Texas Trophy Hunters Association Endorses Proposition 11

Oct. 20, 2009 - PRLog -- San Antonio, Texas – Texas Proposition 11, also known as House Joint Resolution 14-1, will appear on the Nov. 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. If passed after the November election, the measure will strengthen Senate Bill 7, which prohibits the government from acquiring land for non-public use.

The bill will also require the government to first determine if each property in a neighborhood is blighted before deciding if the neighborhood itself is blighted. According to Sen. Robert Duncan, who is sponsoring the amendment, “Texas voters are the most appropriate authority on the government's use of eminent domain. This proposition gives them the final word on that authority.”

The Texas House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 144-0, followed by the State Senate on May 25, 2009 with a vote of 30-1. Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the legislation on June 15, 2009, therefore allowing voters to decide on the constitutional amendment in the fall.

If enacted, the measure would:
•   Amend the state constitution to limit the taking of private property by eminent domain.
•   Specifically prohibit the taking of private property to give to another private entity for the purpose of economic development or enhanced tax revenue.
•   Limit the use and ownership of property taken by eminent domain to either the state or the public at large
•   Require new entities seeking the power of eminent domain to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature
•   Require condemnation for urban blight to address each particular property

Early elections are October 19th-30th. Election Day is Tuesday November. 3rd. Contact your county election office for polling information. We urge you to vote yes on Prop 11 to protect your property rights, your hunting and fishing spots, and your future.

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TTHA strives to unite all segments of the hunting community for the dissemination of information and joining of energies to promote and protect our hunting heritage. Founded in 1975, TTHA, a membership-based organization, publishes a bimonthly magazine, The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, and produces the award-winning outdoor television program, The Journal of the American Trophy Hunters. In addition, TTHA hosts the Hunters Extravaganza® outdoor expositions, renowned as the largest whitetail hunting shows in the South. For membership information, please join online at www.ttha.com or contact TTHA Membership Services at (877) 261-2541.

Texas Trophy Hunters Association: The Voice of Texas Hunting™