IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corte voted for Governor’s market-based tolls, the highest possible toll tax
(San Antonio, TX, January 27, 2008) At Tony Kosub’s campaign kick-off yesterday, San Antonio Toll Party Founder, Terri Hall reminded supporters of the many toll tax hikes Frank Corte loaded onto his constituents, market-based tolls among them.
Express-News Columnist Jaime Castillo said this about market-based tolls once he caught wind of them in the Governor’s counterfeit moratorium bill, SB 792: “If you want to raise funds for other projects, keep jacking up the toll price until drivers cry ‘uncle,’ and then back it off a penny or two” (Express-News, July 22, 2008).
Corte voted for this new scheme where traditional toll taxes based on the actual cost of construction and bond debt were replaced with market-based tolls based on the nebulous concept of “whatever customers would be willing to pay.” This doesn’t bode well for Corte in a heavily Republican district who sent him to Austin to lower taxes and limit government.
Another tax grab Corte supported is the complete conversion of US 281 into a tollway. According to the Federal Register published August 30, 2007, every single freeway lane will be converted to a toll lane on US 281, with access roads as the non-toll lanes. Converting freeways to tollways without a public vote has since been outlawed (HB 2702), but Corte has not only voted to allow this freeway conversion (repudiated by the entire South Texas Congressional delegation), he’s refused to step-in.
“The road improvements and overpasses to 281 have been paid for with our gas taxes since 2003. Here we are FIVE years later, and it hasn’t been fixed, why? Because Frank Corte is part of the leadership in Austin that puts one man’s agenda, Rick Perry’s, above the best interest of the Party and of Texans,” Hall emphasized.
“Corte voted to give TxDOT unprecedented power so that Texans won’t get ANY new lanes, or ANY congestion relief unless they pay a double tax, a toll tax,” Hall noted.
The full text of Hall’s speech is below:
This is an exciting day for the San Antonio Toll Party for two reasons:
1) We have a candidate to unseat a pro-toll incumbent in District 122
2) We have a candidate who actually inspires us! That candidate is Tony Kosub.
He’s a man of incorruptible character, who’s genuine and sincere in his convictions, and who actually cares about people. His life’s work is investing in our children as a middle school teacher and coach. He doesn’t just talk; he lives what he believes.
I first met Tony Kosub at one of our events a number of years ago, and Tony not only took it upon himself to get educated and involved in fighting tolls roads and the Trans Texas Corridor, he began to take an interest in the larger fight against overbearing, abusive government, an escalating tax burden, and out of control government spending while “we the people” had to keep tightening our belts. Tony Kosub desperately desired to remedy the growing problem of the disconnect between us and our elected representatives, particularly in his own backyard, District 122.
Let me give you a glimpse into just how bad that disconnect is with Frank Corte. After thousands of emails, phone calls, meetings with constituents, and even traveling to Austin during the session, it became abundantly clear that Frank Corte refused to represent his constituents, showing stubborn indifference to the most egregious highway robbery, tax and spend feeding frenzy ever to hit his district…the complete conversion of the 281 FREEway into a tollway in a DOUBLE TAX NIGHTMARE for our lifetimes.
The road improvements and overpasses to 281 have been paid for with our gas taxes since 2003. Here we are FIVE years later, and it hasn’t been fixed, why? Because Frank Corte is part of the leadership in Austin that puts one man’s agenda, Rick Perry’s, above the best interest of the Party and of Texans.
Corte claims to be a conservative. His record on taxes demonstrate, he’s NO fiscal conservative. He voted to increase a host of taxes, but the largest tax increase of all will be paying a new toll tax on roads we’ve already built and paid for, like 281, 1604, and I-10…all in District 122. He voted to give TxDOT unprecedented power so that Texans won’t get ANY new lanes, or ANY congestion relief unless they pay a double tax, a toll tax.
We’re already feeling the pain at the pump with gas prices at record highs and no end in sight. Frank Corte is on the energy committee and has taken plenty of money from the energy industry yet Texans couldn’t be farther from energy independence than we are right now, on his watch.
Tony Kosub is not only a fresh face for District 122, but he’s also a problem solver. He comes from the people and understands the economic stress that both business and families are under and he knows how to relieve it…by returning to the principles we know will work. The principles of less government (starting with reining-in government spending), lower taxes, and greater accountability to the taxpayers…starting with TxDOT, of course, an agency full of waste, fraud, and abuse who has already recklessly taken Texas into a toll tax slush fund road building frenzy, but that now has also clearly crossed the line by illegally hiring lobbyists on the taxpayer’s dime!
I know you’ll agree, that it’s time for change in Texas. It’s time to throw off politicians who defend government instead of their constituents, who refuse to listen to the people who pay the bills, and who represent the status quo even to the detriment of citizens. We CANNOT keep sending the same ol’ career politicians to Austin and expect different results. We need new leadership.
It is with great confidence that the San Antonio Toll Party gives our endorsement to Tony Kosub. I can’t think of anyone more equipped for the task ahead of him, who has the values to get us headed in the right direction, and who has the uncompromising conviction it will take to resist the forces of big government and the tax and spend mentality that has taken over Austin.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my privilege to introduce you to the next State Representative for District 122, Tony Kosub!