Toll-road pact is still in talks

By AMAN BATHEJA - Star-Telegram Staff Writer -Posted on Thu, May. 24, 2007

AUSTIN -- Key negotiators were still working Wednesday night to hammer out a compromise version of a toll-road moratorium bill that Gov. Rick Perry won't veto.

Earlier Wednesday, Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, said a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a transportation bill had been negotiated, but key House members quickly insisted that a deal had not been reached.

The compromise version would require both chambers' approval.

Perry vetoed a toll-road moratorium bill last week, citing concerns that it would cost the state federal funding of transportation projects. Different versions of a second moratorium passed both chambers last week. If Perry were to veto that one, it would likely be after the end of the legislative session and too late for lawmakers to override it.

Perry has threatened to call a special legislative session on transportation if he doesn't receive a bill to his liking.

Meanwhile, lawmakers remain determined to get a moratorium passed to block development of Perry's proposed Trans-Texas Corridor.

House and Senate negotiators were haggling Wednesday over an amendment that Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, added to the House version of the bill. The amendment added a special arrangement called "facilities agreements." Critics say such agreements constitute a huge loophole through which private toll roads could still be built even while under the two-year moratorium.

Early Wednesday, Kolkhorst indicated that she plans to work with Perry to learn his concerns about the amendment.

"I think that if he can give me assurance that TTC 35 won't be built [with facility agreements] before Sept. 1, 2009, I think we can work out a compromise," Kolkhorst said.

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Suggested letter to North Texas State Reps and Senators

SUGGESTED SUBJECT LINE:
RE SB 792 - HB 2268 Market Valuation requirements for public toll authorities projects in DFW region is last straw

SUGGESTED TEXT FOR EMAIL:
ADDING "MARKET VALUATION" Requirements to public toll authority's public transportation projects and elimination of Amendment 13 from SB 792 are DEAL BREAKERS for the voters. We'll remember those who allow this to happen when the PEOPLE VOTE next time.
"Please INSIST that the Trans Texas Corridor unquestionably be INCLUDED in the moratorium by RETAINING Amendment 13 in SB 792! We're counting on you TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!"

The NCTCOG's RTC and many local elected officials serving on the RTC descended on Austin arguing for the DFW region (NCTCOG area) to be exempted from the 2 year moratorium. Legislators in other districts fought to keep their citizens protected. In our region we have to trust TxDOT and the RTC.

I am writing to tell you that citizens in the DFW area are upset. Allowing MARKET VALUATION to be applied to public toll authorities projects in this region is the LAST STRAW. We've are taking note and rembering the names of elected officials who sold the public out by fighting to protection citizens in the North Central Texas Region from bad CDA contracts.

Members of the RTC and local elected officials only get one vote when you run again for re-election. The people get thousands of votes. Most of the voters in this region differ with the RTC on use of surplus toll revenue to fund highway projects. Most of the voters in this region differ with TxDOT on raising toll rates higher than necessary to retire the debt and maintain the roads in order to generate billions of dollars of surplus toll revenue to use on other projects.

Citizens are outraged that the Texas Legislator has refused to seriously address Public Transportation funding problems.

We are angry that you refuse to stop diversions from transportation funds to non-transportation uses.

We are angry that instead of indexing the gas tax to keep up with inflation, you avoid addressing gas gouging and propose a temporary 20cent suspension of the gas tax. That is pandering rather than problem solving. Twenty cents a gallon for three months does not address air quality in non attainment areas. It does not help us if we are forced to pay high tolls for 675 miles of stragetic highways in the DFW area.

Applying Market Valuation to public toll authorities is the last straw. Fight for us or be prepared to face our opinions and fury when you come back to your district and ask the voters to re-elect you.

[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR TELEPHONE NO.]

