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Yesterday's Texas Republican primary was maddening. A bunch of voters got snookered by a massive spending spree by Tim Dunn and the manipulations of his snotty "defend Texas liberty" henchmen: Michael Q. Sullivan , aka "Mucous" and Jonathan Stickland . And then there were the three stooges of Donald Trump -- King Greg Abbott , Lt. Gov. TaliDan Patrick , and the slitheriest snake in the west, Attorney General Ken Paxton . We're sure they are gloating big time today that they forced Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan into a runoff in his home district. And, for what "crime," you might ask? Phelan has stood with the long-held tradition of our House Speakers, by giving respect to the opposing party, which represents millions of Texas Democrats. Dade Phelan, whether you agree with his policies or not, did deliver to conservatives, who then proceeded to go after him as a so-called RINO, Republican in Name Only. Really? Phelan's statement last night says a lot about who he really is and why the Texas GOP is going mad as hell: "Against a tidal wave of outside influence and the relentless flood of special interest dollars pouring into House District 21, our campaign emerges today still standing strong against the tides that have sought to unseat me. The barrage aimed at our campaign over the past year was meant to be my undoing, and yet here I am, emerging from the most contentious and expensive primary in state history still fighting and more determined than ever. Clearly, what these outsiders have underestimated is the strength of Southeast Texas voters. I cannot thank them enough for their support. "What they've also underestimated is the power of a platform based on actual results. As Speaker, I have proudly presided over the two most conservative sessions in state history, securing numerous victories including an $18 billion property tax cut, constitutional carry, a ban on abortion, increased penalties for illegal voting, the strongest border security measures in the country, protecting our kids from the radical woke agenda and more. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts. Despite the lies and attempts by my opponents to disparage this conservative record of the Texas House, the facts speak for themselves - my leadership has led to the passage of conservative legislation that Republican voters have long been fighting for." There's no question Phelan is a conservative. But, that's never enough for those who are out for tbe raw power it takes to keep corrupt officials like Ken Paxton in place and to lock down competitive elections, aka small "d" democracy. Read this helpful Texas Tribune article for a good recap of the fools' foolish fun and the lawmakers they trashed, " Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton Declare Victory in Attack on GOP House Defectors ." The coming days are when the real action starts, at least from the vantage point of independent Texans. Is there a movement to be built from the millions of Texans who did not vote in either primary? Don't forget that we have an open primary in Texas. That means we can still vote on May 28th in either political party primary runoff. Ponder this and call us if you want to do something: 17,759,273 Texans are registered to vote. 3,228,358 Texans voted in either major party primary -- 18%. How do we move the 14,530,915 voters -- 82% -- who did not vote? Hint: It's the only thing that still counts to 99% of them all. It's called democracy stupid! Note: We're looking forward to Paxton's trial on April 15 for securities fraud, well before the runoffs on May 28th. :) PS Thanks to folks on the ground in House District 18 who complained to us about the non-stop texts and mail badgering them to vote to defeat a decent guy, Rep. Ernest Bailes .

Early voting for tomorrow's "Super Tuesday" presidential primary is done or should we say, Dunn? Tim Dunn sits there in West Texas weaving his political web while watching the destruction unfold on the Texas Panhandle's land, water, and livestock. Texas is not nearly Dunn yet, but might be if we don't make our politics serve us not serve us up to the likes of Dunn and Christian Nationalism. Is what is happening to us -- our water, our land, and our democracy -- the Armageddon for which Christian Nationalists, like Dunn, have prayed? Folks, these wretched people believe Armageddon will force Jews to finally repent and become Christians to avoid going to hell! We kid you not. Dunn has been shoveling money by the millions to the Texas GOP triumvirate , our very own Texas Taliban -- Dan Patrick , Greg Abbott , and Ken Paxton . One of his PACs has invoked the word "liberty." Liberty to do what? To snooker you to be part of a scheme to destroy anyone or anything that gets in their way to run your life, including your religious life. We strongly suggest you read Quorum Report Harvey Kronberg's latest: Read here, " It is long past time to call BS on Greg Abbott ." Is there a contest in either party primary in your community that you care about? T hen, go vote , and we'll see what shakes out after this primary. For you deep divers : The good news in this GOP meltdown was printed in copious detail in the March edition of the Texas Monthly, " The Billionaire Bully Who Wants to Turn Texas Into a Christian Theocracy ." Finally, at least Texans of all persuasions get to see the real Tim Dunn.

