Message - June 15, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTIETH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:

Pursuant to Article IV, Sections 14 and 15 of the Texas Constitution, I, Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove and veto House Bill No. 2087 of the 80th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, due to the following objections:

House Bill No. 2087 violates Article VIII, Section 1, of the Texas Constitution, which requires a county, city or town, or junior college district, to hold an election to determine whether to limit property taxes on the homesteads of elderly or disabled persons if 5 percent of registered voters petition for such an election.

House Bill No. 2087 would allow a governmental entity to refuse a petition by the voters for such an election if the same issue has been put to a vote twice in any 36-month period, thereby limiting voters' ability to petition their government on an important taxation issue. Taxpayers should not have their right to vote to lower taxes limited for the convenience of election officials.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this the 15th day of June, 2007.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

ATTESTED BY:
ROGER WILLIAMS
Secretary of State