Link to article here. Of course, what this letter and article are saying is that TxDOT is essentially asking our congressmen NOT to seek federal funding for projects without clearing it with them. NUTS! Here they made a HUGE deal out of having to send federal dollars back to Washington, further exacerbating our starved highway funds, and then they have the audacity to make the situation EVEN WORSE???!!!

Something doesn’t pass the smell test. It sure seems TxDOT is using this as yet another way to push excessively high tolls versus maximizing the gas tax system.

TxDOT Troubles Texas Congressmen with Request
By Charles Davis
Texas Public Radio’s Capital Correspondent

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Last month members of the Texas congressional delegation received an unusual letter from the Texas Department of Transportation.

In the letter TxDOT is demanding that Texas congressmen seek approval for all transportation projects with them in Austin before obtaining federal funding.

Republican Congressman Ted Poe of Humble, Texas, said that’s not how the funding process works. He was blunt about what he thinks of TxDOT’s demands.

“They’ve gotten too big for their britches. Obviously,” Poe said.

He argues only lawmakers should choose what projects are built because only they are accountable to their voters.

“TxDOT is an administrative group and they are to spend the money as we direct that they are to spend it, whether they like it or not. Their responsibility is not to determine projects. Their responsibility is to build bridges and roads and freeways,” Poe said.

TxDOT spokesman Randall Dillard says the agency just wants to make sure that those bridges and roads are built where they are most needed.

“We didn’t mean to offend anybody by the letter. We’re certainly sorry if it did offend people. Our intent is just to make sure that we can advance transportation projects here in Texas,” Dillard said.

But unless TxDOT compromises on their position, some lawmakers feel funding for their districts could be in danger.

San Antonio Democratic Congressman Charlie Gonzales thinks TxDOT’s letter was strange, and says the agency’s position could hurt the state.

“For TxDOT to basically say ‘don’t send us any federal dollars’ is not truly in the best interests of Texans and our communities that are petitioning and requesting their representatives here in Congress to seek those funds.” Gonzales says he understands TxDOT’s concern over which projects get federal funding. But he argues that Congress only appropriates money where it’s needed.

“Obviously we’re not asking for these funds unless someone has brought some great need to our attention,” Gonzales said.

South Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar said he is also upset at TxDOT. But he’s more diplomatic about it.

“I understand and respect the Department of Transportation for the position that they’ve taken. But for us to pre-clear everything through them – it’s just not the way things are done,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar said he thinks TxDOT won’t actually turn down any federal money. He says the agency needs to work closer with Congress to determine the state’s most pressing needs.

“You know we can also set priorities, that if they have a difference I think they can sit down with us. But to send a letter like they did, without even talking to us; I think was not the right thing for them to do,” he said.

TxDOT receives about 40% of its budget from Washington. But the agency usually needs to match those funds, sometimes for projects that might not be a priority. Spokesman Randall Dillard says TxDOT wants to ensure lawmakers work together for the state, not just their district.

“We just want to make sure that when our congressmen and women in Washington are securing dollars for specific projects, that those projects are coordinated and that we’re all working to advance that same project,” said Dillard.

According to the US Census, Texas’ population is growing by almost twice the national average. Dillard says Congress needs to work closely with TxDOT to find the best solutions to the state’s growing transportation needs.

“Every three years we add the equivalent of a city the size of San Antonio to our population. So the challenges are out there, and it’s a situation where with the rising congestion it’s impacting peoples safety, it’s impacting air quality, it’s impacting the overall quality of life for millions of people,” said Dillard.

But lawmakers argue that TxDOT officials aren’t elected, so they shouldn’t choose which projects are built.

Congressman Gonzales says he and other lawmakers wrote a letter to TxDOT explaining their concerns.

“I thought it was a very polite letter saying, ‘look, what do you mean by this and it doesn’t make any sense,” Gonzales said.

“Do you really want us to stop attempting to gain federal dollars for Texas highway dollars when we have every other state in the union fighting for the same dollar?’

