TxDot executive director, Michael Behrens, to resign in August

Perry off to secret forum in Turkey

Turkey flies to Turkey for Secret Conference

The Dallas News just reported that Mr. 39% is “flying to Istanbul, Turkey, today to speak at the super-secret Bilderberg Conference, a meeting of about 130 international leaders”. The article states:

“Those who attend promise not to reveal what was discussed, security is tight, and the press and public are barred.”

The by-invitation-only elite secret society of central bankers, defense experts, mass media press barons, legislators, and CEOs from around the world will meet behind closed doors to advance their global agenda. Included in the batch of “big-wigs” is a group from Spain. Can CINTRA/TxDOT Tolls Roads be very far behind?

As of today, Perry has yet to sign his SB 792 fake toll moratorium bill, perhaps he'll forget about it. Perry says exemptions in SB 792 allow important toll road projects to continue - no kidding, someone tell CW. Perry denies he had promised anyone to sign the bill.

This CNN VIDEO and another clip from the History Channel discusses Bilderberg plans for "New World Order".

Another Blogger asks if Perry's visit violates the law, with "Rick Perry's Bilderberg Visit Violation Of Logan Act?"

THIS ROSE STINKS!

Rep. Patrick Rose of Hays County has been a thorn in my side for years. Rose is a straight up liar.

Back in 2004, our group endorsed Rose because his questionnaire stated that he’d fight freeway tolls. Then after he got elected, that liar voted FOR Mike Krusee's freeway tolls every time. Rose is a little man with big lies (he’s super short like Sen. Kirk Watson - about 5 foot 4ish).

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY TXDOT RESEAL

Citizens have had a long fight with TxDOT and Rep Patrick Rose to get FM 1826 resurfaced after they ruined a perfectly good road with a very poor quality reseal in 2006. The road was much noisier and much less safe than it ever was. Citizens said the road was fine before they ruined it out of spite for not accepting toll roads - they demanded a quality reseal to fix the damage.

For months, TxDOT claimed there was nothing wrong with the very loud and dangerous road.

At the last Citizen/TxDOT meeting, just weeks ago, TxDOT and Rose told citizens that FM 1826 would NOT be repaved, in the hopes that the taxpayers would get tired, give up and stop complaining.

A TRUE CITIZEN VICTORY

But just last week, after a formal complaint by Peter Stern to the Senate Committee on Transportation, political pressure finally paid off as TxDOT was TOLD by the Committee to stand down and resurface FM 1826 properly. No thanks to Rep. Rose who said nothing to help residents.

SNAKE REP. ROSE STEALS THE GLORY

That snake Rep. Rose, after the citizens did all the work, actually had the nuts to tell the Dripping Springs News-Dispatch that he initiated the deal to fix the road!

Read all about it HERE at Peter Stern's Blog.

This Rose stinks, and he needs to be removed like the cancer that he is. Start telling your co-workers, neighbors, family and friends about your local snake, that needs to go.

Macquarie Bank: A 'house of cards.'

NASCO Annual Conference Starts Today

SPEAK UP OR BE SPOKEN FOR!

Bravo to David Price of Austin for getting a letter to the editor published in the Statesman. I don't know David personally, but I looked him up in our database and he's a member of TexasTollParty.com for almost 2 years.

YOU can help educate many thousands of Texans in minutes as well - just send a letter to your editor as an email! Make it 150 words or less, include your name, address and phone number for verification. Click here to find YOUR local newspaper(s).

David's letter as published in the Statesman yesterday:

"Paying for roads

I do not think we should be paying for toll roads, period. I think roads across the entire state should be financed by the tax on gasoline, with the areas of highest need getting the most funds. This system worked for years, resulting in a great highway system in Texas.

My knee-jerk reaction when I hear that toll roads are a better way to finance roads is to put a hand on my wallet. Public transportation should be for the benefit of all, with costs spread across the entire state.

I am incensed that existing roads are being considered for "managed lanes." Didn't we pay for these roads already?

I would certainly prefer to pay five or 10 cents more per gallon, which equates to $150 per year versus the $20 per week our local toll roads cost me.

DAVID PRICE
Austin"

New Jersey Supreme Court Reinstates Toll Booth Gunman

North Carolina City Drops Red Light Camera Following Death

Mr. 39% Mug!