Congrats to Rep. Reggie Smith ( R-Sherman ), for the best Texas Ad, so far for Texas independents. He captures for us at LIV how most independents feel about the war between and internal to the major parties. Texas independents want out of their crossfire! If Texas voters figure out the grift that Rep. Drew Darby ( R-San Angelos ) called out (not to mention Rep. Ernest Bailes, R-Shepherd ) by those who will say anything to get over on voters, Katy bar the door for the future of Texas elections. In other words, friends, we may be witnessing the destruction of one-party rule. What's most interesting about it is the destruction of the Texas GOP -- if voters don't step up to save it -- comes from the very top guys in this screwy election. We're talking about Gov. Gregg Abbott , Lt. Governor Dan Patrick , and, not to be outdone, the ethically and legally challenged Attorney General Ken Paxton . It didn't just magically happen that their foe, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan , who supported the impeachment proceedings against Paxton, is standing in their way. It's guys like Smith and Phelan who chose not to go along to get along with the "anything goes," crowd at the Lege. Let us not forget that in the last regular legislative session, key Dan Patrick lieutenant, Senator Bryan Hughes , tried to destroy any real access to the Texas ballot for independents and minor parties. We at LIV noticed that neither Phelan nor Smith, who chaired the House Elections Committee, engaged in independent and minor party bashing in the 2023 Legislative Session. The real good news is that the decision-making going on today is by hundreds of thousands of voters who have already voted early or are in the process. We make no predictions but you can guess whose side we're on. That said, LIV is not endorsing candidates in this election. We are endorsing YOU to think and take appropriate action. (Note: Independent Texans PAC did endorse Ernest Bailes in House District 18 -- east Texas.) For now, Texas has an open primary where voters simply go to the voting stations and pick a Republican or Democrat ballot in the primary. Some independents do not participate in the primaries and opt for simply voting in the general election in November. Some independents also opt to participate in a minor party such as the Libertarian or Green parties. Their state conventions are coming up on April 13th. And, if you want to sign for an independent candidate or new party, you have to refrain from voting in the primary. This rule only exists in Texas and is on appeal at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pick your options, y'all. And, please become a dues-paying member of the League of Independent Voters of Texas , a non-partisan, nonprofit 501c4 organization. Note: LIV is looking to add new independent blood from across Texas to our decision-making bodies. If you want to help gently herd independent voters, not shove them into bitter partisan warfare, get in touch.

Thanks to the San Antonio Express-News and Breaking Points we can say rest in peace to US airman, Aaron Bushnell who chose the most "extreme protest" -- that of self-immolation. Some news outlets did not tell us the reason for Bushnell's decision. In his own words, Bushnell said, "I will no longer be complicit in genocide," referring to the United States' policies in Israel. He was heard screaming in agony these two words before collapse, "Free Palestine." We send our condolences to the Bushnell family and urge you to reach your member of Congress and President Joe Biden to urge a ceasefire now. Let's not let Aaron's death be in vain. Some of you readers are old enough to remember the act of the Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc , whose self-immolation during the Vietnam War was news across the world. LIV wrote about the need for a ceasefire in this article last October, " Blessed are the Peacemakers ." Today, the people of Gaza are trapped in the middle of the crossfire as many starve, including thousands of women and children. Rest in peace, Aaron Bushnell and peacemakers of the world unite!

