Perry calls special session, wants to sell TX roads to foreign toll operators

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Rick Perry wants to try and force the Legislature to continue to give his highway department the authority to sell-off Texas roads to private, foreign toll operators which will charge Texans 75 cents a mile to access PUBLIC roads. This from a so-called conservative who sent out his minions to quash a 10 cent gas tax hike that pales in comparison to $3,000 a YEAR per commuter in NEW toll taxes. What hypocrisy!

When the Texas Attorney General refuses to sign the contracts (called CDAs) that would privatize public freeways I-820 and I-635 (LBJ) because they’re so egregiously costly and fiscally irresponsible, what politician in his/her right mind (especially House members who all face re-election next year) would re-authorize these taxpayer rip-offs that will en debt generations with oppressively high, unsustainable toll taxes to benefit Perry’s cronies? Sadly, we’re about to find out. Killing CDAs = killing the Trans Texas Corridor & the vast majority of the toll roads! Call your STATE legislators today and tell them to vote NO on CDAs!

Link to Governor’s call here.

Gov. Perry Calls A Special Session for July 1, 2009
June 25, 2009

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, the legislature adjourned the 81st Regular Legislative Session without enacting sunset legislation for several state agencies that were subject to sunset review by the 81st Legislature; and

WHEREAS, without legislative action, the state’s Sunset Act, Chapter 325, Government Code, in conjunction with statutory law applicable to those agencies, abolishes the agencies on September 1, 2009, and requires each of the agencies to begin on that date a wind-down process that will culminate in the termination and cessation of all activities of each agency on September 1, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the Sunset Advisory Commission, in its report presented to the legislature and the governor at the 81st Regular Legislative Session, recommended that the agencies be continued in existence; and

WHEREAS, the continuation of the existence of the agencies is crucial for the operation of state governmental activities; and

WHEREAS, passage of enabling legislation to implement the authority granted in Article III, Section 49-p, of the Texas Constitution to issue general obligation bonds for highway improvement projects is necessary to assist in providing adequate financing for future transportation infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the general statutory authority to enter into comprehensive development agreements expires in August 2009, and, with limited means of funding transportation projects, comprehensive development agreements are a necessary tool for providing financing for future transportation infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the people have placed the constitutional power to call and convene the legislature into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer of the State;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, by the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, do hereby call an extraordinary session of the 81st Legislature, to be convened in the City of Austin, commencing at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the 1st day of July 2009, for the following purposes:

To consider legislation that provides for extending the existence of several state agencies that were subject to sunset review by the 81st Legislature and will be abolished without legislative action under the state’s Sunset Act, that changes the review schedule for certain state agencies to balance the workload of the Sunset Advisory Commission.

To consider legislation relating to the issuance by the Texas Transportation Commission, pursuant to Article III, Section 49-p, of the Texas Constitution, of general obligation bonds for highway improvement projects, and to the creation, administration, financing and use of a Texas Transportation Revolving Fund to provide financial assistance for transportation projects.

To consider legislation relating to the date on which the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation and a regional mobility authority to enter into a comprehensive development agreement expires.

The Secretary of State will take notice of this action and will notify the members of the legislature of my action.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this the 19th day of June, 2009.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

ATTESTED BY:
COBY SHORTER, III
Deputy Secretary of State