Reclaiming Texas For Whom?

During the 2006 Election Cycle, a lot of money has been donated by Texas Democratic donors. Only a very small percentage of it has gone to Democratic Candidate's Campaigns!

Texans elected a slate of nominees during the primary. Activist on the grassroots are enthusiastic about them. However, some traditional large Democratic donors, while donating large sums to support the State Democratic Party, have not used their influence (nor much of their money) to further the election of Democrats in the State of Texas this November. The bulk of Democratic candidates’ funding is coming from many small donors and Labor PACS this year. There appears to be a “POPULIST” vs. “TRADITIONAL DONOR” Divide.

In our "Follow the Money Adventure" we have been tracking the largest donors to the Texas Democratic Party. The majority of the funding for the State Democratic Party in 2006 comes through The Texas Democratic Trust.

State reports spanning from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2005 show the Democratic Party actually outdid the Republican Party in fundraising.
But in federal accounts, the GOP garnered four times as much.
-- By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News February 7, 2006
http://www.cleanuptexaspolitics.com/scandalblog

Most of the Democratic Party money – $107,000 of the $243,000 raised in its state account – came from the Texas Democratic Trust, a political committee funded by two trial lawyers, Fred Baron and Russell Budd.
http://txprod.ethics.state.tx.us/public/315906.pdf
http://txprod.ethics.state.tx.us/public/298743.pdf

"The Texas Democratic Trust is a group of Democrats who believe in their party and are tired of the cronyism and corruption that has infiltrated Texas under the regime of Tom DeLay and Rick Perry," said spokeswoman Amber Moon. "We appreciate every penny of it."

While many of the party's traditional large donors have defected to the independent gubernatorial campaign of Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Ms. Moon said she still expects that the party will raise enough contributions to be a force in the upcoming elections.

"We're confident we'll have enough money to support all our candidates," she said.

Texas Ethics Campaign Reports shows:
Dallas attorney Fred Baron personally gave $655,000.00 to the Texas Democratic Trust during the first half of 2006. His personal contributions to PACS totaled $667,560.00 during that time frame. He gave an additional $7,000.00 directly to candidates. During the first half of 2006, Fred Baron and the Baron and Budd Lawfirm and his law partner Russell Budd and Dorothy Budd gave a total of $52,250.00 directly to candidates’ campaigns. (They have made additional donations since the last reporting period.) The majority of their political contributions has gone to PACS. Only a small percentage of those dollars have been channeled from those PACS into candidates’ campaign accounts.

They are the largest financial backers of the Texas Democratic Party. The number of Democrats supporting the TDP through Sustaining Membership has diminished in the past decade. Many of the grassroots activists who traditionally were sustaining members of the TDP have become so disgusted with the poor performance of the TDP that they discontinued paying annual Sustaining Memberships to the TDP. If it were not for contributions by Baron and Budd, the TDP probably would not have its doors open this year. Most of the state-wide down-ticket candidates report a lack of responsiveness of TDP staff or substantial assistance to candidates during this election cycle.

DEMOCRATIC TRUST FAILS TO FINANCE CANDIDATES THIS YEAR
At the August SDEC Committee Meeting, it was reported that 'the Democratic Trust has decided to back only two House races this year' and 'to prepare to field a statewide slate and fund it in 2010.' Only one SDEC person complained. When gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell complained to Fred Baron after the last Texas SDEC meeting, I've been told that Fred Baron wrote Chris a check for $25,000.00 out of his personal account. That was after the last reporting period. (Fred Baron initially donated $20,000.00 in 2005 to Republican turned Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn's campaign for Governor.) Despite large donations to PACS, Baron only gave $7,000.00 to candidates during the first half of this year.

