Gov. Perry insisted that MARKET VALUATION be inserted into Texas Senate Bill 792. This is a long bill. They did not open this bill to public testimony. They rushed it through the Senate, suspending the rules so that they could take all three reading in one day and vote it out of the Senate untouched. It became known as Perry's compromise transportation bill and was seen as the last chance to get the 2 year moratorium on toll roads passed and signed into law by the Governor.
Fortunately on the floor of the Texas House there were a few people with more spine than the lap dogs in the Senate who red stamped Perry’s dictates. Some DFW area reps argued against application of Market Valuation on SH 161. They didn't touch the real problem but only complained that it might slow down the projects. The big problem in that adding market valuation turns all toll projects into CDAs requiring rates high enough to generate billions of dollars of surplus toll revenue to be paid as concession payments to the RTCs and TxDOT!
It is imperative for the welfare of every Texan, and especially for children and grandchildren who will be forced to pay the highest tolls to use what should be state highways that passage of SB792 with market valuation language in it be blocked. Also, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst got House Amendment 13 added to the bill. It is imperative that House Amendment 13 remain in the bill. If it is stripped out there is absolutely no reason to pass it. House Amendment 13 is what insures that the TTC stays in the moratorium.
Contact SB 792 Conference Committee:
E-Mail Addresses of SB 792 Conference Committee:
wayne.smith@house.state.tx.us, lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us, patricia.harless@house.state.tx.us, larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us, joe.pickett@house.state.tx.us, john.carona@senate.state.tx.us, eliot.shapleigh@senate.state.tx.us, kim.brimer@senate.state.tx.us, robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us, tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us,
Telephone and FAX Numbers for SB 6792 Conference Committee:
Rep. Chairman Wayne Smith - Toll Free 866.423.5987 / Fax 512.463.1323
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst - 512.463.0600 / Fax 512.463.5240
Rep. Patricia Harless - 512.463.0496 / Fax 512.463.1507
Rep. Larry Phillips - 512.463.0297 / Fax 512.463.1561
Rep. Joe Pickett - Toll Free 800.775.5810 / Fax 512.463.6504
Sen. Tommy Williams, Chair Toll Free 888.668.1227 / Fax 512.463.6373
Sen. John Carona 512.463.0116 / Fax 512.463.3135
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh 512.463.0129 / Fax 512.463.0218
Sen. Kim Brimer 512.463.0110 / Fax 512.475.3745
Sen. Robert Nichols 512.463.0103 / Fax 512.463.1526
HERE IS SUGGESTED TEXT FOR TEXANS TO SEND TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND TO OTHER LEGISLATORS:
SUBJECT LINE: RE SB 792 - HB 2268 - Market Valuation requirements for public toll authorities projects 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!"
I am writing to tell you that citizens are upset. Requiring that MARKET VALUATION to be applied to public toll authorities projects in Texas is the LAST STRAW. We've are taking note and remembering the names of elected officials who sold the public out by fighting to protection citizens in the Texas Region from bad CDA contracts.
We object to setting tolls high enough to generate surplus toll revenue to fund highway projects. 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 strategic 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.]
For more information see: from DFW REGIONAL CONCERNED CITIZENS
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