Most lawmakers think their dispute with TxDOT can be worked out before federal transportation dollars are threatened. But almost a month after their letter was sent, they say they have not even received a response.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Americans cannot compete in a global market of multi-national corporations undermining American workers with a third world labor force bypassing payroll taxes, Social Security and health benefits. Our failed trade policies like NAFTA and CAFTA are to blame for this displacement and are also the reason our government is aggressively pursuing the construction of a slew of multiple trade corridors throughout the U.S., including the Trans Texas Corridor system in Texas. Two articles from the Texas Insider follow…

Link to article here.

Cornyn: Passage of America Competes Act Will Expand Job Opportunities for Texans

Legislation Sen. Cornyn co-sponsored will increase innovation, help ensure America’s competitiveness in global economy

Published: 04-30-07

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate approved bipartisan legislation to expand American competitiveness by a vote of 88-8 on Wednesday. The America COMPETES Act (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science) will increase innovative opportunities in technology, education and science. Sen. Cornyn is an original co-sponsor of the legislation.

“Passage of this bill is a needed step to protect and promote American competitiveness in an increasingly global economy,” Sen. Cornyn said. “Investing in science and technology, and increasing our ability to innovate, is an important part of keeping the economy in Texas and America strong. This initiative will expand opportunities here at home.”

The legislation will encourage and expand U.S. innovation by: (1) increasing research investment and (2) strengthening educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from elementary through graduate school. The America COMPETES Act is based on the National Academies’ “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” report and the Council on Competitiveness’ “Innovate America” report. The bill mirrors bipartisan legislation introduced at the end of last year by the Senate Leaders.

“Our ability to innovate is crucial to the success of our economy and competitiveness with other countries,” Sen. Cornyn said. “We must do more to encourage education in math and science. This legislation makes an important investment in America’s future by supporting advances in these fields.”

Sen. Cornyn has a strong record of working to enhance America’s competitiveness. Sen. Cornyn co-sponsored the Patent Reform Act last week to help maintain American innovation and competitiveness by reforming the patent system.

In addition to backing previous legislation, he convened a summit in Austin last April to focus on workforce partnerships—collaborations between community colleges and local employers (public-private partnerships) designed to equip employees with new skills or help them transition to better careers. He has met with universities, community colleges and employers across Texas to promote initiatives that will maintain America’s competitive edge.

The America COMPETES Act is based in part on legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Cornyn in the last Congress, including the National Innovations Act, the National Competitiveness Investment Act and the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) Act.

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Link to article here.

Gonzales Secures a Seal of Approval

Branding Program Promotes Texas Manufacturing

Published: 04-30-07

AUSTIN–State Representative Veronica Gonzales (D-McAllen) saw passage of HB 3446 on the House Floor on Tuesday.  The bill was joint authored with Rep. Rose (D-San Marcos), Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont) and Rep. Brian McCall (R-Plano) to establish a branding program, “Genuine Texas”, for Texas manufactured products.  The initiative would also develop a campaign to provide a competitive edge for Texas manufacturing industry by creating a logo for Texas-made goods for consumers to identify.

“The ‘Genuine Texas’ campaign will be the ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ of this century,” said Gonzales. “I am excited for this bill’s potential to encourage consumers to support Texas manufactured goods.  We have seen the effective efforts through the Texas Parks and Wildlife anti-littering campaign; ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ and I look forward the implementation of this program that will further fuel Texas manufacturing.”

With the unanimous support in the House, if HB 3446 is equally successful in the Senate, a fee of up to $100 can be charged for the right to use the exclusive state logo, “Genuine Texas”. The branding program would also establish product quality standards for Texas manufacturers, set penalties for violations of improper use of the logo by manufacturers and create an advisory board of members.

“Texans have a long honored legacy of state pride and this bill promotes state pride through support of the manufacturing industry here at home,” said Gonzales.  While the manufacturing sector is a strong contributor to the State’s economy, the branding program would keep the state competitive against increased cheap labor available overseas which could take manufacturing jobs away from Texas.