The attitude of the backers of the Trust toward the party's nominees is mirrored by the TDP Staff. Following Hank Gilbert's strong endorsement by voters in the Primary (he recieved more votes than any candidate in a contested race during the primary), Hank was told by a TDP Staff Consultant that he "didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning (in November)!" Hank reports that "just makes me more determined to win!" The state wide candidates are campaigning vigorously to win this November. They are starved for cash to run media advertising. Most have spent the bulk of their campaign funds on gasoline and motel bills as they travel extensively to many of the counties which have been neglected by most other candidates during the previous twenty years. During the summer, several candidates spoke at TCC hearings most nights of the week, attracting many traditional Republican and Independent supporters without watering down their progressive/populist message. Observing the candidates fight to win this year despite little financial support from the Party's most powerful PACS widens the divide between activists and the staff of institutions such as the TDP which are sustained largely by donations from Mr. Baron and Mr. Budd and their associates. Hearing that the major PACS supported by Mr. Baron and Mr. Budd and their associates are banking their resources to "Rebuild for the Future" and to create infrastructure to "Reclaim Texas", brings forth the question:

"Wouldn't it be easier to rebuild with Democrats working from the inside as elected officials of the State of Texas?"

Many activist believe this year's slate is the most qualified, honorable group of candidates who have been assembled in any election cycle in many decades. It frustrates them to see the candidates discounted by many officials of the party and some in the main stream media. Electability is measured by many only in terms of the size of the campaign war chest. Yet Party Officials (and their major backers) appear to be devoting little energy in helping these candidates build their war chest! While the Party cannot fund campaigns, there is a sad lack of help from the party in connecting the candidates with potential donors or encouraging influential people to host fundraisers for the candidates. There has been a few fundraisers in Texas for out-of-state candidates siphoning off potential support which could assist the Texas ticket to afford media to help them communicate their strengths to the voters.

Some things which do not cost money have been denied some of the Party's nominees. From the State Party, there remains little support for the down ticket candidates. When Judge Bill Moody came from El Paso to Austin for a news conference announcing his walking tour, he visited the TDP HQ. Sevral staff members told him they might come to his news conference. Although it was only a couple of blocks from State Democratic Party HQ, NOT ONE STAFF PERSON ATTENDED THAT NEWS CONFERENCE.
It is doubtful that anyone in the Baron and Budd lawfirm told them specifically to stay away. However, these folks (TDP staff, with a few exceptions) don't seem to feel that they are employed to support the state wide ticket this year. The only people who have any influence over the TDP are probably those who they know pay the bills. Although it shouldn't be necessary, it appears that someone with the Baron and Budd lawfirm will have to explain to the TDP Staff that the only reason the party exists is to facilitate the party's nominees winning the General Election against Republicans. before they will believe it. The only people they will really listen to is probably Mr. Baron or Mr. Budd!

Judge Bill Moody (running for the Texas Supreme Court) is a strong, qualified Democratic challenger. His opponent, a recent Perry apointee, had no prior experience on the bench! The Texas Supreme Court has been bought and paid for by special interests for years. Judge Moody makes it a practice not to hear cases if anyone involved in that case has donated over $1000.oo to his campaign. That should be a given, but IT IS NOT, with most of the current justices!
Here's a link to a KOS diary on Judge Moody's Walking Campaign across Texas:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/20/12048/4351

Examination of Texas Ethics Reports shows that many who speak the most about "Rebuilding for the Future" and "Reclaiming Texas" are not channeling resources toward helping this year's slate to win! They also do not appear to be exerting much influence to prompt the TDP Staff to exhibit public or private respect for this year's slate of candidates. In the rural communities and among activists in Democratic clubs across the state, a very fervent, active, dedicated group of supporters are rallying around the candidates, showing up at County Court Houses when candidate come on Whistle Stops, hosting low-dollar fundraisers, staging multi-candidate rallies and supporting the candidates on the blogs.

EVIDENCE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE
The close vote in the State Chair's race this year reflects the disagreement within the party about priorities and methods. The Schedule at State Convention and frustration at the ineffectiveness of the party to assist the Party's nominees in attracting donors and creating effective campaign organizations was expressed in the close vote for Texas Democratic Chair this year. The resignation of Charles Soechting (a lawyer with the Baron and Budd law firm) as State Chair shortly before the State Convention infuriated many delegates. During his tenure, the Democratic Trust (backed by Fred Baron, Russell Budd and their law firm) became the major backer of the Texas Democratic Party. Few financial resources were marshalled into the party's nominees' campaign chests to assist these Democratic challengers in their quest to reclaim the government of Texas from Republican incumbents. Some of the statewide slate were denied their best shot at "selling themselves" to county chairs and activists at the Texas State Convention when TDP Executive Director Reuben Hernandez and TDP Chair Boyd Ritchie reneaged on their committment to schedule all the state wide candidates to speak for ten minutes each one after the other beginning at noon Saturday. The candidates' speeches were interrupted at 1 for the State Chair's election. The hall was almost empty when several of the candidates addressed "the delegation" after 6 p.m. Candidates who complained were told they had "a bad attitude." More than one person was told by Mr. Ritchie and Mr. Hernandez that it is "hearing candidate's speeches is not the purpose of the convention."