Tricky Ricky only won his last election by 39% of the vote!

As of last week, Mr. 39% stars in his own YOUTUBE VIDEO, and now he's got his own Mr. 39% mug at CafePress - Order HERE (perfect for fathers day!)

Gov. Rick Perry likes to steal our public highways and sell them as toll roads to his contributers (and he's been pushing his TTC land grab).

STATESMAN BLOG: SB 792, the fake moratorium bill, sits on the governor's desk

House passes counterfeit moratorium, 19 reps try to avert “market-based” toll disaster!

EYE ON WILLIAMSON: The “Moratorium” - What Have We Got?

UPDATED: THE TRUTH ABOUT SB 792 HURTS (So you might not want to read this article)

SB 792 passes the House and Senate. Governor Perry, who injected new unaccountable toll schemes into SB 792, will sign his bill soon.

But, what is 792 really? It’s lipstick on a pig.

If you want to know more, I need to tell you what went down behind the scenes.

Did you ever see the movie “Memento”?

It’s one of my favorite movies. Memento tells the fantastic story of how many of us will go to great lengths to ignore the truth. We will even try to fool ourselves, because the truth just cuts too deep.

First off, none of us are perfect, I’m certainly not. But, I’ve got a special knack for smelling horseshit, especially when it’s sitting in front of me, with stink lines radiating from it.

Some tell me I’m burning a bridge by telling you the truth, but as far as I’m concerned, that bridge was burned by others, when the events below took place.

CorridorWatch, one of the many groups in Texas fighting the TTC, of which I’ve always had enormous respect for, invested a lot of time into trying to lead a coaltition effort to get a 2 year moratorium passed in this session.

HB 1892, with all our help, was voted on almost unanimously by the house and senate, well enough for a veto override. That would have been an embarrassment to the governor, so Perry invested a lot of work into SB 792, and he slipped in a few poison pills.

THE MARBLE HELL HOLE EFFECT?

I believe somehow, CorridorWatch lost their way, in the common deception and seduction of the marble hell hole, otherwise known as our state capitol.

Our citizen group and other groups across Texas stepped up to try and get Amendment 13 passed as part of SB 792. Our main focus at the time was Amendment 13, which would have closed some gaping loopholes to make 792 a real moratorium.

We didn’t realize the crap Perry slipped into 792, until 7-10 days ago, since the bill was created behind closed doors, without public hearings. And our representatives, who care more about their summer vacations than getting the job done right in a special session this summer, certainly don't care.

We followed the lead of CorridorWatch and TOGETHER, coalition groups sent thousands of faxes, emails and phone calls to capitol representatives demanding, “Amendment 13 or Vote NO on 792”. It's important to note our groups contribution is substantial, with 10-15 times the member list of the CorridorWatch list.

The sentence below is printed (with all capital letters and underlined) on the forms CorridorWatch provided for all coalition members to send to capitol offices:

“WITHOUT AMENDMENT 13 PLEASE OBJECT AND VOTE NO ON SB792”

Well, we didn’t get Amendment 13.

Most would assume we’d all stick to our guns, and our word, and continue to tell our representatives vote NO on 792, since 13 was killed - since that is what our crystal clear agreement was.

Right?

UP IS DOWN AND DOWN IS UP?

But, in a strange twist of events, after 13 was killed, CorridorWatch started to send letters of support to capitol offices, and started to tell coalition members and it’s own members, that we should support SB 792.

A couple of the coalition partners, including myself and Terri Halls group, questioned this flip-flop.

CorridorWatch said they didn’t believe we couldn’t stop SB 792 so they wanted to support the bill.

Yet another coalition member said this, "I also was confused with Corridor Watch's 180 degree change. The no compromising strong strategy of “Amendment 13 or Vote NO on 792” was one I understood and agreed with," and "...to unilaterally change the strategy when they saw "no chance of success" didn't seem right to me."

Some of us were shocked, a couple others blindly follow CorridorWatch claiming “they have the expertise”. But honesty and fairness has zero to do with expertise. What about having democratic consensus among the coalition partners when one of the partners is considering a 180 degree change? Not for CorridorWatch.