We were privileged to be alongside San Antonio filmmaker, William Molina, when the Houston Film Festival awarded him the Platinum Award for BEST Feature Documentary (out of 4,500 total submissions) at this year’s festival Saturday night. The film, Truth Be Tolled, now has a pedigree …considering Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg got noticed at this festival, this could really blow the lid off this issue nationally! Congratulations to Bill who was one of the select few who were double award winners. He also received a Gold Award in cinematography for another submission on Mayan culture. We’re so happy for you, Bill, as well as co-writer for Truth Be Tolled, Deb Fazackerley!

Order your copy of the AWARD WINNING documentary at www.TruthBeTolled.com.

Link to section and see photo here.

Best Local Cause

1. Anti-Toll Roads
2. Cancer Center Council
3. Operation Comfort

Since 2004, Operation Comfort has coordinated donations for injured military being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. And Comfort figures recovering soldiers and marines might appreciate some outdoor adrenaline along with their rehab: see their amputee surfing trips to Pismo Beach, California, or bike trips from San Antonio to Corpus Christi.

Speaking of adrenal responses, Terri Hall, of San Antonio Toll Party and Texas Turf.org fame, has helped channel anger and fill transportation hearings like never before. She’s definitely caused pro-tollers (the Chamber, the Zachrys) stress.

Link to article here.

You know it’s bad when these guys claim a measly 1.1 percent increase in salary is great news. Incomes haven’t gone up more than 1.1 percent since 2001. That doesn’t come near to keeping pace with inflation much less skyrocketing food and gas prices. That’s also HORRIBLE news for workers, unlike the financial sector’s sugar-coating below. Workers’ salaries aren’t even able to keep pace with inflation much less get ahead or save money for retirement.

This also fails to mention the negative savings rate or soaring health care costs. Low unemployment by itself sure doesn’t gauge financial health. If more women/moms are forced back to work to make ends meet while their children languish in child care, that’s not good for our country. The trend, according to Federal Highway Administration stats, is that driving is going DOWN due to high gas prices, not up. So this push for road building and claims of growing gridlock just aren’t panning out for the tollers…
AP
Economy Crawls, Raising Recession Fears
Friday, April 27, 2007
By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
Economy Crawling at Slowest Pace in 4 Years, Raising Fears of Recession

WASHINGTON (AP) — The worst economic growth in four years is raising concern that troubles in the U.S. housing market will spread and throw the country into a recession before the year is out.The economy practically crawled at a 1.3 percent pace in the opening quarter of 2007, the Commerce Department reported Friday. That was even weaker than the sluggish 2.5 percent rate in the closing quarter of last year.

The main culprit in the slowdown: the housing slump, which made some businesses act cautiously. The bloated trade deficit also played a role.

Consumers largely carried the economy in the first quarter. But will they stay resilient in light of the troubled housing market, fallout from risky mortgages and rising energy prices?

“The No. 1 question is can the consumer continue to play Atlas while the housing market crumbles around him?” said Richard Yamarone, economist at Argus Research. Others worry about businesses’ appetite to spend and invest — also important ingredients for a healthy economy.

Friday’s report brought some of these uncertainties to the fore. For now, though, economists believe the risk of a recession is low. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has put the chance of a recession this year at one in three.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, however, has said he doesn’t believe the economic expansion, now in its sixth year, is in danger of fizzling out. Neither does the Bush administration.

The reading on gross domestic product in the first quarter was the weakest since a 1.2 percent pace in the opening quarter of 2003. GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is considered the best barometer of the country’s economic fitness.

The performance was even weaker than the 1.8 percent economists had forecast.

“The economy went through a very soggy period,” said Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Bank of America’s Investment Strategies Group. “The biggest risk to the economy is if the housing market doesn’t stabilize. That could force consumers and businesses to cut back sharply in spending. Those risks seem to be limited at this juncture,” she said.

On Wall Street, blue-chip investors took the weak GDP showing in stride. The Dow Jones industrials rose 15.44 points to 13,120.94, the third record close in as many days.

Even though the economy slowed in the first quarter, inflation picked up. That could complicate the Fed’s work of keeping the economy and inflation on an even keel. “This is a knife’s edge scenario,” observed John Silvia, chief economist at Wachovia Economics Group.

