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Constitutional amendments
November 7, 2007
Prop 15 squeaked by in Travis County
Proposition 15, the $3 billion cancer research proposal on Tuesday’s statewide ballot, passed easily. But in Travis County, it just barely passed, getting 50.29 percent of the vote.
That includes both early voting and Election Day results. On Election Day, more people in Travis County (50.16 percent) voted against the proposal than for it.
Austinite Don Zimmerman, who started a political action committee opposing the proposal, used signs and press conferences to encourage Travis County voters to say no to what he called a cancer tax. His group didn’t form until Oct. 20, which he acknowledged “is absurdly late.” The group worked only in Travis County and had just a fraction of the budget of the proposition’s supporters. But the message evidently resonated with voters.
“It’s incredible to beat them on Election Day,” Zimmerman said today. “It’s at least a moral victory.”
Do you have any thoughts on why Travis County voters were less likely to support the proposal than voters in the rest of the state?
If so, post a comment.
November 6, 2007
Lance Armstrong: "I've never been prouder to call myself a Texan."
After news came that the cancer research proposal passed tonight, Armstrong told whooping supporters in Austin: “Texas, we’ve done it tonight. The time has come to renew our national commitment to fight cancer, and Prop. 15 is going to make that happen. We will beat this dreaded disease and we will win.”
Armstrong, sounding very much like a candidate (he insists he’s not), also called on the federal government and the presidential candidates to make it a priority for health care to be accessible and affordable for every American.
Armstrong’s speech was written by a former speechwriter for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Lance Armstrong Foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane.
Those celebrating with Armstrong at the Driskill Hotel tonight also saw a congratulatory video message from U.S. Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who’s said she might (or might not) run for governor.
“I am very excited about Texas, I’m very excited about this opportunity, and I think we can be the leader in breakthroughs in cancer research,” Hutchison said.
The mother of Prop. 15
A lot of people helped secure a victory for Proposition 15.
But when Lance Armstrong went around Texas drumming up support for the $3 billion cancer research proposal, he always credited Austinite Cathy Bonner for coming up with the idea.
Bonner, who served in the cabinet of the late Gov. Ann Richards, has said the project was inspired by Richards, who died last year of cancer of the esophagus.
Armstrong called Bonner the mother of Proposition 15.
And so as not to offend state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, Senate sponsor of the legislation that got the proposal on the statewide ballot, Armstrong said Nelson could be the proposal’s grandmother.
All 16 propositions pass
The Associated Press is reporting that Propositions 4 and 16 have passed. That means all 16 amendments have passed.
Proposition 4 authorizes $1 billion in taxpayer-backed bonds for construction, maintenance, repair and equipment purchases. Projects include three new state prisons, repairs at state parks and county courthouses, upgrades at hospitals for Texans with mental retardation and improvements at Youth Commission facilities.
Proposition 16 authorizes $250 million in taxpayer-supported bonds to pay for water and wastewater services in economically distressed areas, particularly in substandard subdivisions along the Mexico border.
Proposition 15 passes
Texas voters have approved Proposition 15, the cancer bond amendment, according to The Associated Press.
Supporters Lance Armstrong and Gov. Rick Perry immediately issued statements:
“We celebrate a milestone in Texas history today, and I’ve never been more proud to be a Texan.” Armstrong said. “Proposition 15 is the most important effort in which I have ever been involved, and I am deeply grateful to the people of this state for joining our campaign by voting to make Texas a global leader in cancer research and prevention.”
From Perry: “Everyone has a stake in the fight against cancer and Texans have taken matters into their own hands by passing Proposition 15, funding ten years of cancer research in our state. I believe that we will look back on this day as a turning point in the war against this deadly disease.”
Cancer bond supporters celebrate at Driskill
Here at the Driskill Hotel, supporters of Proposition 15 are sipping wine, rocking out to ’80s cover band the Spazmatics and celebrating the victory of the $3 billion cancer research proposal.
“Because of what happened tonight, Texans are going to be the epicenter of cancer research on the planet, period,” said former state Comptroller John Sharp, who has championed the proposal.