Personally, I always believed when you step up to fight, you fight for what’s right, not for the side we think might win.

CorridorWatch also said they had made a couple of friends at the capitol that they didn’t want to let down, so we should support 792. But, what about whats right for Texans and the thousands of people we asked to say 13 or no way?

SB 792 IS A SHAM. PERIOD.

The simple fact is SB 792, a so called 2 year moratorium compromise bill, doesn't stop one toll road that's planned in the next 2 years. NOT ONE ROAD! ALL THE TOLL ROADS PLANNED ARE EXEMPTED. And at the last minute, Wentworth, Uresti, Van De Putte, Zaffirini, and highway lobbyists dragged an amendment that would have saved San Antonio’s 1604 from 792!

The Governor is already bragging about 792, and the press is calling it something it certainly is not, a “Freeze on private toll roads”. And CorridorWatch is calling it a “Moratorium”. BUT, IT’S A MORATORIUM ON NOTHING.

It gets even worse.

SB 792 makes the theft of our roads easier as numerous local authorities, dozens of them like mini-txdots, can sell our freeways out from under us. Just like public highway 121 in Dallas is being given to Cintra as a toll road. The previous construction of 121, as part of the Cintra deal, includes $700 million worth of construction plus the cost of the right of way we’ve paid for over the decades according to reporter Tony Hartzel. And the 121 path that was intended to be a freeway, creates a priceless monopoly for Cintra, which has ties to Perry.

In response to concerns of TxDOT being multiplied by many dozens, CorridorWatch had the nerve to tell some coalition members via email that we just need to work a lot harder to stop the dozens of mini-txdots across Texas.

Thanks - like we didn't have enough work to do.

Perry’s "market valuation", that he injected into 792, will allow our freeways to be shifted to tollways faster - tolls will cost the most, without public hearings and without human, social, economic, health and environmental impacts studies.

SB 792 HAS BENEFITS...AND WE’VE GOT SOME SWAMPLAND TO SELL YOU.

CorridorWatch has been sending out a long list of SB 792 fluffed up benefits to it’s members and coalition members. The hard truth is - all of these benefits and studies are 100% unenforceable. And that's why Gov. Perry is happy to sign 792.

SB 792 was created behind closed doors for the naive to buy hook line and sinker - a compromising proposition that is desired by Perry and his band of merry cohorts, and our representatives who prefer the unaccountable taxation of shifting freeway into tollways.

JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE NEEDS TO GO except these folks in the house that voted against 792...

THE GOOD GUYS AND GALS WHO SAID NO TO COUNTERFEIT MORATORIUM:

Reps: Garnet Coleman, Nathan Macias, David Leibowitz, Lon Burnam, Joaquin Castro, Joe Farias, Jessica Farrar, Stephen Frost, Ana Hernandez, Jodie Laubenberg, Trey Martinez Fischer, Ruth McClendon, Sid Miller, Ken Paxton, Robert Puente, Joe Straus, Senfronia Thompson, Marc Veasey, and Mike Villarreal.

In the last few days CorridorWatch didn’t think we could stop 792. One night last week, CorridorWatch sent an email to the coalition partners agreeing that we needed to stop 792, but minutes later changed their minds claiming they didn’t want to let a couple of capitol representatives down.

OK, CorridorWatch could have just sat back. But, instead, even after the bill passed, they continue to try to sell the unenforceable benefits of 792 to citizens, while glossing over the problems that are unleashed with Gov. Perry’s new tools.

CorridorWatch told those of us who disagree with them that we need to trust our representatives to make everything right. I’ve heard that line a hundred times. I’ll say this to my representatives, “do the right thing or get fired, you work for us”.

Misleading actions, and the hope that we can learn something is why I was moved to write this unpleasant article about my former coalition partners. Honesty hurts at times and some folks won’t be happy with me for speaking the truth. Too bad.

LET’S GET REAL.

I believe we citizens need a stronger foundation, and a lot more honesty and will power, to win this war. We also need a lot more people involved in what should be a much more democratic process - especially at the grassroots level.

Our families will be the ones who pay and pay and pay. As for Gov Rick Perry, he’s grinning ear to ear, because CorridorWatch is out there selling his new unaccountable schemes for him. At times the devil can make a chump out of almost anyone.