THE LIONS AND TIGERS
This year's state-wide candidates have campaigned NON STOP since the primary, reaching out to citizens all across Texas, despite record high gasoline prices. They are attracting swing voters and many disillusioned Republicans without compromising to try to attract them! Their campaigns are characterized by listening as well as speaking. The only people who appear nonchalant about these candidates seem to be the folks who report directly to institutions that depend directly upon funding from the Texas Democratic Trust.


At a David Van Os Whistle stop on the court house steps of Denton county the first week in September, over 8o people showed up during a work day to talk to San Antonio attorney David Van Os, candidate for Attorney General and Amy Manuel. She is the first Democrat to run for County Commissioner in Denton County for over a decade! There is enthusiasm in the grassroots. A large delegation from Denton County, including Amy Manuel and U.S. House Candidate Gary Page, joined Van Os supporters September 8th at a back-yard fundraiser in South Grand Prairie. String Theory, a band, donated services and entertained the crowd at the home of George and Anne Chamberlain. September 30th, two bands (String Theory and The Ackermans) will join Ballet Folkloric de Fort Worth in donating services to entertain the crowd at a multi candidate speaking rally in Arlington, Take the Truth to the Streets. Activist are determined to show that the best way to REBUILD FOR THE FUTURE is to HAVE decent Democrats in OFFICE. Many low and moderate income democratic supporters are giving until it hurts, supporting the candidates financially and by donating services. They are inspired by the non-stop sacrifices the candidates (and their families) are making.

The House Democratic Campaign Committee, Baron & Budd PC $4,000.00 in 2006

Texas Values in Action Coalition $30,000.00

http://txprod.ethics.state.tx.us/public/315906.pdf

http://txprod.ethics.state.tx.us/public/298743.pdf

Texans for Insurance Reform - Baron and Budd PC (lawfirm) $100,000.oo so far in 2006

Texas Democratic Women Pac - Fred Baron $1000 in 2006
Texas Democratic Party Fred Baron - 2006 - $655,000.00

Thus far in 2006, Texas Ethics Campaign Finance Reports reflect that they (Fred Baron and Russell Budd and Dorothy Budd and the Baron and Budd lawfirm)have given $52,250.00 directly to candidates, usually in increments of ranging from $250 to $1000.oo. Sometimes they give $500. Harriet Miller and Catherina Hayes received $5000.00 each.

Some state house candidates have received money from the TEXAS VALUES IN ACTION COALITION which Baron and Budd has supported with $30,000.00 this year plus donations last year to establish the PAC. It appears that most of the TEXVAL money is going to GTOV efforts in some communities. To date, I haven't seen any evidence that the Arlington Voter Development Center funded by TEXVAL is benefiting the Statewide ticket much. In fact, as a activists on the ground in Arlington, it feels to me that the "leadership" at that center is more of an obstacle than a help to the down-tickets I'm working for this election cycle. That is not probably coming from Baron and Budd as much as from the local "leadership."

TexVAL
Baron and Budd and many other attorney's on their large staff were high dollar sponsors of a TexVal fundraiser in Dallas in May 2006 which featured Carville as the keynote speaker. It has been reported that the May fundraiser brought in $200,000.oo for the TEX VAL (Texas Values in Action Coalition). Their fundraiser in 2005 took in over $100,000.OO (source their website)
http://www.texvac.org/default.asp

I think that people who have money and are Democrats have a right to spend it where they think it will be effective. Fred Baron and his associates are the few remaining affluent Democrats who continue to give generously to Democratic candidates and initiatives.

