 | Constitutional Amendments - Summary | |
| Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | ||
Proposition No. 8
Heritage Alliance Recommendation: AGAINST
How the proposition will appear on the ballot:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.
Summary:
Would amend the Texas Constitution by adding Art. 16, sec. 73 to require that the Texas Veterans Commission and the Department of State Health Services work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and any other appropriate federal agency to propose the establishment of a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley Region. The federal government would establish the hospital, but the state would be able to contribute money, property, or other resources to the hospital's establishment, maintenance, or operation.
Heritage Alliance Recommendation:
AGAINST
Conservative Principles which are the basis for this recommendation:
There is no compelling interest to vote for this amendment. The establishment of veterans hospitals is properly the role of the federal government. There are nine (9) veterans hospitals in Texas, all of which were established with federal and private funding and without special authority of the Texas Constitution. If additional veterans hospitals are needed, no additional state authority or funding is necessary.