TxDOT pisses off another member of Congress

August 31, 2007

The Honorable James Oberstar
Chairman
House Transportation and Infrastructure
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently launched a $9 million advertising campaign to promote their Texas toll road plan. In addition to being a completely irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars, I believe it is unfair to the taxpayers of Texas for TxDOT to use funds to pay for an advertising campaign to promote converting existing roads, which have already been paid for by Texas taxpayers, into toll roads that will again tax Texas drivers who use those roads on a daily basis. Given that nearly half of the TxDOT budget consists of federal funding, I believe this is an issue that merits review by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Therefore, I request the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee conduct a hearing into TxDOT’s use of taxpayer funds for this advertising campaign and to investigate if the toll road plan being proposed by TxDOT is in the public’s best interest.

As a Member representing an expansive area in Texas and one of the largest congressional districts in the country, I believe my constituents and all Texans are owed the best efforts of the government to maximize the use of the available transportation dollars toward maintenance and relief of traffic congestion -- and not toward a public relations campaign to promote increased taxation.

I appreciate your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Ciro D. Rodriguez
Member of Congress