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| Title | Broadside, Vol. 4, No. 11, November 1973 |
| Publisher | National Organization for Women, Houston Chapter |
| Date | November 1973 |
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| Language | English |
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| Original Item Location | HQ1439 .H68 B75 |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b3767173~S11 |
| Digital Collection | Houston and Texas Feminist and Lesbian Newsletters |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/feminist |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by the content creator, author, artist or other entity, and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the copyright owner. For more information please see UH Digital Library Fair Use policy on the UH Digital Library About page. |
| Title | Page 1 |
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| File Name | femin_201109_071a.jpg |
| Transcript | NOW broadside HOUSTON CHAPTER NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN Vol. 4, No. 11 BROADSIDE November 1973 TEXAS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE VOTED ON NOVEMBER 6 by Betty Barnes On November 6, Texas voters will vote on nine proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. As usual, most of them are very specific details which shouldn't have to - be in any constitution. However, in Texas the constitution is so full of details that the voters have to pass on things which should be simply legislative actions. In order for NOW members to have a better idea of what the amendments are about, here is a brief explanation of each amendment and some of the arguments (with my personal opinion thrown in on some of them). The amendments of most direct concern to feminists are Amendments 2 and 3. Amendment 2 would allow single persons to own a homestead and would prevent the abandonment of a homestead without the consent of both spouses. Being able to declare one's house to be a "homestead" prevents the seizure for debt of that home, except for the home mortgage or for taxes. The "abandonment" provision is needed because traditional Texas law has declared a homestead "abandoned" and therefore no longer a homestead if, and only if, the HUSBAND leaves. Amendment 3 would simply ensure that single homesteads would get the $3000 property tax exemption that "family" homesteads now get. We ALL need to vote for Amendments 2 and 3. Amendment 1 would provide for annual sessions of the legislature and for annual salaries of $15,000 for the legislators. In a state as complex and with so many problems as Texas, there is a need for the legislature to meet every year. We also need to pay our legislators more. Women, being chronically poor, certainly can't afford to be legislators for the current $4800 a year. Amendment 4, if passed would require that any bill to create a conservation and reclamation district be submitted to each city and county where the district would be located. This would give cities and counties an opportunity to file written comments with the legislature before the bill is considered. One side argues that cities often wind up annexing these districts and their debts. Therefore, the cities should have more of a voice in their establishment than is currently possible. The other side argues that the people of the cities are already represented in the legislature. Also, it is argued that this amendment would just add one more unnecessary step to an already complicated legislative process. continued |