Well played Mr. 39%.

What do you think?
Sound off in the "comments" area.

Is Macquarie Bank the Enron of Toll Roads?

UPDATED: Toll Moratorium (SB 792) Is A Sham - AND HOW YOU CAN HELP STOP IT TODAY.

Our representatives would rather have a summer vacation than
do the states business properly with a special session.

UPDATES IN GREEN

The so called toll moratorium, Gov. Perry's SB 792, actually makes things worse for Texans as it allows local authorities to have the same powers we were trying to take away from TxDOT. THIS HORRIBLE BILL WILL BE VOTED ON LATE SATURDAY (TODAY). TAKE ACTION NOW - SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE.

That means a bunch of mini TxDOT's out there being able to sell our public highways (freeways) to private companies as toll roads. And, the new “market valuations” in 792 just tightens the noose.

This compromise bill injects “market valuations” into PUBLIC toll projects, which equals the highest possible tolls!

No wonder why Mr. 39% likes this sham of a bill. And, Perry can claim he signed the toll moratorium bill on the campaign trail when he runs in 2010, to inoculate himself from his dreaded TTC and freeway tolls.

Citizens who think this is a toll moratorium have been sold a bill of goods. Without amendment #13, it's full of loop holes. 792 also includes more ways to shift our freeways to tollways.

SB 792 INCREASES UNACCOUNTABILITY!

Under SB 792, ALL TOLL PROJECTS MUST USE "market valuation" (Sec 228.0111) to set toll rates and toll escalation. Those monies WILL NOT BE REGULATED BY NEPA. Therefore, TxDOT will have a WHOLE NEW UNREGULATED revenue stream to possibly build highways:

• WITHOUT a PUBLIC HEARING
• WITHOUT studying the human, social, economic, health and environmental impacts
• WITHOUT studying alternatives

Proof The Moratorium Is A Sham - Perry is FOR it:

“Today’s action ensures that Texas will continue to have the tools needed to support the states booming population and economic growth,” Perry spokeswoman Krista Moody said.”

Tip to Eye on WilCo

The Will Lutz article about SB 792. “Does the Toll Road Bill Repeat Mistakes of 2003?”, says it best:

“A further flaw is it allows continuation of current policy, whereby the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) may require up-front “concession fees” in exchange for building some new toll projects. The tolls that pay these concession fees are taxes, not user fees, because concession fees result in tolls over and above the amount required to build and maintain the road. Since the fees are paid back over time from toll revenue, it increases the burden of debt on our children and grandchildren.

In short, concession fees, which are continued by the “market valuation” language in SB 792, allow the government to raise taxes and do off-budget spending in a manner concealed to the public and without proper legislative oversight and authorization.”

So, what should our Representatives do now?

1) Vote down SB 792.

2) Override Mr. 39% with HB 1892 (which will automatically call a special session)

3) We need the Special Session to get the job done right.

None of these will happen because our representatives would rather have a summer vacation than do the states business properly.

So what's the real answer?

1) De-Elect all incumbents until they get it right.

Based on the recent Governor's Business Council report, indexing the gas tax and placing the incremental revenue in the mobility fund to pay off bonds allows us to build the roads we need now, without more toll roads. And this common sense solution costs 30 times less than tolls.

Craddick holds on in revolt

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS: Freeze on private toll roads ready for vote Saturday.

WHO IS THIS MONUMENTAL TEXAN?

Share this video with others.

BLOGGERS - GET A FREE T-SHIRT OFFER. Post this video on your blog, and send me an email with your mailing address and size for a FREE t-shirt (while supplies last).

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Compromise puts brakes on new private toll roads

Fuhgeddaboudit: New Jersey Owns 32 Million Shares Of Macquarie, Cintra

Watson/Krusee New Toll Tax District Scheme is Dying.

Statesman reports the Watson/Krusee toll tax district scheme is dying. That's a good thing.

CLICK HERE for my report on the tax thirsty Sen Kirk Watson and Rep Mike Krusee companion bills that would cause people for the first time, who lived near toll road 130 to pay an added tax, even if they don't drive the toll road (to subsidize the toll road). You know if they got the tax for SH 130, then other toll tax districts would pop up all across Texas within just a session or two. Our so called representatives are like crack addicts when it comes to taxing us in creative ways. Bad Watson/Krusee, Bad!