It appears that these large dollar donors do not have the same enthusiasm as I have for the candidates who the voters selected as the Democratic Nominees this year. They do not seem to be embracing their populist message as enthusiastically as the voters on the grassroots are embracing the candidates. David Van Os has visited counties which have NOT BEEN VISITED BY A STATE WIDE CANDIDATE OF EITHER PARTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

When you go to the Texas Ethics Commission campaign financial report, http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/php/cesearch.html
the largest contributor to the Texas Democratic Party is Fred Baron and Russell Budd and attorney's on their staff. When you go to the TexVal (Texas Values in Action Coalition) you find that the same donors are the major backers. When you go to the House Democratic Campaign Committee you find a number of other donors but Fred Baron and attorney's with Baron and Budd stand out as substantial donors.

I applaude rebuilding and planning for future wins. However, this year we have a State Comptroller Candidate who served 14 years in the Texas House of Representatives, fighting for needed reforms and heping to get the Open Records laws passed. Fred Head did not miss one SESSION during 14 years. He served as Chair of the Higher Education Committees, on the House Appropriations Committee, on the joint House/Senate Legislative Budget Board and EVEN TAUGHT ACCOUNTING on the COLLEGE LEVEL. The Dallas Morning News endorsed his opponent who is the current agriculture commissioner. Her performance in that office has been deplorable! She couldn't accurately forecast her own department's budget. She has failed to inspect fruits and vegetables coming into this nation from Mexico or keep the scales at the gas pumps inspected -- but we are to give her the check book to the state without a whimper. FRED HEAD IS QUALIFIED AND CAN DO THE JOB. Folks in Texas won't know the difference because some of his old friends WHO KNOW WHAT HE CAN DO are sitting by and not helping him financially. He got a few thousand from one of the partners but not enough to do much with.

The Baron and Budd law firm gave David Van Os $5000.00 when he ran for Texas Supreme Court. I don't think they have contributed to his campaign this year. I know that they haven't shown up on Ethics Commission Campaign Report filed thus far. David is supported mainly by grassroots activists who are giving him $10.51 on line and $20.00 to $100.00 when they meet him at a whistlestop! His billboards are funded by many local donors pooling their funds to pay for billboards in their communities. Right now money to run radio will really help that campaign. Unless someone gives him a substantial amount of money, he will not have yard signs for this campaign.
The grassroots has combined coffee and pie money to help him fund billboards. Right now $3600.00 is due this weekend to renew his two biggest boards for Oct. (Denton and Dallas). Dallas is the base of the Baron and Budd lawfirm and ironically, that board is the one we've had the greatest difficulty raising money locally to fund!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/8/31418/89571

I'd love to see Mr. Baron fund, or influence others to fund, a few FULL PAGE NEWSPAPER ADS in the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram supporting the STATE WIDE SLATE. We have a REALLY QUALIFIED, HONEST, EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CALIBER SLATE OF CANDIDATES THIS YEAR. The Dallas Morning New Editorial Board endorsed Todd Staples over Hank Gilbert for Agriculture Commissioner. They were so impressed with Gilbert that they said they'd support him in another race. Gilbert is a rancher, farmer, agriculture teacher running for Agriculture Commissioner against a man whose main experience with cattle is looking at a picture on a milk carton! He's running against the author of the bill enabling the largest land grab in Texas History - the Trans Texas Corridor! If he does not win this race it won't be because he hasn't worked hard. He is definitely the best qualified! With some money in the Gilbert Campaign to fund radio schedules in rural areas Texas can have the first Democratic Agriculture Commissioner and the only real Rancher/Farmer elected to office in Texas since Jim Hightower!

http://tinyurl.com/g49b5

It would be really helpful if some of the money that Baron and Budd have contributed to various PACS and causes were used to COMMUNICATE with voters in DALLAS/FORT WORTH the QUALIFICATIONS of the CURRENT Democratic ticket.

The candidates are working hard to win for us. There are people in Texas who are talking about "Rebuilding for the Future" but who are not channeling resources toward helping them to this slate this year!

Electing decent Democrats to OFFICE is the best way to REBUILD TEXAS FOR THE FUTURE. Chris Bell as Governor will be much better for the state than Perry! I'm glad that Fred Baron helped Chris some recently. But why wait so long?

The down ticket candidates need financial help. Surely Mr. Baron and Mr. Budd can influence some of the PACS which they support generously to marshal resources behind the down-ticket candidates. The best way to rebuild in Texas is to win elections THIS NOVEMBER!
It will be a shame for the voters to not learn that Fred Head, candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts taught accounting on the University level, and during his 14 years in the Texas House he servd on the Appropriations Committee, the Legislative Budget Board and as Chair of the House Committee on Higher Eduation.
His opponent, the current Agriculture Commissioner, has consistently inflated her resume. She failed to inspect fruits and vegetables imported through Texas for pests and chemicals and the scales at the gas tank.

