A victory but more work to be done!
AUSTIN (AP) - Texas voters on Tuesday passed a proposition limiting
the government's eminent domain powers and another creating a fund for
more top-tier research universities, along with nine other
constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Proposition 11 - the
eminent domain amendment supported by the Texas Farm Bureau, Gov. Rick
Perry and Perry's Republican rival, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison - had 81
percent of the vote favoring it and 19 percent against, with nearly 80
percent of all precincts reporting.
A proposition to guarantee public access to beaches and another to help build veterans hospitals also sailed to passage.
Those were the highest-profile propositions in a low-key statewide election.
Only spotty opposition emerged to any of the proposed amendments.
Proposition
4 aims to create a national research university fund out of $500
million in existing state money. Currently, Texas has three top-level
research universities: the University of Texas at Austin; Texas A&M
University and Rice University. It lags behind other big states like
California and New York, proponents said. Seven other Texas
universities are vying to achieve so-called Tier One status.
"Tonight's
passage of Proposition 4 sends this important message: Texans
understand that more nationally recognized research universities will
help retain Texas-grown talent, recruit top researchers who will
generate billions of dollars in economic growth and create more high
paying, permanent jobs," said former Lt. Governor Bill Hobby, co-chair
of Texans for Tier One.
Proposition 11 to limit eminent domain
powers will state in the constitution that governments in Texas are
prevented from seizing private property and giving it to a private
developer to boost the tax base.
Both major Republican candidates for governor issued statements on the election outcome.
"By
approving Proposition 11, the voters of Texas have sent a clear
message: Don't mess with private property rights," Perry said.
Hutchison praised the results and said it was a "first step" toward changing eminent domain laws.
"Texans
have sent a clear message that private property rights are sacred. I
look forward to working with the Legislature to further strengthen the
respect for private property as the next governor of Texas," Hutchison
said.
Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke said
passage of the amendment was an important, but incomplete, victory. He
said Texas' eminent domain laws still favor the condemner of property.
One
group opposed to Prop 11 was the private property and anti-toll road
organization Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, which said the
proposed amendment leaves open loopholes and doesn't address issues
like diminished access to remaining land after an eminent domain
seizure.
Terri Hall, founder and director of TURF, said Texans
sent a strong message with their vote Tuesday that they want eminent
domain reform, but she said Prop 11 doesn't get the job done.
"The Texas Legislature needs to continue the push for further reforms and to prevent abuses," she said.
Proposition
9 cements in the Texas Constitution the state's open beaches law.
Backers said it will protect public beach access from lawsuits or
legislative interference, while opponents said it could erode private
property rights.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)