IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens rejoice at historic legislative victory, hail Rep. Leibowitz a HERO
Austin, TX, May 2, 2007 – House Bill 1892 passed the House with a vote of 139-1. House Transportation Committee Chairman Mike Krusee was the ONLY representative voting against! This bill halts the Trans Texas Corridor and the sale of our public highways to the highest bidder. Though some managed lane projects were exempted from the moratorium, Representative David Leibowitz (D – San Antonio) is being hailed as a hero for making sure BOTH 281 & 1604 in San Antonio are IN the private toll moratorium. Senator Jeff Wentworth (R – San Antonio) left that in doubt in the Senate amendment by only explicitly placing 281 in the moratorium. But Leibowitz made it clear and got ON THE RECORD that since the current San Antonio CDA is for BOTH 281 and 1604, that the intent of this legislation is that both highways are IN the moratorium! Now there can be NO legal limbo from TxDOT trying to say otherwise.
“I’ve never been more proud of the PEOPLE of Texas than I am today. It’s their hard work, the phone calls, emails, attendance at public hearings, that made all the difference. We made it so that our representatives couldn’t ignore this issue and we prevailed, convincingly!” said an elated Terri Hall, Founder/Director of TURF.
“It’s also important to note that we NEVER intended to capitulate or give up on ensuring both 281 AND 1604 were a part of the moratorium. We were not going to give TxDOT, this Governor, or the highway lobby ANY ground in San Antonio, and Representative Leibowitz and our delegation agreed. He made sure both our roads are part of the moratorium, no questions asked and we applaud him for his leadership!” notes Hall. “However, those in North Texas, whose politicians exempted their projects, ought to be hopping mad that their highways are being hawked to the highest bidder, a foreign company from Spain, Cintra, for the next 50 years! These officials are going to regret it.”
Now HB 1892 goes to the Governor and he has until May 14 to sign it into law, veto, or allow it to become law without his signature.