VaLinda Hathcox, candidate for Land Commissioner, and Dale Henry, candidate for Rail Road Commissoin, both have experience in the field. VaLinda, had Land Commission experience and has a plan for restoring order to that department so that our parks and public lands can be safe and the budget will reflect appropriate amounts for the Public School children.

Building infrastructure in fine. The low approval ratings of Republican incumbents provides a ripe opportunity to win races this year. Instead of writing good candidates off as "not elect-able" because they need money wouldn't it be better to use some of the money that is being banked by Texas Democratic PACS to fund this slate to win this year?

TTC is Sparking a Prairie War at Texas A & M

It's been really interesting what I've been digging up as I follow the money of influential folks in this toll project here in Texas. Texas A&M (Hank Gilbert's alma mater) is also the home of one of our state's foremost Colleges of Civil Engineering. There are also a lot of petroleum engineers who graduated from Texas A&M. I think it's wonderful for folks who make good to give back to help the next generation along. However, this time, many of the alumni of Texas A&M are ending up on opposite sides of the TTC issue.

Farmers and Ranchers are mad because they need to keep their farms and ranches intact to continue making a living. History buffs are upset because the enabling language of the TTC legislation exempts TTC and related toll projects from the normal laws regarding land sites of historical significance. The way much of the bills were drafted exempts this project from normal public hearings on Historical Significance! Heck, they could be within the law and plough right through Washington on the Brazos where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed! What the folks behind getting that language in the bills really probably intends to do is to dispense with public hearings on Historical Significance when they move to condemn farmland. Texas has a Historical Family Farm program which recognizes farms which have been continuously operated and owned by the same family for over 100 years. There are several farms belonging to some of my relatives in East Texas which have that designation and others which probably could get it if folks took the time to apply. One farm I know of with that designation has buildings on it which date from prior to the War between the States.

Contractors and transportation planners don't want to be slowed down and enmeshed in hearings on how important old great grandpa's barn is. When the kind of dollars are on the table and the smell of PROFIT is as strong as it is currently on the Texas prairie, some ambitious folks have "inspired" some of their friends in the Texas Senate and Texas Legislature to draft bills with language which will dispense with open meetings, normal competitive bidding processes, and messy historical significance hearings.

There are environmentalist who are affiliated with Texas A& M. The contractors aren't very concerned with all the same things that are high on the list of priorities of the environmental crowd. Many of the bills which I term "TTC enabling legislation" have clauses which permits TDoT to perform, or contract to consultants who will perform under their supervision, the environmental /ecological impact studies. Many of us see this as a blatant conflict of interest.
Texas A&M is one of the more heavily endowed Universities in Texas. Most of us thought this was a good thing but since the TTC moved to the forefront, a few of us are questioning how independent can a University's research be when it is as heavily endowed as Texas A&M? For example: The Texas A&M School of Engineering received $10 million from the Zachry Foundation. Folks were thrilled. That money allows the University to do a lot of good things. The main building where engineering classes are held is now the Zachry building in the Texas A&M School of Engineering.

About the same time the University received this endowment, the TTC initiative moved onto the planning boards in Texas. At first it looked like Halliburton and Citras (a Spanish corporation which operates toll roads in Canada) were going to get the biggest slices of the pie. It rapidly became evident from the public outcry that Halliburton's involvement would probably kill the project. Having a foreign corporation involved is not popular either. So the dreamers and schemers went shopping for a Texas Corporation with strong ties in Austin. Because the negotiations and records of the TTC are sealed from public scrunity, I don't know if Zachry was involved as a potential contractor and player under Halliburton and Citras or if they got involved after Halliburton fell from favor. However, now H.B. Zachry Corporation is teamed with Citras as the most favorable (in the view of TDoT) companies to construct, finances, operate and share in a return on their investment by concessions (rest stops, restaurants, gas stations, and toll plazas other facilities) along the TTC route. How the energy sector fits into the picture is still fuzzy. But is is probably that several of the $ 1.5 million and larger donors to Texas A&M who are in the petroleum engineering field will be considered in the pipeline/utility phase of the project.

