[VoteRescue] Our petitioning rights attacked by Wentworth SB690!

[Mary Anderson]

SB 690 does not fix any problem.  The purpose of SB 690 is to restrict citizen participation in local government.  SB 690 effectively cancels a right Texans have enjoyed for decades --- the right of citizens in home rule cities to propose amendments to their charters, the overarching legal framework for their municipalities.


The hurdles for a successful petition to get a referendum to amend a charter are arguably too high as it is, since such elections rarely occur. 


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UPDATE:



Now we have learned that this Wednesday, March 11, at 9:30 AM in Room E1.028, the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee is going
to consider SB 690 --- Please send an email to your senator if he is on the list and ask him to vote NO on the bill.


The Committee members are:
Chair: Sen. Royce West              <>   Royce.West at senate.state.tx.us
Vice Chair: Sen. Robert Nichols    <>  Robert.Nichols at senate.state.tx.us
Member: Sen. Mario Gallegos, Jr.  <>  Mario.Gallegos at senate.state.tx.us
Member: Sen. Dan Patrick            <>  Dan.Patrick at senate.state.tx.us
Member: Sen. Jeff Wentworth        <>  Jeff.Wentworth at senate.state.tx.us


And Please forward this message to your list.


Thank you, Barry Klein.

--- On Mon, 3/9/09, Linda Curtis <ljcurtis at indytexans.org> wrote:

From: Linda Curtis <ljcurtis at indytexans.org>
Subject: [Indyfriends] URGENT: Wentworth Attacks Texans' petitioning rights-action requested!
To: indyfriends at lists.independenttexans.com
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 12:39 PM



Dear Friends & Members:


Anti-petition bill -- set for a hearing THIS WEDNESDAY 9:30 am -- 
to more than double petition signatures for citizen's charter amendments.  (Details below.)


State Senator Jeff Wentworth is sponsoring SB 690 (details below) at the request of the Austin Chamber of Commerce to raise the signatures from 5 to 10% of registered voters and to remove the 20,000 signature cap.


Call Senator Wentworth's office (512) 463-0125.  Ask Sen. Wentworth to pull SB 690 down.  The bill is now in the Intergovernmental Government Relations Committee chaired by Senator Royce West.  The Vice Chair is Senator Robert Nichols.  Also on the committee is Senator Dan Patrick and Senator Mario Gallegos.  Details here.  Regardless of where you live, please call Wentworth's office, but make sure if you live in the district of these other Senators call them!


Call their offices and politely request they kill this bad bill.  Be sure to read the details below my signature before you call.



If you can get to Austin, join us this Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Capital -- in the underground extension, Room E 1.028 for a hearing on SB 690.


Independently yours,



Linda Curtis

Independent Texans
http://IndyTexans.org
ljcurtis at IndyTexans.org
PO Box 14294
Austin, TX 78761
512-535-0989 home office
512-383-8484 Austin office
512-657-2089 cell


MORE ON SB 690
Here's the actual bill language.


A quick political history.  The Austin Chamber of Commerce has been pushing this bill, we believe as their response to Prop 2, even though Prop 2 failed!  In 2007 Senator Kirk Watson carried this bill (minus an amendment in this year's bill that exempts police and fire).  The requirements currently for citizen's charter amendment petitioning is 5% of registered voters, with a 20,000 signature cap.  Wentworth's SB 690 would raise the signatures to 10% and remove the 20,000 cap.  The law already requires 10% for citizen's municipal initiatives, referenda and recall petitions.  (Remember, Texans only have I&R&R at the city level).  The reason you don't see more referenda and initiatives is because petitioning requirements make them near impossible and WAY too expensive.  If anything, they should lower those requirements.  Bottom line -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  How many charter amendments have we seen in the last 10 years in Austin?
  Four.  How many have passed?  None!  But that hasn't stopped the Chamber from trying to snuff out any opposition to their developer scams on Austin taxpayers.  Defeat SB 690!  If you're a member of the Chamber -- let 'em have an earful, cancel your membership and tell them you're sending your dues for ChangeAustin.org, who will keep fighting for voters and local business.











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