STRAYHORN PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STRAYHORN JOINS TEXANS IN CALL FOR STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND URGES GOVERNOR TO ALLOW 2006 PRIMARY VOTE ON TOLL ROADS

(AUSTIN) – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Republican candidate for Governor in 2006, today joined Texans in urging Gov. Rick Perry to allow Legislators to adopt a state constitutional amendment protecting property owners.

“Farmers and land owners everywhere were indeed dealt a devastating blow when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that eminent domain used for private business development is a legal use of condemnation authority,” Strayhorn said.

“Lawmakers are meeting now so it won’t cost taxpayers a dime more than the money the Governor is already spending on this special session and Texas needs to be a leader in the fight against this latest land grab,” she said. “The Governor needs to let Texans’ voices be heard on Nov. 8.”

Strayhorn, who has said as Governor she will fight for Initiative and Referendum, also said Republican Primary voters in March 2006 should be given the opportunity to vote on a nonbinding referendum that would measure the support, or lack thereof, for Perry’s Trans Texas Corridor.

“Perry’s Trans Texas Catastrophe is the cornerstone of his administration and the biggest land grab in history,” Strayhorn said. “If he is so proud of his scheme, as the head of the Republican Party in Texas, he should get the Party to let the people vote for or against it. If it goes down, he should stop this boondoggle now.”

Because Texas currently does not allow Initiative and Referendum, the people could not vote on the massive toll road plan in the general election in November. The Republican Party does allow people to vote on nonbinding referendums during Primary elections. The Republican Party Platform opposed the Trans Texas Corridor.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23 in the Kelo v. New London case.

“Only the Governor can set the agenda for a special session and I am calling on him to let the people vote,” Strayhorn said.