Additionally, located within the Zachry Engineering Building is the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). TTI was founded in the 1950s. For many years funding to the TTI was rather flat. Since 2000 TTI has been blessed with success when it comes to funding. There has been dramatic increase in the budget during the past few years. Over 60% of TTI's consulting contracts are with the TDoT. There may be NO TIE between the funding or donations to Texas A&M and the decisions TDoT has made in selecting H.B. Zachry Construction as one of the two major players in the TTC. However because of the secret method they have employed in the "vetting" process, the political maneuvering in Austin with TTC enabling legislation by officials who receieved substantial political contributions from Zachry during or just prior to the introduction and passage of said bills, there is a culture of distrust on the Texas Prairie.

I suspect that the riff will grow greater unless TDoT votes to take NO ACTION on the TTC. If TDoT moves forward after these hearings and announces that they are intending to construct the TTC, all hell will break loose between the Farmers and the Ranchers, the environmentalist and the contractors, the historians and the government. Might be more action than was seen in the TV Show "Dallas" in the days of ole J.R. Ewing.


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THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EXAMINATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT(S) OF INTEREST by Universities when they accept large endowments. Corporate and private endowment dollars can help further the University in conducting research. They can also erect clouds over the process that moves people to question how independent and unbiased research really can be when it is performed in a department which receives a significant amount of its funding from influential people in the industry. The researchers don't deserve to come under any UNDESERVED CLOUDS.

It is obvious that there is a close relationship between TTI, local and regional traffic planning entities who are endorsing the TTC, TDoT and the Administration of Texas A&M University which receives considerable funding from H.B. Zachry Foundation. Over 60% of the contracts for consulting by TTI is with TDoT, the agency making decisions about letting contracts to contractors. There does not have to be any actual influence peddling for these ties to create an APPEARANCE of A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

In ethics we are told that it is AS IMPORTANT to avoid the appearance of a CONFLICT of INTEREST. No laws have to be broken. No one has to gain financially via special favors for there do be a serious breach of the public trust when bureaucratic and elected officials and state colleges and/or private research institutes receive large sums, whether in the form of LEGAL campaign contributions or generous endowments from benefactors who profit financially from contracts let by agencies and clients served by the endowed institutions.

The lines are blurred enough here for there to be an APPEARANCE of several CONFLICTS of INTEREST between these inter-related entities for the independence of the research to be questioned. No innocent researcher deserves to have a cloud come over their independence. Unless the University immediately examines these intermeshed relationships and sets up guidelines to insure that the researchers remain independent from influence from the endowers an erosion of trust can occur.

It is important that TTI not recommend a contractor to TDoT one way or the other. If they recommend or influence, they have violated ethical standards in this particular instance because the instution where they work benefits financially from at least one contractor who does business with TDoT, TTI's number one client. One of the biggest problems is the method TDoT is using for vetting contractor for the short list for the TTC Project. The backroom, out of the public view methods currently practiced by TDoT makes it impossible for the public to examine the negotiation process to determine if it is fair. The Texas House and Senate has recently passed massive changes to the Transportation Code, some of which is intended to allow TDoT to conduct their own studies, including environmental studies, refuse court orders for records regarding planning studies, proposals for contracts, and contract negotiation processes. The public is especially distrustful of elected officials, TDoT and contractors who have been "vetted" by TDoT as the most appropriate to slice up the lion's share of the TTC contracts.

There is a vast divide between where most local citizens who are testifying at TTC TDoT Public Hearings stand on the TTC and where members of RMA's, COG's, and county and city governments who are members of The Texas High Speed Rail Transportation Corporation stand. The Texas High Speed Rail Transportation Corporation utilizes TTI and the Texas A&M Bush School of Public Policy as major resources. It appears that the TTI, though the THRTC and related regional transit planning agencies, influences local member governments through education and joint planning initiatives. I do not know how great a role TTI and THSRTC has played in moving these governmental officials to endorse the TTC. It is apparent that many ordinary citizens disagree vehemently with positions stated by many of their local leaders. In Fort Worth at the TDoT TTC hearing, several stated that "They didn't ask us before they endorsed the TTC!" Mayor Mike Moncrief, County Judge-Elect Glen Whitley (Secretary of the THSRTC), officials from the City of North Richland Hills, and a representative of the City of Arlington (all members of the THSRTC) endorsed the TTC asking that the route be modified to incorporate the local RMA's transportation plan. All of the other speakers opposed the TTC and left trying to figure out how their elected officials came to endorse it!

