"In its analysis, NYPIRG found that states with I&R
have considerably higher voter turnout. Between the years 1976 and 1996 the average percent turnout of eligible voters in I&R states was 52%. In the non-I&R states average voter turnout was 46.5%"
New York Public Interest Research Group
"The system has worked.
Those states that have the initiative and referendum process
have tended to have less scandals and more honest state government
than those states without that process."
Paul Weyrich, Free Congress Foundation 

Texans have developed wording for an initiative amendment that 
protects all the rights we are guaranteed in the U. S. Constitution 
and in Article 1 of the Texas Constitution.

In the 2001 session, Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff was presiding officer of the Senate and Speaker Pete Laney was presiding officer of the House.  Both are opposed to initiative rights for Texans.  Therefore no legislators submitted any I & R amendments in the 2001 session.  

In the 1999 session there were two carefully crafted amendments to the Texas Constitution proposing the right of direct, binding initiative for Texans on a statewide basis for both statutes and constitutional amendments: Senate Joint Resolution 6 and House Joint Resolution 75.  The main difference between the two proposals is that SJR 6 proposed referendum as well as initiative. 

"Liberty has never come from the government.
Liberty has always come from the subjects of government.
The history of liberty is the history of resistance.
The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it."
Woodrow Wilson

Initiative for Texas  <>  RR 1, Box 389, San Augustine, TX 75972  <>  (936) 288-0781  <>  acbedfo@hotmail.com

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