Term “Krusee-fied” Sweeps the House

Mass disrespect in the Capitol has spurred the new word "Krusee-fied".

House members coined a new term, "Krusee-fied", as a spin off of "crucified" for Rep. Mike Krusee’s fall from power, according to an knowledgeable inside source.

With this grand demeaning gesture, the House Transportation chair Krusee has lost his power to persuade. Many house members first felt betrayed by Krusee in 2003 with HB 3588, the legislation that enabled public highways to be shifted to tollways for the first time in the US, as well as the TTC land grab.

Over the years, numerous Reps have expresses they felt tricked by Krusee and the summery for HB 3588. Reps were not told what was actually in the bill. Reps don’t have the time to read the thousands of bills that come across their desk, so trust and the bill summery become the important factors in voting decisions (when deals, bribes and blackmail isn’t involved).

Just recently Krusee tried in vein to move votes on his own transportation committee with no avail. The whole house has ignored his attempt at leadership as well. Case in point, just this month HB 1892 passed the house with a 139-1 vote. The lone nay vote was State Sen. Mike Krusee, which was when the term "Krusee-fied" began to spread. And earlier this week, Krusee was disrespected again as he was left off the important list of conferees for SB 792.

As my source described the new term "Krusee-fied" they also stated, “Krusee is the laughingstock of the House".

"Taxpayers are on the hook, and long-term liabilities quickly become current — no matter how ardently a legislative body might hope they won’t."

Fred Lewis: Craddick's Corruption Must End

"One option makes fiscal sense. The other sells out the public for political expediency and corporate profits."

USA TODAY: Motorist Driving LESS

Drivers cut back — a 1st in 26 years

By Paul Overberg and Larry Copeland, USA TODAY

The average American motorist is driving substantially fewer miles for the first time in 26 years because of high gas prices and demographic shifts, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal highway data.

The growth in miles driven has leveled off dramatically in the past 18 months after 25 years of steady climbs despite the addition of more than 1 million drivers to the nation's streets and highways since 2005. Miles driven in February declined 1.9% from February 2006 before rebounding slightly for a 0.3% year-over-year gain in March, data from the Federal Highway Administration show. That's in sharp contrast to the average annual growth rate of 2.7% recorded from 1980 through 2005.

"You have demographic shifts, traffic congestion and increased gas prices," says Ed McMahon, senior research fellow at the Urban Land Institute, a non-profit group that promotes innovative development. "For the first time in recent history, the rate of vehicle miles traveled is not increasing at the rate it was for 25 years. It's having an effect and is changing in subtle ways the way people think about their driving."

The nation has not seen such stagnant growth in driving since 1981, when the USA staggered through an oil shortage and a recession. Gas prices reached an all-time high of $3.223 in March 1981 when adjusted for inflation in today's dollars

During the past 18 months, the nation's population and workforce have grown by just over 1% a year, so an annual gain of 0.3% indicates a decrease in miles per person.

"Thirty-five to 40% of personal miles traveled is work commutes," says Bill Veno, director of global refined products for Cambridge Energy Research Associates, a Boston-based energy consulting firm. "If you continue to grow the employment base, that would tend to push (miles driven) upwards."

Americans are driving about 200 million to 300 million fewer miles a day than they would be if the annual growth rate of 1.9% from 2000-2005 had continued.

Factors contributing to the slowdown:

•Soaring gas prices. Seven of 10 Americans are combining trips and taking other steps to reduce driving, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll May 4-6. Don Harrison, 32, of Indianapolis , no longer visits his relatives across town on the weekend; he saves gas by simply calling them.

•Expanded public transportation. More people took public transit last year than at any time in 49 years. "We're seeing suburban locations create new transit systems," says William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association. "They're expanding into areas that never thought they needed transit because they could do everything by car."

•Slower growth of minority and women drivers and the aging of the population. Except for African-Americans, minority groups drive at high rates, and the annual growth in women drivers has slowed, says Alan Pisarski, an expert on commuting patterns. Also, he says, people on average drive less after age 55.

