Oncor contract negotiations were scheduled for the week of October 21st. A tornado touched down in Dallas on Sunday, October 20th. The Company stated there were 100,000 customers without power and negotiations would need to be canceled. The parties could possibly meet Thursday, October 24th, to resume contract negotiations. There is not a lot we can say about contract negotiations other than there has been a lot of proposals passed back and forth. The process is fluid and difficult to gage at this point. The Union negotiating team will pass along information as it becomes available.
The Texas Legislature passed ten (10) joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas Constitution. Texas voters will have the opportunity on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 to decide on whether to approve the proposed constitutional amendments. In addition to the proposed amendments, several cities will also be holding local elections.
Following is the wording of the proposed amendments as they will appear on the ballot and a suggested position for each amendment. Regardless of your position on the issues, I encourage you to participate in the process and exercise your right to vote. Take special note of Proposition Number 4. This is a proposition for a state income tax! Vote NO on proposition number 4!
Proposition Number 1 “The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 2 “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for th4e development of certain projects in economically distress areas.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 3 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster.” Vote yes.
Proposition Number 4 “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated associated income.” Vote No.
Proposition Number 5 “The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect the Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 6 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 7 “The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions form the available school fund.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 8 “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects”. Vote yes
Proposition Number 9 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in the state.” Vote yes
Proposition Number 10 “The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.” Vote yes
Get out and vote!!!!
Until next time may God bless you, your family, and our local union.
Bobby W. Reed