Perhaps there has been failure to educate the public. However, DFW regional media has publicized the RMA's plan. The RMA's transportation plan does not resemble the TTC in any way except that both include rail and highway components. Everything else is vastly different.

It is obvious that much work has been done by somebody to get local leaders to buy into the TTC plan.

Them Fires on the Texas Prairie

There's more than one kind of prairie fire

1. Between elected officials and them that "brung em to the dance"
2. Between Aggie Engineers and Aggie Farmers and Ranchers
3. Between Historians and Legislators
4. Between Environmentalist and Legislators and Contractors
5. Between Grassroots Democrats who are looking at turn-coat money grubbing Democrats in office who are voting with big money interests on the TTC and who received donations from Zachry
6. Between Grassroots Republicans who are looking at incumbent Republicans who they helped elect who are supporting the TTC and who took money from toll road special interests
7. Between Local governments and regional transportation planning entities who are endorsing the TTC and local voters who are mad because their officials are endorsing it without listening to the people

We had devastating grass fires in much of this state which left thousands of acres of farm/ranch land charred. Much of rural Texas was declared a National Disaster. The TTC is the defining insulting swipe at those same people. When it is an act of nature (or even arson which got further out of hand) it is devastating. However, the TTC is something that governmental officials are deliberately DOING to the Ranchers, Farmers, homeowners and tax payers of Texas.

"Remember the Alamo" will be mild compared to the battle cry of "Remember TTC" before this is over.

A TRANS TEXAS CORRIDOR NAFTA PARABLE

THIS PARABLE IS DEDICATED TO RICK PERRY, DAVID DEWHURST, TODD STAPLES, FRANK CORTE, GREG ABBOTT and all the elected officials in Texas who took Campaign Contributions from H.B. Zachry and worked diligently to get the Texas Transportation Code and Eminent Domain Statues changed to enable construction of the Trans Texas Corridors and similar toll initiatives.

The Trans Texas Corridor initiative seems more like this parable:
Once upon a time let's say that I discovered that it was closer for me to go through your yard than it was for me to go around the block on the public street to conduct my business in the land beyond your homestead. So I begin to habitually take a short-cut through your yard. I make my own path through your shrubbery, detouring around your house and garage and walk through your property to deliver goods to my clients who live far beyond your lot line.

After a while, I complain about how much time I'm losing having to go between your house and garage. For me, I'd get there easier and faster if your house weren't in my way. I mean, after all, why should I be inconvenienced having to detour around your house when I have important business to conduct on the other side of your property!

Under current law, I can't just legally tear your house down. But I know some folks who owe me some favors. I do some things for some other folks so that they'll also owe me. I approach a man who owns a paving company with strong ties with the agency which regulates planning and construction of public paths. Then I find some "business men" and show them how they can profit if your house were gone and we had a direct path WE CONTROLLED through your property and this man's paving company poured the asphalt. Together we start dreaming about this path. Wouldn't it be even better, someone says, if there are concessions along the path. If they can't get off the path to patronize the businesses along existing streets, that will be better for us because we'll make more money. So while the "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" gang is busy revising the Transportation and Property Codes of the government, we have them add in a clause allowing exercise of eminent domain for construction of a facility which serves users of the toll facility.

By scratching backs and showing folks how they can PROFIT from my scheme, I've moved from just cutting through your bushes and walking between your house and garage as I cut through to the other side of property to conduct my business on the other side of you to actually getting the law changed so that I can have your home torn down and land confiscated by the state. I can also get your neighbor's land condemned by eminent domain because it's contingent to a toll corridor and is NEEDED TO BE USED FOR A CONCESSION WHICH WILL BE USED BY USERS OF THE TOLL PATH.

Now, there are a lot of places in our town where more people actually need a paved path more than this one. There may even be some places where they need a bridge. But this project gets priority because I agree to pay for the clearing, demolition of your house, and the concrete to pave it. I get a 50 year right to set the rates for the toll and operate all the concessions along the path. I get the government to underwrite a lot of the studies and planning for this project because they are in the business of overseeing planning projects.