At least some of you noticed that we've been off since November 2023! Our chief bottle-washer, Linda Curtis , is writing about it. So keep an eye out for some more independent news coming soon! Meanwhile, former State Representative David Simpson , the honest friend to all of what's left of honesty in Texas politics and LIV's strongest water ally in the Texas House, had this opinion piece published in the Longview News-Journal about the bloodbath going on in the Republican primary, " Political revenge reveals character. " Simpson asks area voters to vote for State Reps. Jay Dean , Cole Hefner,  and Gary VanDeaver in the GOP primary. Note : Early voting in the major party primaries begins tomorrow, February 20, and ends on Friday, March 1. King Greg and TaliDan are on a Tear Is Gov. Greg Abbott bucking to be Donald Trump's running mate? Is Lt. Governor Dan Patrick , bucking to be Governor, after taking a $3M "loan" from backers of Ken Paxton while he presided as judge for Paxton's impeachment trial in the Texas Senate? Does a bear you-know-what in the woods? We do know that Greg Abbott just received the single largest campaign donation in Texas history, $6M , from Jeff Yass , an out-of-state advocate for school vouchers. Now, Abbott is touring Texas and spending his big bucks to defeat legislators who refused to cow-tow to King Greg and voted against vouchers and with their districts. (Remember, LIV wrote to you about the voucher issue here and had an educational forum about it.) LIV Suggests Texas Independents Consider Voting in the GOP Primary in districts where the Gov and Lt. Gov are on their high horses. Read this Quorum Report article that lays out some of those hotly contested districts.   Independent Texans PAC has endorsed Ernest Bailes in House District 18. Ernest made this statement about the out-of-state interests that targeted him. There are a bunch of other legislators targeted by Abbott and Patrick, so beware and do your homework! Again, read the Quorum Report piece linked above and feel free to contact us at 512.213.4511 or contac@livtx.org . This is too important a fight for representation and local control to stay out of. Please note : Though, indeed, you cannot sign a petition to place an independent candidate or minor party on the ballot if you vote in either major party primary. This "rule" only exists in Texas and is being challenged in federal court on appeal at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, though it is unlikely to be decided before the 2024 election. But also note that you can still carry a petition for any candidate or party, regardless of who you vote for in any primary.

UPDATE, Friday, Nov. 12. Food reservations are due by 5 pm today! If you cannot make this event (it has been moved inside the barn, the event will be streamed. Please email us at contact@livtx.org or call or text us at 512.213.4511 to send you those stream instructions. Please include your phone and email address. Green Amendment — Presentation by Maya van Rossum, Free Community Event 6:00 PM 7:00 PM, Saturday, November 11 Green Gate Farms ( map) Concerned about climate change? Want to protect farmland and our environment for future generations of Texans? Need inspiration? Come hear how the Green Amendments campaign, created by water activist and lawyer Maya van Rossum , is making a big difference in other states. This summer, Montana’s youth activists were able, for the first time, to use a Green Amendment to successfully make the case that the state is not protecting them from climate change. Maya will present how Texas can have a legal right to clean air and water, a stable and healthy environment just as Pennsylvania, New York and Montana do. Rep. Vikki Goodwin , who introduced the “Stewardship Amendment” in 88th legislative session, will also share needed next steps. This is a free community event, open to all. AND a fundraising dinner follows this event from 7-9 p.m. Get your tickets under the image to the right.

Early Voting, Monday, October 23 - Friday, November 3 Election Day, Tuesday, November 7 Details on Polling Locations and more . LIV has adopted Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance’s “No on Prop 1” and written our own in-depth review of Prop 6. We also wrote something we hope you enjoy about the rank opportunism involved in Prop 3 (Vote No, Hell No) sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes . It never should have made it to your ballot. LIV’s Board also reviewed these resources to better understand all 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot. Texas Tribune House Research Organization TX Legislative Council League of Women Voter s LIV Recommendations : Prop 1 - No Prop 8 - Yes Prop 2 - No Prop 9 - Yes Prop 3 - No Prop 10 - No Prop 4 - No Prop 11 - Yes Prop 5 - No Prop 12 - No Prop 6 - No Prop 13 - Neutral (No) Prop 7 - No Prop 14 - Yes No on Prop 1 : Prop 1 will appear on the ballot as follows : “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.” Sounds good right? No. It’s a power grab by Big Ag, instead of helping family farmers stay in business. LIV agrees that this is not about the “right to farm.” It’s about the “right to harm” local farmers. Therefore, we adopt Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance ’s “No on Prop 1” position in this article . No on Prop 2 : Prop 2 will appear on the ballot as : “The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad-valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility.” Sounds good, but it’s a bad idea. We agree with this statement from the Texas Legislative Council: “Property tax exemptions will result in higher tax burdens for homeowners and other businesses, who will have to pay more to make up for the lost revenue.” We also agree with the League of Women Voters’ “con” argument