Republican Party propositions on the Texas primary ballot

[Updated 10/19/2010: The propositions reproduced below were on the 2010 Republican Party Primary Ballot in Texas. There don't appear to be any propositions on the statewide ballot for the November 2, 2010, election. However, check county clerk's websites for sample ballots to see any propositions pertaining to a specific Texas county.  The original post follows.]

The Republican Generic Ballot for the upcoming Texas primary contains five yes/no non-binding propositions. It's basically an exit poll. But their presence on the ballot serves as a rude reminder that Texas voters do not have the right to place their own initiatives on the ballot.

They read like one of those fake polls that disguise fund raising letters. There are probably many people who vote in party primaries who don't necessarily agree with many things the particular party tries to foist on them. For example, one of the propositions involves religion, and another involves abortion -- two contentious areas that are superfluous to the issue that currently motivate a majority of voters.

As a reminder, that issue is out of control government spending, and many elected Republicans incumbents have contributed to the problem.

So will the Texas Republican party report the results of this ballot poll? It would be nice to see whether Texas voters in the Republican primary are as enthusiastic about social issues as the party leaders are. Then again, maybe the inclusion of the fiscal questions might serve as notice about what voters expect from whomever gets their vote.

I copied and pasted the source code for the propositions below, but if they don't appear properly, you can see them at the Harris County GOP site.

2010 Republican Primary Ballot Propositions
Ballot Proposition 1: Photo ID
The Texas legislature should make it a priority to protect the integrity of our election process by enacting legislation that requires voters to provide valid photo identification in order to cast a ballot in any and all elections conducted in the State of Texas.	YES	NO
Ballot Proposition 2: Controlling Government Growth
Every government body in Texas should be required to limit any annual increase in its budget and spending to the combined increase of population and inflation unless it first gets voter approval to exceed the allowed annual growth or in the case of an official emergency.	YES	NO
Ballot Proposition 3: Cutting Federal Income Taxes
In addition to aggressively eliminating irresponsible federal spending, Congress should empower American citizens to stimulate the economy by Congress cutting federal income taxes for all federal taxpayers, rather than spending hundreds of billions of dollars on so-called "federal economic stimulus".	YES	NO
Ballot Proposition 4: Public Acknowledgement of God
The use of the word "God", prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as be permitted on government buildings and property.	YES	NO
Ballot Proposition 5: Sonograms
The Texas Legislature should enact legislation requiring a sonogram to be performed and shown to each mother about to undergo a medically unnecessary, elective abortion.	YES	NO

Updated 3/3/10:

Here's how the vote came out according to the Texas Secretary of State's election results page:

Prop 1 -- Voter photo ID: Yes = 92.86%; No = 7.13%.

Prop 2 -- Controlling spending: Yes = 91.91%; No = 8.08%.

Prop 3 -- Cut federal taxes Yes = 93.09% ; No = 6.90%.

Prop 4 -- God, 10 commandments OK on gov property: Yes = 95.14%; No = 4.85%.

Prop 5 -- Required sonograms: Yes = 68.86% ; No = 31.13%.

Public acknowledgment of God was the biggest winner. The required sonograms got a big vote but not as much as the others. Clearly the abortion issue isn't going to be the Republican Party's strongest selling point if they want to attract independents.

Comments

[Les]

Way to set me off, George. I truly detest those fund raising/fake polls.

As for the propositions... in my opinion they all either miss the point or overstep the boundaries of proper government.

(And though your post raised my temperature, I am not paranoid and have no desire to go fly a plane.)

[Geo]

Les, the idea of non-binding resolutions on the official ballot seems like a pointless gesture, but there they are anyway.

The Tea Party movement consists of people who are fed up with the way politicians of both parties have acted. Republicans are trying to target those people, but their aim is a little off.

[Geo]

P.S. Speaking of political fund raising letters -- I like the ones that say on the envelope, "Final Notice!"

Sigh. If only.

[David Gaw]

The Harris County GOP does indeed have the results for the propositions, as does the Houston Chronicle. The first four passed with majorities greater than 90 percent; the sonogram provision passed 69-31.

[Geo]

Thanks for that, David. The Harris County GOP site wouldn't load for me. Maybe it's too busy over there this morning. I'll try later.

[Yvette]

Why is it that only Republicans get to vote on the propositions? It seems unfair that not ALL Texans get to have their voices heard. Do the results mean those propositions are law? Im new to Texas and am totaly confused on their way of voting. It doesn't seem fair that if I vote for one Democrate or Republican that I have to vote for All Democrats or Republicans? Why can't I vote for the person of my choice no matter what party they are with?

[Brett]

Based on the results, I suppose "the Texas voters in the Republican primary are as enthusiastic about social issues as the party leaders are."

[Geo]

Hello Yvette. Welcome to Texas.

The primary election yesterday was for the purpose of letting voters select which candidates will stand for election in the general election in November for each party.

The way the system is set up, a voter has to decide which party primary to vote in -- Democrat or Republican. He/she can't vote in both. However, at the election in November a voter can vote for candidates in either party.

The Texas Republican party put the propositions on the Republican ballot, and they wouldn't show up on the Democrat ballot unless the Texas Democratic Party agreed to it. Apparently, they didn't.

[Geo]

Brett, I believe you are right.

[Jane]

Great. People are more interested in beating down the wall between Church and State than controlling spending.

Good to know where my neighbors priorities are.

[Geo]

Right, Jane. The Republican Party is on a roll right now. But I believe they could do a better job of keeping moderates and attracting independents if they could stay out of the religious and social issues. That, however, seems to be a minority view.

[Cheryl]

I am a long time Republican who is turning away from the party because their main focus seems to be on social or moral issues. In my opinion, each to his own when it comes to abortion, gay issues, etc. There will always be gay people and abortion's been legal for about 40 years. Get over it already. I label myself independent these days and wish the Republicans would get back to the middle ground and moderate views and quit catering to the religious right. Our elected officials shouldn't use personal or certain church teachings to set law. Get back to important issues, like the economy, bringing our soldiers home, unemployment, taxes, wasteful spending, terrorists, protecting the borders, etc. I couldn't care less if Jane gets an abortion or Bill is gay. How petty and futile to waste time attempting to legislate these personal situations!

[Geo]

Thanks, Cheryl. If Republicans could relax a little bit on the social issues I believe they could more easily attract that large segment of fiscally conservative voters who disagree on the social conservatism.

A person doesn't have to go to church to be a good person.

[Joyce Petrich]

What props are on the November 2, 2010, ballot for Midland County?

[Geo]

Joyce, the five propositions above were on the Republican Primary ballot in Texas.

In Midland County there are three propositions on the November ballot, all dealing with a new water district.

Here's a link to a sample generic ballot:
http://www.co.midland.tx.us/elections/History/20101102/Generic%20Ballot.pdf