After we pour all this concrete the neighborhood looks different. Because it looks DIFFERENT, some people call it progress.

You no longer live there. Your next door neighbor no longer lives in the town. The land now belongs to the state. Your neighbors get their tax bills after completion of this project. The school district and county and city have divided their annual budgets among the number of remaining homeowners. Everyone has a tax increase. There is still a shortfall because even with a tax increase, there is less land available and when they need to build a new school, the price is higher for the land. But that's ok. Because it is now easier for the folks I did business with on the other side of your property to go through the path and not have to detour around where your house used to sit. No one actually stops on your land to do anything. They use the concession where your next door neighbor used to live as they travel through. But they don't patronize any of the businesses on the street where you lived. When they carry packages along this toll road to deliver to your former neighbors, they pay tolls. But that's o.k. because the pass the additional cost along to the buyers.

Oh, I forgot one thing. When I sell the VISION for building this toll path corridor, I point out that we need A MUCH WIDER RIGHT OF WAY than is actually called for right now. We need to plan for 50 years in the future. So we advise the "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine gang" to write the law so that instead of the land that the path needs being condemned, they condemn three times that much land. We won't use it for 50 years, but that's o.k. We'll control it. It goes out of the local tax base too and more folks lose their homes. Those that remain have to absorb an even larger percentage of the taxes formerly paid by you and your neighbor. But I'm content.

I'm given an award by the City Father's for being a "Catalyst of Progress." I have more money, so I give a little of it to a charity run by one of the folks who helped me get the laws changed to Legalize all the illegal obstacles to progress that I decided needed to be eliminated so that I'd be enabled to "get a return on my investment" as I instigate getting this toll path built so that I'll not to be inconvenienced by having to detour around your house. I'm now known as a "humanitarian."

Our project has utilized public governmental planning agencies who usually plan public projects. They haven't had time to concentrate on public works projects except for our path. So the street that runs in front of the property where you used to live becomes filled with potholes and is actually dangerous to pedestrians and drivers. The tax base is less. The businesses on that road have closed down because they lost business when people started patronizing the businesses on the toll path. We approach the city and tell them that we can solve their problem. We'll use a bit of the money we made operating this first toll path to repair roads which are currently PUBLIC ROADS if they are turned into toll roads and we are given 50 years to operate them so we can get a return on our investment.

This time there are activists who are prepared for us and manage to demand this project be put to a vote. But it is obvious that the road will remain impassable because now the tax base of the town has dwindled to such a state that there REALLY IS no money in the budget to pave the public road. The toll initiative on the ballot passes by only a few votes, but I have a new project to profit on with my friend the paving contractor. The public street is now a toll road and we are studying where we want to locate the concessions.


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There will be goods shipped through Texas from Mexico to other states whether or not the TTC is constructed. Some folks are wondering TEXANS should give up our land and finance the TTC by paying tolls and higher property and school taxes! Don't we have other more important transportation needs that need to be met right now? TDoT, elected officials and transportation planners in COGS tell us that the TTC is necessary because we need to plan for 50 years in the future.

Planning for the future is fine when you have your CURRENT HOUSE IN ORDER. People without food on the table can't throw their entire annual budget into a retirement account. This initiative is one that transfers resources away from meeting VITAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS in communities all over Texas right now! DFW is on the brink of having EPA shut down economic development. We have to address air quality along with transportation. Every urban center in Texas needs SOME transportation solution and this TTC snowgoose doesn't meet ANY OF THEM. But it's true, business interest shipping goods from Asia to Mexican ports will get those goods to market somehow. They want us to cut them a direct, less-costly-for-them route. We must fight for OUR NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED before their comfort! If we build a corridor or highway or rail line for US, and they use it too, that's normal. That's not what they are asking. THE TTC is not a transportation plan to meet the needs of Texans. Instead of concentrating on this state's highest priority transportation needs, we're expected to forgo what we need to build this rail, utility and super toll highway from Laredo to Oklahoma to facilitate shipping through Texas.

Let's end this "good night" story with a quote from a lady who addressed the TDoT officials at the Dallas TTC Hearing: "What part of stupid do you think we are?"