------

Send this message to State Senators from NCTCOG Region:

kim.brimer@senate.state.tx.us, john.carona@senate.state.tx.us, bob.duell@senate.state.tx.us, craig.estes@senate.state.tx.us, chris.harris@senate.state.tx.us, jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us, robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us, florence.shapiro@senate.state.tx.us, royce.west@senate.state.tx.us,

Send this message State Representatives from the NCTCOG region:

roberto.alonzo@house.state.tx.us, rafael.anchia@house.state.tx.us, dan.branch@house.state.tx.us, lon.burnham@house.state.tx.us, myra.crownover@house.state.tx.us, yvonne.david@house.state.tx.us, joe.driver@house.state.tx.us, kirk.england@house.state.tx.us, charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us, helen.giddings@house.state.tx.us, tony.goolsby@house.state.tx.us, kelly.hancock@house.state.tx.us,
linda.harper-brown@house.state.tx.us,
will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us, fred.hill@house.state.tx.us, terri.hodge@house.state.tx.us, jim.jackson@house.state.tx.us, jim.keffer@house.state.tx.us, phil.king@house.state.tx.us, jodie.laubenber@house.state.tx.us, jerry.madden@house.state.tx.us, brian.mccall@house.state.tx.us, sid.miller@house.state.tx.us, anna.mowery@house.state.tx.us, rob.orr@house.state.tx.us, diane.patrick@house.state.tx.us, ken.paxton@house.state.tx.us, paula.pierson@house.state.tx.us, jim.pitts@house.state.tx.us, todd.smith@house.state.tx.us, burt.solomons@house.state.tx.us, vicki.truitt@house.state.tx.us, allen.vaught@house.state.tx.us, marc.veasey@house.state.tx.us,

The above form letter can be cut and pasted into your e-mail.
1. Open another browser window, open your e-mail, choose compose.
2. Highlight the text in SUGGESTED SUBJECT LINE of this form letter and hold down the "control key" while holding down the "c" key to copy the text in your clip board.
3. Move your cursor to the SUBJECT FIELD of the open e-mail form on the other browser window.
4. Hold down the "control key" while holding down the "V" key to paste the text into the form of your e-mail.
5. If you want to change any of the text in the SUBJECT LINE, you can use your delete key or type over existing text with your new message.
6. Highlight the text in SUGGESTED TEXT FOR MESSAGE of this form letter and hold down the "control key" while holding down the "c" key to copy the text in your clip board.
7. Move your cursor to the MESSAGE FIELD of the open e-mail form on the other browser window.
8. Hold down the "control key" while holding down the "V" key to paste the text into the form of your e-mail.
9. If you want to change any of the text in the body of your e-mail message, you can use your delete key and/or type over existing text with your new message.
10. Type over the [YOUR NAME} with your actual name
11. Type over the [YOUR ADDRESS] with your actual address
12. Type over the [YOUR TELEPHONE] with your actual telephone number

To copy the e-mail addreses of the state senators and state representatives who represent districts in the NCTCOG - North Texas DFW Region:
13. Highlight the e-mail addresses and hold down the "control key" while pressing the "C" key to copy them into your clip board.
14. Move your cursor to the TO: field of the e-mail message open in the other browser window.
15. Hold down the "control key" while pressing the "V" key to paste the e-mail addresses into the TO field of the email message.
16. Send your message.

IT IS RECOMMEND THAT YOU SEND MESSAGES TO 1/3 OF THE LIST AT A TIME TO AVOID SPAM FILTERS.

David Van Os Speaks Out - The Trans-Texas Corridor moratorium bill needs YOU

by David Van Os - Texas Kaos - Monday May 21, 2007

A few days ago it looked like the people of Texas were going to get a two-year moratorium on the TTC monstrosity. It looked like overwhelming numbers of legislators in both the House and the Senate had heard the voices of the people. It looked like our House members and Senators were going to get us breathing room in which to continue to spread information and education to our fellow Texans about the intolerable scar Dictator Perry and his campaign contributors want to rip across the face of our state.
After all, the moratorium passed the House with only one dissenting vote out of 150 members, and it passed the Senate by a vote of 27-4.

But my friends, we are about to get SOLD OUT if we do not ROAR once again louder than ever.

The Dictator vetoed the first moratorium bill on May 18. Although the bill originally passed with overwhelming margins, the House and Senate are not moving to override the veto. Instead, they are working on a "compromise" with the Dictator's office that will give him and the Toll Barons everything they want.

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