Voting Resources
SECESSION fails to make March TEXAS BALLOT
On Saturday, December 5, the 62 members of the State Republican Executive Committee met in Austin to decide what initiatives if any would be placed on the March 1, 2016 ballot. Among the ballot propositions, secession was the only one that was unsuccessful to meet the committee’s approval. Seceding from the US failed by an indisputable voice vote that rang loud and clear throughout the room. A roll call vote was also defeated.
So as not to bring the controversial topic of secession to a hot boil, a 30 minute time limit was voted on the discussion. SD11 SREC member, Tanya Robertson, introduced the resolution and stated that it would only be a barometer as to how Texans felt and that the initiative would be ‘harmless’ and non-binding. Opponent SD21 SREC member, Mike Goldman, spoke of his ancestors and commented that he could not imagine living in a Texas that is not part of America. He was sorry that Texans were fighting to divide. He quoted Sam Houston’s Address on Secession.
Friday evening, Robertson introduced the proposal to the Resolutions committee that passed to be presented to the full body on Saturday. The proposal read:
If the federal government continues to disregard the Constitution and the sovereignty of the State of Texas, the State of Texas and its people should reassert its prior status as an independent nation.
The site of the state convention was also a hot topic because of the recent LGBT ordinance enacted in Dallas, Texas. The attempt to change the venue to Houston did not make it out of committee, leaving the convention in Dallas. Other ballot proposals that will be on the March ballot involve: Property Taxes, Sanctuary Cities, Paycheck Protection, 10th Amendment and Defunding Planned Parenthood.
