Water plan needs voters’ approval

Published 10:35 pm Saturday, October 19, 2013

By Staff Reports

Thanks to the poorly-written Texas Constitution, voters will decide several relatively routine items in a Nov. 5 statewide election (early voting begins Monday). Most of the proposed constitutional amendments are really just housekeeping; some benefits will be extended and some administrative matters will be taken care of.

But one of the amendments is important and worthy of a closer look by the voters.

Proposition 6 would create a State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, which would free up $2 billion to provide low-interest loans for water projects.

That’s important because in East Texas, we have water. And the urban regions of the state want it.

Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, met with the Tyler Paper’s editorial board recently to discuss the matter.



Straus says the state’s water plan has existed for a long time, but a lack of financing has stalled many important projects.

“The state is growing by around 6 million people every 10-12 years,” Straus said. “That will continue and our water supplies aren’t keeping up. It’s absolutely critical to the economic future of the state that we implement the water plan.”

The revolving $2 billion fund would help projects approved by regional water development boards and the Texas Water Development Board meet early financial needs. The $2 billion, which came from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day fund), would leverage around $50 billion for projects over the next five decades, he said.

The loans would be paid back to the fund via revenues generated by projects.

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, says state action is needed.

“We have to do something at the state level to help locals jumpstart and build reservoirs, and that’s what this revolving fund does,” he said.

The Tyler Paper recommends a vote of “for” on Proposition 6.

 

VOTER ID

This election will be the first in which the state’s Voter ID laws are in effect. The law, passed in 2011, has been held up by court challenges. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is unconstitutional made those challenges moot.

The law will require voters to show one of seven forms of photo identification, including a Texas drivers license; a state Election Identification Certificate or personal ID card via the Department of Public Safety; a concealed handgun license; U.S. military ID; a citizenship certificate and U.S. passport.

“Individuals may apply for an EIC (Election Identification Certificate) by visiting a Texas driver license office and completing an EIC application,” the Texas Department of Public Safety explains. “Applicants must also bring documentation to the office to verify U.S. citizenship and identity. The EIC receipt an individual receives will include their photo and can be used for voting until the permanent card is delivered by mail. The EIC is free of charge to qualifying applicants and is valid for six years.”

For questions about Voter ID or other issues, contact the Smith County Elections office at 903-590-4777.