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Senate leaders: Private toll-road bill DOA
By Mike Ward | Thursday, July 2, 2009, 02:43 PM
Austin American Statesman
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate leaders just announced publicly what senators had confirmed an hour ago: A bill to continue to allow more privately built toll roads to be constructed is dead in the special legislative session.
And lawmakers plan to finish their other business — approving the issuance of $2 billion in road-building bonds and continuing the operations of five state agencies — and then go home later today.
Dewhurst said attempts for a compromise on the toll-road bills — Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 3 — failed amid growing questions about whether any action on the matter was needed before the Legislature convenes in regular session again in January 2011.
State Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, said the urgency of the matter waned after local and state transportation assured legislative leaders that no projects would be killed or delayed by the lack of a vote.
“If it was a critical issue, we’re here to deal with it,” Corona said. “But we have been assured … that no major project is going to be left behind … We will take this (issue) up in 2011.”
Gov. Rick Perry had called lawmakers back into special session to address three issues: The bonds, to continue the operations of the five agencies that otherwise would have shut down, and to give the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation continued authority to contract for the privately built toll roads — through deals called “comprehensive development agreements.”
Dewhurst said Perry’s reaction to let the third issue on the agenda die without action was: “roads need to get built.”
“They will,” Corona said. “It would be a mistake to do away with CDAs. But we need to take some time to look at this issue, and we can do that in 2011 without any impact on projects.”
So with the controversial issue off the table, here’s what the schedule for the rest of the special session looks like:
At 3:30 p.m., the Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve House Bill 1 (bonds). It will then go to the full Senate for a vote, probably about 5 p.m.
The House earlier today approved Senate Bill 2 (continuation of the agencies, also called the safety-net bill).
Adjournment of both the Senate and the House is expected by early this evening.
Is the guy stuck on stupid? What part of NO! does the man not understand?
Governor Perry and John Carona were clearly told by the citizens of Texas that they do not want CDA’s. Yet, on this issue, they arrogantly want to bring it up again in 2011? Politicians must really think the citizens are stupid. Well, we’re not, and we’re watching them. They seem to forget that they work for US!!!
Do we need to amend the Texas Constitution on this issue so these arrogant politicians will stop their attempts at grabbing taxpayer pockets?? That’s what the whole issue of CDA’s is about.
Politicians,elitist career politicians IN PARTICULAR,I’m talking to YOU. “WE THE PEOPLE” have had ENOUGH of you. HOW dare you sell us out.Toll Roads owned by Spain, HOW DARE YOU.
WE are taking our country back.Get over yourselves & get out of the way. WE THE PEOPLE will work to throw you out AS we refuse to pay any tax dollars out. NOT one more dime will we pay, we are just about there.NOW what are you going to do? Before you betray us, one more time, remember,TREASON is punishable & not very civilized, think about that. We are.