Photos of Lance Armstrong’s pro-Proposition 15 bus tour are flashing on huge screens: Armstrong signing autographs for young cancer patients; Armstrong’s bus, Survivor One, in front of the Alamo.
State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, Senate sponsor of the bill that got the proposal on the statewide ballot, compared tonight’s victory to giving birth.
“I’ve had five children, and this feels like when they’re born and you finally find out how beautiful they are,” Nelson said.
At least 13 of 16 props pass, AP reports
Texas voters have approved Propositions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 on Tuesday’s election ballot, according to The Associated Press.
Straus pops first of probably many victory calls
Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, popped the first victory statement of the night via GOP consultant Ray Sullivan of Austin. Straus hailed passage of Proposition 13, giving judges the ability to deny bail for repeat domestic abusers.
“This common-sense measure will save lives,” Straus said.
For the record, Straus authored the proposal with Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas. The Senate sponsor was Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio.
Early returns show cancer proposal passing
Not all the votes have been counted, but early returns show voters approving Proposition 15, the $3 billion cancer research proposal.
Actually, early returns show voters approving all 16 constitutional amendments on the ballot.
For up-to-date results, look here.
Political Lance is still an athlete
Lance Armstrong has been busy.
The retired cyclist has been traveling around Texas to voice his support for Proposition 15, the $3 billion cancer research proposal on today’s ballot.
And then there’s this: he ran a marathon on Sunday. The ING New York City Marathon. He did it in 2 hours, 46 minutes and 43 seconds. That’s a pace of 6:21 per mile. Not bad.
(Fellow Proposition 15 backer Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, also ran the race as part of Armstrong’s LiveStrong team. He ran it in a respectable 4 hours, three minutes and 59 seconds.)
Armstrong told us earlier this year he’s not very good at being retired.
Perry skips election party to celebrate wedding anniversary
Lance Armstrong, state Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville and other supporters of Proposition 15 are planning to gather tonight at the Driskill Hotel to await news on whether the $3 billion cancer research proposal passes.
But there’s one notable supporter of the proposal who won’t be there: Gov. Rick Perry.
Today is his 25th wedding anniversary.
He and First Lady Anita Perry will be at home, spokesman Robert Black said. (Not at the Governor’s Mansion, which is being renovated. We assume “home” is the house southwest of downtown the state is renting for the Perrys during the renovation).
We can’t imagine why watching constitutional amendment election returns in public isn’t their idea of a romantic anniversary celebration.
Slow start to election day
The polls aren’t exactly crowded today, but voting is going smoothly for those who do stop by, according to elections administrators.
“There’s just not that many people out there,” said Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir.
Early voting for the election, which includes 16 proposed constitutional amendments, drew 3.71 percent of Travis County voters.
DeBeauvoir predicts about a 4 percent turnout today, with most of the voters coming in after 3 p.m.
“It’s sort of a rush hour thing,” she said. “I don’t know why voters wait. I guess it’s just human nature.”
Williamson County reports similarly sluggish voter turnout.
Elections administrator Rick Barron said he expects about a 3 percent turnout out at the polls today.
If the patterns from early voting hold, many of those votes could come from the Cedar Park area, where residents are being asked to consider an $81.7 million bond package, Barron said.
About 3.5 percent of registered voters turned out for early voting, he said.
One perk of the low turnout is that elections administrators can make a gentle debut for the new ballot counting machines in each precinct, he said.
“It’s going pretty much as expected,” Barron said.
November 2, 2007
Perry casts early vote
At the Travis County Courthouse, Gov. Rick Perry cast his ballot today, the last day of early voting for 16 proposed constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot Tuesday.
Perry has been a vocal supporter of Proposition 15, which would authorize $3 billion in taxpayer supported bonds for cancer research in Texas.
“I couldn’t find a lot wrong with any of the 16,” Perry said after voting. He encouraged citizens to go vote but said “you can’t make people exercise their right to vote.”
The secretary of state predicted today that about 9 percent of registered voters will cast a vote.