•Demographic shifts that de-emphasize the need to drive. Many Americans, particularly young, upwardly mobile singles, are moving downtown and revitalizing cities. "(They) don't have to live the way of the Ozzie and Harriet model — two parents, suburban, who drive to the city," McMahon says.

Contributing: Theodore Kim of The Indianapolis Star

Statesman says there’s a deal on SB 792, and it doesn’t include Amendment 13.

Ben Wear of Statesman says there's a deal (click above), but Conferee Rep. Wayne SMITH SAYS THERE IS NO DEAL ON TRANSPORTATION BILLreports QR:

"Smith is adamant that no deal has been struck on the bill -- in fact, House conferees hear that side-by-sides are out and have yet to see them -- and want it known that negotiations continue.

"There's no deal," Smith stressed. "Saying there's a deal just makes this harder."

TEXAS MONTHLY: The battle over the transportation bill is hot hot hot.

And in the comment section by William Lutz:

"David Dewhurst wants to be the next governor of Texas, here's what he ought to consider: telling the Senators that if the House overrides a veto of HB 1892, he will have a recorded vote on the override -- win or lose..."

"....the Trans-Texas Corridor and the state's current transportation policies are radioactive -- both in the general and primary elections (of both parties). Any senator with future political aspirations or a desire to run statewide would not want to take a recorded vote in favor of the Trans-Texas Corridor. If Dewhurst tells senators there will be a recorded vote, it would likely ensure that the veto would be overridden. Under such a scenario, Dewhurst could legitimately take credit for killing the Trans-Texas Corridor, which would help him in the 2010 Republican primary...."

"...If some of the fine print in these comprehensive development agreements gets more publicity, voters in both parties will be even more upset. The electorate is deeply concerned about what's going on at the Department of Transportation and ethics in Texas government in general, and no amount of direct mail or poll-tested misinformation will change that fact."

Keep making the calls to push Amendment #13 folks...Mr. 39% hates it (so you know it's good for Texans)

RICKY'S TICKED

By Eileen Welsome, Texas Observer

Sources tell us this evening that Tricky Ricky is displeased with an amendment (#13) put up by state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, which closed a loophole in SB 792, the transportation legislation designed to temporarily halt the rush to privatize the state’s roads.

The loophole was big enough to drive, well, the the Trans-Texas Corridor through. And, of course, that’s exactly what Tricky Ricky wanted. Read the rest of the article HERE.

"Take On Traffic" Con Men Exposed In Statesman

Gary Farmer and John Langmore assist Rep. Mike Krusee in

the tolling public highway scam with Take on Traffic (TOT).

This great letter to the editor about the "Take On Traffic" Con Men was published in the Statesman today!:

Matters of traffic

The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, under the name "Take On Traffic," is holding one-sided presentations and sending out misleading mail pieces with the same old song and dance, misinforming Austinites that if we don't toll roads we've already paid for, our gas tax will increase by $2 per gallon. That's hogswallow.

The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M reports that more tolls are not needed and that merely indexing the gas tax to inflation and using bonds will allow us to build the roads we need.

Putting toll booths on roads we've already paid for is double taxation. In addition to being unfair, the toll booths are inefficient — 25 cents to collect a 50 cent cash toll and 11 cents to collect an electronic toll. An indexed gas tax will cost less than 3 percent of the amount it brings in collection costs.

DAVID ROGERS
Pflugerville

CLICK HERE TO READ THE
TAKE ON TRAFFIC (TOT) CON MEN Exposé.
.

CENSORED VIDEO that Toll Authority Doesnt Want You to See!

New Jersey Toll Authority pressured the newspaper to remove this fiery crash video from it's website. Read about how toll roads are more dangerous than freeways by clicking the "Tolls MORE Dangerous than Freeways" links to the Right hand side of this page.

Third Times the Charm?

TxDOT's Ric Williamson (appointed by Mr. 39% Perry himself) has been pushing tolls on roads we've already paid for, as well as the TTC land grab schemes for many years. This Statesman editorial article says it's given him two heart attacks, and Williamson said the third one could get him the "dirt nap". That Ric is such a tease:

"Taking a real toll. In the upcoming June issue of Texas Monthly magazine, senior editor and political columnist Paul Burka writes about Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission and architect of the much-despised Trans-Texas Corridor toll road. Burka described Williamson as the most hated man in Texas because of his devotion to the corridor.

