Extortion is alive and well in Texas.

I received an email today, from TxDOT/CAMPO, that gives proof of the $910 million tax dollars (intended for freeways) that Sen. Kirk Waton wants to use to shift Austin freeways to toll ways. These are tax dollars intended for free roads - you know, the tax dollars TxDOT said they have run out of:

$323,840,800 Federal Funds from the National Highway
System (NHS) Program and the Surface Transportation Program (STP)

$80,960,200 State Highway Fund 6 - The State 20% Federal match.

$270,000,000 Texas Mobility Funds

$212,250,000 State Highway Fund 6

$20,949,000 City of Austin

$2,000,000 Travis County

At last weeks CAMPO working session, TxDOT's Bob Daigh and Sen. Kirk Watson both used the word "leverage" as they told board members that we'd shift Austin freeways to toll ways with $910 million, or we'd only get $280 million for free roads.

Extortion is alive and well in Texas.