayers. Visit www.orlandosanchez.com for more on his campaign for Houston City Controller. Orlando Sanchez 13 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com What’s UP: Thou Shall NOT Feed By Eric Dick Guest Editorial In 2012, Mayor Annise Parker and the city of Houston approved its Charitable Feeding Ban. This highly controversial ordinance makes it a crime to distribute food contri- butions to more than five people without an approved city permit for a designated charitable event. In essence, Houston demands its charitable citizens to purchase and obtain a permit if they desire to give food to the homeless, or to the indigent. Phillip Paul Bryant, a Christian of Houston, is sorting out hundreds of dollars in fines because he felt the call of Christ to approach and give help to more than five people in need. Bryant had no idea this was breaking the law and could be involved in a lengthy and expensive court battle in order to overturn what many people view as an inhumane law. The law literally says that you can feed up to five people, but the fifth and beyond? Let them starve. In order to lawfully feed those less fortunate, a person must f ill out an application and seek approval from the city. The application process is lengthy and requires a printed map of the park where they wish to distribute food and a specific date for the distribu- tion. Even after f iling all the required paperwork, the city parks director still has the authority to determine if that space may be used for someone to help a starv- ing person eat. Br yant argues “I cannot obtain a permit at just anytime, because I do not know in advance, or does anyone know in advance when Christ will compel him. Instead when someone is trying to express love and compassion for his fellow human beings, the city responds with a $2,000 fine. “It’s a sad day when feeding a fellow human being who is starving becomes a crime.” - Eric Dick The charitable feeding ordinance has caused controversy since it was established seven years ago. The city describes the ordinance as a way to uphold food safety and protect the rights of private property owners, but the fact of the matter is it’s a way to regulate the tradition of charity. They don’t want the homeless because they’re bad for business. They want to clear them all out so they can build high rises and charge more, plain and simple. In Houston, it’s a crime to be homeless, and unbelievably, it’s a crime to feed the homeless. I will fight this ordinance to the end. Eric Dick Eric Dick vs The Feeding Ban of HoustonWhat Happens with Apathy Rules? By Don Wildmon Originally published in the August 1999 issue of AFA Journal. Used with Permision. In 1973 the Supreme Court said it was OK to kill unborn babies. Since then, we have killed more than the entire popu- lation of Canada. And it continues. A woman's choice? Half of those who have died in their mothers' wombs have been women. They didn't have a choice. It is called abortion. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. First it was in dingy, dirty theaters. Then, convenience stores. Then, grocery stores. Then on television. Now it is in the homes of millions via the Internet. It is called pornography. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. They called it no-fault. Why should we blame anyone when something so tragic happens. Haven't they already suffered enough? Half of the marriages in America end this way. The children suffered. The family broke down. It is called divorce. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and hope for those who practiced it. Now it is praised. We have parades celebrating it and elected off icials give it their blessing. Now it is endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some Christian leaders and denominations praise it. It is called homosexuality. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. It used to be an embarrassment. A shame. Now a third of all births are to mothers who aren't married. Two-thirds of all African-American children are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. That is why we pay our taxes, so that government can take the place of parents. After all, government bureaucrats know much better how to raise children than parents do. It is called illegitimacy. [In 1999] Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. At one time it was wrong. But then the state decided to legalize it, promote it, and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. But just look at all the money the state has raised. No longer do we have to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them they can get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join the fun and excitement. Just look at the big sums that people are winning. They will never have to work again! It is called gambling. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 14 Don Wildmon 15 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. But now any positive image of Christians in movies or on TV is gone. We are now depicted as the bad guys – greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can't have a Bible on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don't have Christmas and Easter holidays – just winter and spring break. We can't pray in school, but can use foul language. It's called being tolerant. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the Christians? Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with apathy. But don't blame me. I didn't do anything. I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now. Weekdays 2:00 to 3:00 PM on FM 100.7 The Word. Visit www.TerryLowry.com www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 What’s UP: We Are Not Safe By Chris Daniel Guest Editorial Former Harris County District Clerk Since the end of 2018, there has been a “New Sheriff in Town”. Residents of Harris County woke up in the new year to sudden and sweeping changes to the city’s Criminal Justice System. These changes include: n The settlement of a politicized bail-reform movement that now has the Democrat-controlled Criminal Justice wing of the courthouse split philosophically. n Socialists wanting to give everything away for free. n The rights of the criminal being paramount to you, the law-abiding citizen. Those yellow-dog Democrats that remember being soft on crime is what lost them this side of the court- house in the first place back in the early 1980’s. Simply put, you now have a majority that wants to throw out the handbook on crime. How has Kim Ogg accomplished a “one-over” on the citizens of Houston? Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, is probably feeling her own head spin as she tries to appease all sides of her split party while also trying to curb the crime rise in the city. Apparently, Kim has attempted to mask increasing crime rates through manipulated statistics. In other words, she has accurately reported the crimes, but painted a misleading picture. Kim has been using “diversion programs”, which avoid reporting convictions if successfully completed. If the majority of a crime classif ication ends up in diversion, the DA then, by fiat, decides that the under- lying category is no longer a chargeable offense. Therefore, the entire group of criminals goes unhandled and walks. The stats ignore this entirely, giving a false impression that crime is down. Who is Judge Darrel Jordan? Judge Darrel Jordan is the lead Misdemeanor Court Judge and architect of the Democrats’ sweeping bail reform. Judge Jordan has been expanding on former DA Devon Anderson’s attempts at reform by keeping the poor in an ever-revolving door simply because they are poor. Through several grants, the courts were already devel- oping and piloting programs to pre-screen people less likely to reoffend. However, some pre-screened arrestees had unforeseeable hardships, which delayed their payment of a retainer (or bail) to the court. Many simply failed to reappear for their scheduled court date, resulting in an arrest warrant. These problems did not, however, agree with the socialist’s agenda of “free”, so a lawsuit was filed on their behalf. Through propaganda, bail reform got one- sided media coverage while ignoring the broader point. Now, under Judge Jordan’s rule, repeat offenders are continually granted no or low bond amounts – regard- less of the severity of the underlying crime. The Houston Police Department has essentially thrown in the towel, knowing that a criminal will be back on the street to reoffend, sometimes multiple times in the same day! 16 Weekdays 2:00 to 3:00 PM on FM 100.7 The Word. Visit www.TerryLowry.com Chris Daniel 17 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com What does all this mean for you? Detroit, Baltimore, and Chicago are examples of what happens when Democrat policies get out of control. In these cities, the rights of a few are placed before the rights of many. This is reminiscent of New York City and San Francisco in the 1970’s. Both cities were once prospering and flourishing. Now, they have been rid- dled with financial debt and societal issues for decades. Houstonians MUST BE VIGILANT and learn from other’s mistakes. Houstonians MUST PRAY for our Judges and other court officials. Houstonians MUST URGE CORRECTION when we see injustices done which protect the few over the rights/lives of many. Houstonians MUST STOP MEDIA BIAS which only spreads half of the story, usually the wrong half! Bad=Bad / Good=Good We teach young children that good behavior deserves a reward. In contrast, we teach them that bad behavior has consequences. This concept seems to be lost on the average socialist. “Criminal Justice Reform” needs TRUE punishment that fits the crime, not a “get-out-of-jail-free-card” for bad behavior. This is not the game Monopoly. Public outrage needs to be diverted to the real injustices that are being placed upon the victims of crimes, not the softball approach to the criminal. BRING BACK common sense elected officials who understand the balancing act of keeping society safe, while protecting the rights of the accused so that no innocent person goes to jail. BRING BACK elected representatives who know why free bonds aren’t “free” for everyone. BRING BACK elected representatives who know the logical steps to reduce repeat offenders once and for all and not through gimmicks. BRING BACK community leaders who truly put the community f irst and not special interest groups that desire the leadership of socialists. BRING BACK Republicans to bench at the courthouse. www.TerryLowry.com September 2019 18 Tony Buzbee Will Stop Crime and Corruption By Steven F. Hotze, M.D. President, Campaign for Houston “H ouston, we have a problem!” The tide of corruption and crime in Houston is rising and Tony Buzbee is the only candidate who can stop it. Tony Buzbee grew up in deep East Texas and was the oldest of 4 children. He is a fifth gen- eration Texan. His father was a butcher and his mother drove a school bus. They raised their own food. He was the first in his family to attend college. Tony was in the corps at Texas A&M. After graduating in 1990, he entered the Marines. After serving four years, he fin- ished his duty, earning the rank of Captain and entered the University of Houston Law School. After receiving his law degree in 1997, he started his own firm in 1999. Tony Buzbee is renowned as one of the premier trial lawyers in the country. Like Donald Trump, Tony has a track record of success and has made it clear that he cannot be bought. He is self- financing his own campaign and refuses to accept any campaign donations or endorsements. He also plans to donate his Mayoral salary to charity. Houston needs a Mayor who is committed to working for law-abiding Houstonians. City Hall politicians, including the current Mayor, are using the “pay to play” system by prioritizing their contributors, business partners, and friends over the taxpayer. Contracts with the city should be based on merit. Tony will provide full online disclosure of all city expen- ditures, so that the Mayor and City Council can be held accountable for their use of public funds. Once public funds are being monitored and tracked, we will see reductions in waste, fraud, and abuse. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Tony Buzbee will ensure that law and order are main- tained in our city. Currently, there are an estimated 23,000 gang members in Houston who are involved in murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and sex trafficking. Houston only has 2,300 police officers on the streets. Tony pledges to dramatically increase the Houston Police force. Tony will stop Houston from becoming another Chicago or Detroit. Houston is one of the top sex traff icking cities in the United States. Tony Buzbee will focus police efforts on cracking down on sex trafficking. Compare this with Mayor Sylvester Turner, who supports “Drag Queen Story Hour” at the Houston Public Libraries for children 10 and under. This is the promotion of pedophilia, the sexualization of children, at our city’s libraries. This is being done as part of a nationwide move- ment to desensitize young children, so that pedophiles can more easily recruit and molest them. Two of the Drag Queens in Houston Libraries were convicted sex offenders. Tony Buzbee will put a stop to this evil. Tony Buzbee is a decorated Marine, a successful lawyer, business owner, and philanthropist. Tony Buzbee will lead the battle to take back Houston from the corrupt politicians and criminals. Captain Tony Buzbee will “Make Houston Great Again.” Weekdays 2:00 to 3:00 PM on FM 100.7 The Word. Visit www.TerryLowry.com Steven HotzeWhat’s UP With The ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER 19 September 2019 www.TerryLowry.com Author unknown Two Different Versions... Two Different Morals OLD VERSION The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. MORAL OF THE OLD STORY: Be responsible for yourself! MODERN VERSION The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shiv ering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is Stunned by the Sharp Contrast How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green...' Democrats stage a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome” Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray for the grasshopper's sake. Democrat Presidential contenders condemn the ant and blame President Trump, President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight. Nancy Pelosi & the Gang of Four exclaim that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and all call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share. How the Government Helps the Poor The EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti- Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is f ined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is conf iscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper. The stor y ends, as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again. The grasshop- per is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now aban- doned, is take over by a gang of spiders, who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and peaceful, neighborhood. The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world down with it! MORAL OF THE MODERN STORY: Be careful how you vote this November. Are you an ant or a grasshopper? Order your ballot by mail today! See page 2. Next >