that “the benefits of this tax break may not flow to parents and childcare workers.” No, Hell No on Prop 3 : Prop 3 will appear as the crap on your ballot : “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.” Here’s the entirety of this legislation, HJR 132: "Sec. 25: The legislature may not impose a tax based on the wealth or net worth of an individual or family, including a tax based on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family." This is the kind of legislation you can expect from Sen. Bryan Hughes . He is well-known as a "nice guy" who will carry any legislation, no matter how bad it is. Any sensible tax code will not discourage hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Yet consider what has taken place in monetary policy since the “Strict Dad” policies of former Fed Chair Paul Volcker ended in the late 80s. Since October ‘87, vast sums of money have been transferred upwards by way of the “Cantillon Effect.” The Fed’s “Easy Money” policies over recent decades to prop up the economy in the short term have in effect transferred a disproportionate ratio of the new money created to the top financial classes. Most notably, the top 1% and top 10%.* Accommodative policy, quantitative easing, whatever name is used to describe it - it’s all just money creation. And, as new money is created by a nation’s central bank and enters the national economy through the banking system, it does not benefit all economic classes equally. To a large extent, this is why we see such disparity in wealth today versus in the 80s. Much ado has been made of tax breaks for the rich since 1980, and certainly, a fiscal policy of large tax breaks for the upper classes has contributed to the unprecedented disparity in wealth in the United States, along with a huge national debt. But the untold story of government favoritism towards economic elites is on the monetary side of the equation. Proponents of a wealth tax ban are mindful of the windfalls they have attained by way of faulty central bank policy and now seek to lock in their undue government welfare. Texans should not vote to limit options to alleviate the damage from past government mistakes, or to diminish our capacity to respond if a crisis emerges, such as a war or natural disaster. It makes no sense to tie our hands when facing our biggest challenges. Besides, who makes the bigger sacrifice? The families who send kids to war, or the wealthy who face additional taxes during times of war? * Recall the expression, "It takes money to make money." The redistribution of wealth from an increase in the money supply is kind of like that. The first recipients of the money experience an increase in wealth, while those who receive it later or never receive any of the new money experience a relative decrease in wealth. For details and additional effects of money creation and commensurate inflation: https://mises.org/wire/cantillon-effects-why-inflation-helps-some-and-hurts-others (Louis Rouanet, “Monetary Policy, Asset Price Inflation and Inequality) No on Prop 4: Prop 4 will appear on your ballot as: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad-valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts. Though we at LIV like a provision in Prop 4 that allows for three of the Appraisal Board Members to be elected in counties with more than 75,000 population, we cannot support Prop 4. LIV adopts this language from The House Resource Organization: “It is crucial to ensure that any property tax reduction or exemption is implemented sustainably and does not compromise necessary funding for public services such as education and healthcare in the long term. Reducing property taxes could make the state more vulnerable to not meeting its funding obligations in the case of a recession. With less reliance on property taxes, school funding could be in jeopardy if the state faced a decline in sales tax revenue, which could result in school funding cuts or a need to raise taxes. Property tax relief also should include measures to directly benefit the state’s significant number of renters.” In other words, this may HURT schools and renters. Legislative source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=882&Bill=HJR2 No on Prop 5 : The proposed amendment will appear as: “The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.” LIV adopts the “con” argument of the Texas House Research Organization: “Proposition 5 would only provide funding to a select few universities in the state and would not be the best use of the available funding. By excluding certain institutions, the Texas University Fund could provide an advantage to eligible universities while other schools would be expected to compete with them at the same level.” We also would like to know just who the “few universities” are and how much they get. No on Prop 6: The proposed amendment will appear as: “The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.” LIV has a special article for you to read about this as we have been involved in Texas Water issues since our inception in 2013. Read “ No on Prop 6, Hold Your Water . ” As usual, if it’s about water, it’s complicated. No on Prop 7: The proposed amendment will appear as : “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.” LIV adopts the “con” side of the argument set forth in the Texas House Research Organization: “Proposition 7 would not be guaranteed to increase reliability because the construction of power plants (specifically gas) in Texas has been limited due to concerns about generating sufficient profits, not due to cost barriers or limited investment. There is already robust private investment in the electric market and government involvement comes with risks, such as market distortion and borrowers defaulting on loans. Some government loan programs related to energy have resulted in high-profile defaults in other states. The state should not expose itself and taxpayers to this possibility.” Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SJR93 Yes on Prop 8: The proposed amendment will appear as : “The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.” Rural Texans need expanded broadband. We view this government support as legitimate as building roads, or as Rep. Doc Anderson put it, it’s like the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. This Waco Tribune article on Prop 8 is a worthwhile read. By the way, the money for this amendment has already been appropriated. Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HJR125 Yes on Prop 9: The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows : “The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.” LIV adopts the “Pro” side provided by the House Research Organization: "Proposition 9 would allow the 88th Legislature to allocate funds to provide a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment to TRS benefits for thousands of retired teachers. Under current law, the Legislature is not permitted to provide benefit enhancements, so TRS benefits do not change over time to account for price fluctuation. Inflation can be especially burdensome for individuals living on a fixed income, such as retired teachers. Although a cost-of-living adjustment could be provided for through other methods, a constitutional amendment would better guarantee funding amid competing priorities within the state’s budget surplus. In addition to the cost-of-living adjustment, SB 10, the proposition’s enabling legislation, would grant retired teachers a one-time supplemental payment of certain benefits. The provision of a cost-of-living adjustment could improve teacher recruitment and retention, which could help to address critical school staffing shortages. The proposition also would not require an increase in TRS member contribution rates." No one is opposing this for a reason. We all say teachers need more money. No on Prop 10: The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows : “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.” This is yet another giveaway to the medical industry. As the Texas Tribune says, “the amendment doesn’t keep other entities from raising taxes to make up for the loss.” LIV adopts the “con” side of the argument from the House Research Organization: "Instead of exempting medical and biomedical manufacturers from ad valorem taxation requirements, the Legislature should focus on reducing taxes for all Texans. The proposition also could burden regular taxpayers, who could be required to pay more to recoup tax revenue that would otherwise be paid by medical manufacturers." See the League of Women Voters’ arguments against it, as well. Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SJR87 Yes on Prop 11: The proposed amendment will appear as: “ The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities ." LIV adopts this explanation from the League of Women Voters: “Proposition 11 would include El Paso County on the list of Texas counties that allow their conservation reclamation districts to issue bonds to develop recreational facilities. These bonds would be supported by property taxes, but could only be authorized if voters of the district approve them.” Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SJR32 No on Prop 12: The proposed amendment will appear as : “The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.” LIV adopts Joe Jaworski’s statement against Prop 12: “It’s ‘let’s strangle government in the tub’ effort. Galveston County actually elected a guy as its constitutional treasurer on a platform of eliminating the office – not that he has an ounce of power to eliminate it. As you can see, only voters can.” And, LIV adopts the League of Women Voters’ con argument: “ Removing the office of county treasurer would impact current checks and balances between elected county commissioners, who control the budget, and the elected county treasurer, who makes financial management decisions.” Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HJR134 Neutral on Prop 13 which means No: The proposed amendment will appear as: “The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.” We could only support half of this measure. The first part, which we support, is that state judges can retire at 79 instead of 75, if they so choose. But the second part would mean they have to wait until 75, instead of 70, to retire, which may cause undue burden on some judges and have a negative impact on our justice system. Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HJR107 Yes on Prop 14: The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows : “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.” LIV adopts the House Research Organization’s “pro” side of the argument for this proposition: “The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund created by Proposition 14 and named in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Texas state parks system would preserve and increase access to Texas’ natural beauty for residents across the state. As the state’s population has continued to grow, so has demand for the parks system. However, few state parks have been created in the past several decades. Today, many Texas residents must make reservations weeks or months ahead of time to camp in the available parks. By increasing access to state parks, Proposition 14 would help to ensure all Texans can enjoy the benefits of safe, well-maintained outdoor spaces that bring communities together, support children’s development, and provide residents with places to explore and experience nature.” Lege source: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SJR74 Please share this article!