An inflation gauge tied to the GDP report and closely watched by the Fed showed that core prices — excluding food and energy — rose at a rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter, up from 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

Republicans and Democrats had divergent views of the GDP report.

“We knew that the housing market would go through an adjustment. The positive news here is that our economy has been able to grow in spite of that very sharp reduction,” Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in an interview with The Associated Press.

But Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called the sick housing market and the swollen trade deficit — which played in the first-quarter’s slowdown — “body blows” to the economy that “must be countered by sound economic policy from the Bush administration.”

The biggest factor behind the first quarter slowdown was the crumbling housing market. Investment in home building was cut by 17 percent on an annualized basis. Such investment had been slashed at an even deeper 19.8 percent pace in the fourth quarter.

“The report tells me housing is probably going to be in a more prolonged and deeper recession,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group.

Weak investment by businesses in inventories also held back GDP. So did the trade deficit, shaving 0.52 percentage point off GDP.

Another negative factor was a 6.6 percent drop, on an annualized basis, in federal defense spending.

However, consumers whose shopping is indispensable to a booming economy boosted their spending at a 3.8 percent pace. That was a solid showing although it was slightly weaker than the 4.2 percent rate in the fourth quarter.

A key reason consumers have remained resilient, even in the face of the painful housing slump, is that the jobs markets has managed to stay in good shape.

The nation’s unemployment rate dropped in March to 4.4 percent, matching a five-year low. However, economists predict that rate will climb — perhaps to close to 5 percent by the end of this year — as economic activity cools.

In other economic news, employers’ costs to hire and retain workers grew 0.8 percent in the first quarter, down slightly from a 0.9 percent increase in the fourth quarter, the Labor Department reported.

Wages and salaries went up 1.1 percent, a figure that hasn’t been higher since 2001. That’s good news for workers and should support consumer spending. Benefit costs, however, edged up just 0.1 percent, the least since the first quarter of 1999.

GDP report: http://www.commerce.gov/

Employment costs: http://www.bls.gov/

From the Patriot Post, April 27, 2007 –

Lobbying continues to grow in DC

In the past, power shifts in Washington usually meant dark days for lobbyists who had solicited the party being removed from power, but with Congress closely divided and an active GOP administration in the White House, Republican lobbying firms are still pulling in big business. Match this with the sharp rise in Demo lobbyists looking to gain access to the new committee leaders on the Hill, and we have the makings of a lobbying boom. In the months since the 2006 elections, new lobbying registrations totaled 2,232, up from 1,222 this time last year. Clients at Patton Boggs, DC’s largest firm, have tripled, and many other firms are also experiencing double-digit growth. Some organizations like the Carmen Group are going bipartisan and hiring new lobbyists to handle the surge in clients looking to work with both parties.

This sharp rise in the growth of lobbying firms is the surest sign that lobbying reform—fortunately—is dead and buried in Congress. While we don’t condone the unethical behavior of some lobbyists, efforts to stifle the free speech of any constituency group are not the solution to corruption. Democrats came to power promising a change in the way lobbyists work on Capitol Hill, but we don’t think this is the change they were promising.

Link to World Net Daily article here.

We reported these heavy-handed tactics here Wednesday. Note what this James Ray at the Federal Highway Administration believes and says about aggressively pursuing private money and private deals for our U.S. highways here. Link to the letter the feds sent here.

Feds threaten Texas over superhighway funds plan
Transportation Department opposes bills delaying NAFTA project
By Jerome R. Corsi
WorldNetDaily.com
April 27, 2007

The Federal Highway Administration has threatened Texas with the loss of federal highway funds if the state continues with its legislative plan for a two-year funding moratorium on construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor.

In the 4-page letter, FHWA Chief Counsel James D. Ray advises Michael Behrens, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, some of the pending legislative proposals, if signed into law, “could affect the State’s eligibility for receiving Federal-aid highway funds.”

Ray praises Texas for being “the nation’s leader in developing new transportation facilities through public private partnerships.”

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