05.12.09
More on the TxDOT Sunset bill
After reading Texas TURF’s response to the final bill that passed on Monday, and more of what Burka had to say one thing becomes clear.
The TxDOT Sunset debate, how TxDOT is structured going forward, should be separate and apart from how we plan on funding trasnportation infrastructure in the future. Basically how we pick what needs to be built and where, TxDOT’s duties, should be separate and apart from how we pay for it, the legislatures duty.
Instead of the TxDOT commissioner running around glorifying toll roads (like the late Ric Williamson did), and TxDOT using money intended for roads to buy advertising glorifying toll roads, they should just be working on where and how we need new and improved trasnportation infrastructure.
From Texas TURF:
HB 300 author Rep. Carl Isett said NO funding mechanisms would be included in the Sunset bill and he told legislators the CDA discussion was going to happen in committee this week, not in the Sunset bill, only to allow Phillips’ amendment into the bill under the radar Friday and again today.
“Instead of right this OUTRAGEOUS wrong, they voted to sell out the PEOPLE of Texas, again without a record vote,” said Hall. “This is no way to enact some of the most important legislation of the session. Legislating on the fly may be standard operating procedure, but it’s a disgrace. These policies impact EVERY Texan and ultimately control every mile we drive.”
From Burka:
I overlooked one other significant change to the bill (and no doubt there are others). Amendment 134 extended the authority for Comprehensive Development Agreements — that is, privatized roads. The authority was extended to 2015. This was done in spite of representations that the bill would not deal with methods of financing roads. This was a breach of faith with the overwhelming majority of members who have concerns about TxDOT. The Senate should substitute the original Sunset bill for the House bill and start over.
Both TURF and Burka say much more about what went on in the house regarding this and the issues they have with it. But taking the financing part completely out of the TxDOT restructuring conversation, as Rep. Isett had proposed, might allow for a more constructive conversation on how to improve TxDOT.
More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras « Off the Kuff said,
May 13, 2009 at 4:23 am
[...] dead. So we don’t know yet what if anything will change with red light cameras this session. Eye on Williamson has more on [...]