Attention Texas Vets

[ronn]

Subject: Special Election 6 Nov 2007: 100% Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans

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).

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.

Please disseminate this information as widely as possible.

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

[Ron II]

The exemption proposal is well-deserved; more states should do this.

[Pete53]

Wow I thought that this Bill was dead. Thanks for the post

[cloudcroft]

From what I can tell, we "100%" TDIU vets are not included...once again, we lose.

Whoever came up with this bill either didn't look into it enough to know about this longstanding discrepency or just decided to ignore it...I'm talking about "100%" TDIU vets. Are they 100% or not? If not, then stop calling them 100% even if it's only because of TDIU. Yes, I know they are not 100% schedular, but that's not my point.

This same discrepency re: what "100%" means also hurts TDIU vets elsewhere, as in getting their retired pay or when they will be getting it, for example.

It should be made VERY CLEAR what exactly "100%" really means...spell it out in bills like this that it means "100% schedular NOT including 100% TDIU," or, say "it includes both 100% schedular and TDIU 100% vets." But just saying "vets rated at 100%" isn't clear enough in legal terms.

Maybe they should just make TDIU vets 100% schedular and be done with the ambiguity...at least those TDIU vets who are also P&T.

-- John D.

Edited September 21, 2007 by cloudcroft

[Pete53]

I may be going out on a limb but I think 100% Vetes TDIU would get it. Its at least 2 years off though.

[goofycow]

Watch out there Pete53! I haave been thinking of moving to TX, even been in contact with a realtor. I like to moan & groan about Arkansas a lot but at least they do have a 100% property tax exemption for 100% disabled vets, even us TDIU types.