Pardon LIV's "water wonky ways," but we've been part of the "water front" in Texas since our inception in 2013. We hope you find this important and helpful backdrop to how we have come to conclude a NO vote on this proposition. If approved by voters, the legislatively referred constitutional amendment (amending section 49 of Article 3 of the state constitution ) --- Prop 6---- would establish in the Texas constitution, a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, the “Texas Water Fund”, with the dedication of $1 billion of state money for water projects in Texas. The Fund will be administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), or any successor. The Board, created in 1957, consists of three members appointed by the Governor. SJR 75 was sponsored by Sen. Charles Perry (R-28), chair of the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and authored in the Texas House by Rep. Tracy King (D-Uvalde). Quote from Sen. Perry: "Water infrastructure needs in Texas total in the billions in order to cover aging and failing pipes and build out new water supply. It is estimated that the state loses 136 billion of gallons of water a year to leaking water main pipes. Additionally, the state will be 7 million acre feet short of supply in the next 50 years. S.J.R. 75 allows the Texas voters to decide if the state will create the Texas Water Fund to continue investment in water for years to come." Specifically, If the Fund is approved, TWDB would provide loans and grants to Texas communities to finance water supply development, water and wastewater infrastructure repair, water awareness, and water conservation projects. This investment would be the largest single state dollar investment in Texas water since voters approved a $2 billion transfer from the Texas Rainy Day Fund, and the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) in 2013. If Proposition 6 fails, the $1 billion will not be available for funding water projects and programs (indeed, proponents of the 2023 Prop 6 characterize the $1 billion of funding as a “down payment” on what will be needed to supply Texas’ existing and future water needs). The Fund would consist of money allocated by the state legislature, gifts and grants, and investment earnings of the fund. The amendment would require no less than 25% of the initial allocation to the fund by the legislature to be transferred to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund, created by the implementing legislation (SB 28) for the new Texas Water Fund. A full schematic is at the top of this page and see the comment below: Distributions to water infrastructure projects would prioritize projects in rural political subdivisions or municipalities with a population of less than 150,000. The League of Women Voters of Texas lists only two arguments against the measure: • The amount the Legislature has agreed to put into the fund is not enough to pay for the number of projects needed to secure Texas’ future water supply needs. • Proposition 6 would allow funds to be taken from state revenues to fund local water projects. The earlier 2013 Prop 6 constitutional amendment created a water development bank for projects designated to help meet the state's need for water, coupled with a diversion of $2 billion of funding from the state’s savings account, the Rainy Day Fund. One of its programs, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas, or SWIFT, issues bonds to provide low-cost loans to finance water supply projects. SWIFT’s performance has been criticized for its failure to live up to its promise of issuing at least 10% of those bonds to benefit rural communities and agricultural conservation. In an April 2022 article, the Texas Tribune cited a finding by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission that bonds issued for such projects since 2013 had only amounted to 1% of bonds issued to finance state water plan projects. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/07/texas-rural-water-projects-swift/ LIV's Conclusion on a Vote No on Prop 6 As an outspoken critic of the original Prop 6 in 2013, largely because of our pessimism that too much power would be vested in three people appointed by the Governor to carry out all of the lofty promises made by Prop 6, LIV is still unwilling to support this Prop 6. We still do not believe that priority will be given to rural Texas after being neglected by SWIFT for too long, which is why LIV suggests you vote No on Prop 6. That said, there appears to be no organized challenge to the passage of Prop 6. Indeed, it has been characterized as a necessary “down payment” on meeting Texas’ water needs so stay tuned for more to come in future. It will, therefore, likely pass.

On Monday, October 23, early voting begins and Texans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 126 or Proposition 1 , that would enshrine the "right to farm" in the Texas constitution. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. We urge you to vote No on Prop 1. Prop 1 gives Big Ag more advantages to expand in Texas at the expense of our family farmers, our property rights, and our environmental protections. 1) We don’t need a constitutional amendment. There are already laws on the books, including brand-new bills from this year’s legislative session. 2 ) Prop 1 goes too far. The current laws are already so strong that a neighbor lost a case in court against a feedlot whose manure lagoons were overflowing onto their property during storms. Prop 1 would make it even harde r for neighbors, and even the government, to rein in bad actors like this. That means harm not only to the “city slicker” neighbors so often referenced by the proponents, but to small and organic farmer neighbors as well. Because of this, FARFA believes Prop 1 is too likely to harm small farmers, sets a bad legal precedent for property rights for everyone, and is bad for communities. 3) Too much power in unelected hands. The “generally accepted” agricultural practices that are central to the proposed protections will be defined by A&M Extension, which typically promotes consolidated, chemical-intensive agriculture – and there’s no process for input or review. 4) It would become nearly impossible to change. We can’t predict our needs or how this vaguely worded amendment would impact us in the future, but if it goes into the Constitution, it will take a ⅔ vote by future lawmakers and a new vote by the public to change it. There are real abuses by local governments and real changes that need to be made to rein in unnecessary regulations, but they can and should be addressed without giving industrial agriculture more power and a blank check to harm others in the name of “feeding America”. To learn more, check out these resources: FARFA Press Release Houston Chronicle Editorial

Today, October 18, 2023, it appears that the US is moving further in the mess of the Middle East, taking the bait of the dastardly Hamas attack and healing to the Israel Lobby. Members of Congress (425 to date), signed on to a House Resolution 771 authored by Central Texas Congressman Michael McCaul , chair of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US House. The legislation is stalled until a new Speaker is chosen. HR 771 Caption : Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists. Full text here . LIV urges you to reach your Congressional Representative NOW . Your message is simple: "I implore you to call for a ceasefire and a de-escalation now in Israel. I'm counting on you to save lives and billions of US dollars for destruction, and to move forward with a two-state solution . We know of no better voice of reason for the two-state solution and pragmatic peace than that of Professor John Mearsheime r. This 26-minute interview on October 12 also shares a perspective on Ukraine that should unite us all. Last, we highly recommend you wrap your brain around the division with the GOP over US foreign policy in Israel. This 12-minute segment Glenn Greenwald's show is about the storm created by Tucker Carlson taking to task over-the-top bloodthirsty war hawks, Nikki Haley and Lindsey Graham. It will set you -- and all of us peacemakers -- free! Get to work, you Texas independents. After you call your Congress member, stay tuned for a report about Vouchers and the offensive Defend Texas Liberty PAC.

The Governor's 3rd Special Session is underway focused on School Vouchers, despite its resounding failure in the regular session when legislators, including many rural Republicans, did the right thing by holding the line for public schools. One of the most knowledgeable people in Texas on school finance is Troy Reynolds , the founder of Texans for Public Education. We have the pleasure of hosting Mr. Reynolds at this forum on Tuesday night. We also invite local officials, teachers, parents, and students to join us to talk about your concerns for future action to set the Governor and his allies straight. More on this subject: Who are these guys? Tim Dunn , on the left, and Farris Wilks on the right, deserve your attention. Teachers, parents, students and taxpayers alike have little reason to join the unholy war created by those who want to insert their religion over ours...with our tax dollars in the balance. Many legislators are sick and tired of these guys too. Dunn and Wilks' water boy is former Rep. Jonathan Stickland who has inserted foot in mouth many times. His more recent "blunder" was meeting with a holocaust denier (a guy named Nick Fuentes) just as Israel was attacked by Hamas. Amazing timing, Stickie! There's only one way to put these guys out of business. Candidates who take their money for the March primaries deserve your full attention. Read More on this important political battle: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/12/texas-senate-school-vouchers-special-session/ https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/12/defend-texas-liberty-pac-nick-fuentes-jonathan-stickland/

T aliDan and King Greg have at least two things in common. That is Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks (see photos below) . They bought the Judge (Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick) in the Ken Paxton impeachment trial fiasco with a $3M "loan" they ran through the so-called "Defend Texas Liberty PAC ." Dunn and Wilks have been meddling and leveraging their super-wealth in Texas politics for decades. They have Gov. Greg Abbott dancing along with Patrick to make Dunn's and Wilks' religion (the almighty dollar, hiding behind their version of Christianity) reign supreme over the Texas Constitution. The Offend Texas Liberty PAC real agenda is to: Subvert religious freedom with their version of Christianity. Tell parents how to raise their kids. Keep voters forever fighting about abortion and bathrooms. Force school vouchers (calling it "school choice") on Texas public education, including threats to "primary" rural Republicans who refused to pass them in the regular 2023 session. Does it sound like these guys give two hoots or a holler about your liberty? Thousands of teachers and education supporters will rally this Saturday, Oct. 7, FROM 12-2 ON THE SOUTH STEPS OF THE CAPITOL in Austin. JOIN LIV THERE or reply to this message to hook up a ride or to meet us there. PS The Offend Your Liberties PAC money handler is none other than former State Rep. Jonathan Stickland . He's the guy who killed the anti-chaining dog protection bill in 2019. Why? Because he could.