But the longtime political columnist also wrote that Williamson is one of the most inventive minds in Texas politics, though one with a personality so prickly it courts enemies. In the interview, Williamson said his six years on the commission have been hard on his health.

He said he's had two heart attacks since joining the commission, "and I'm trying to avoid the third one, which the doctors tell me will be fatal.""

UPDATED: Conspicuously absent from the list of committee conferees is Transportation Chairman Mike Krusee - SEE #2 BELOW

The Citizen's Veto

Citizen anti-toll groups are joining forces in the final days of the legislative session as the last opportunity to stop the TTC for the next two years.

The Texas House of Representatives has solidly supported a Trans Texas Corridor moratorium at every opportunity and on every vote. Soon they will have one more vote on SB792, allowing it to either become law or killing it forever.

There is a fatal flaw in the language of SB792 that would allow TxDOT to proceed with construction of TTC-35, even if the bill becomes law. On May 17, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst fixed that loop hole with House Amendment #13.

The Governor has demanded that amendment 13 be removed from SB792.

“Through our Representatives we can exercise a Citizen's Veto by asking them to kill SB792 if it fails to give Texas a moratorium on the Trans Texas Corridor. Amendement #13 is the key. No #13 amendment? No moratorium!” said CorridorWatch.org’s David Stall

The anti-toll coalition, led by CorridorWatch.org believes there will be very little if any benefit from the passage of SB972 if is fails to contain the provisions of amendment 13 that put an enforceable 2-year hold private CDA projects. Amendment 13 will not effect North Tx projects or other exempted projects.

The anti-toll coalition says we must either keep amendment 13 or we do everything in our power to see SB792 is killed.

“SB792 With 13 is Okay; Without 13 - No Way!” said CorridorWatch.org’s David Stall

The anti-toll coalition asks that YOU TAKE THIS ACTION

#1. Call and fax Lt. Governor Dewhurst.

* Call 800.441.0373
* Fax 512.936.8144 or 512.463.0677
* You can use this form letter (click orange headline to download).

#2. Call and fax SB792 Conference Committee Members (THESE MEMBERS JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY AT NOON - CONTACT THEM NOW).

Senator Tommy Williams, Chair 888.668.1227 / Fax 512.463.6373
Senator John Carona 512.463.0116 / Fax 512.463.3135
Senator Eliot Shapleigh 512.463.0129 / Fax 512.463.0218
Senator Kim Brimer 512.463.0110 / Fax 512.475.3745
Senator Robert Nichols 512.463.0103 / Fax 512.463.1526
Representative Chairman Wayne Smith - 866.423.5987 / Fax 512.463.1323
Representative Patricia Harless - 512.463.0496 / Fax 512.463.1507
Representative Larry Phillips - 512.463.0297 / Fax 512.463.1561
Representative Joe Pickett - Toll Free 800.775.5810 / Fax 512.463.6504
Representative Lois Kolkhorst - 512.463.0600 / Fax 512.463.5240

* Use the form letter (click orange headline to download).

Here's what we suggest that you say when you call, "I strongly support a moratorium on the construction of the Trans Texas Corridor. Please help keep amendment 13 in SB792 or kill the bill altogether."

For more information go HERE.

Krusee's HillCo pays for Judges legal bills

Tyler Telegraph: Sen. Nichols said, "When I see something wrong, I have to act."

DALLASBLOG.COM: Does the Toll Road Bill Repeat Mistakes of 2003?

With replacement SB 792 in limbo, Perry vetoes HB 1892 toll bill

The Legislature still has the option, should SB 792 run aground, of voting to override Perry's veto of HB 1892.

EXPOSING THE MOST WANTED LOBBYIST IN TEXAS

Like cockroaches, special interests avoid the light of day, and prefer to work behind closed doors. Some even refuse to file legally required lobbyist statements so they can work and profit in secret.

For many years, Melinda Wheatley has ignored these Texas laws and has refused to pay the state for her mounting delinquent lobbyist reports and her default judgment with the AG’s office. Wheatley’s relationship with Rep. Mike Krusee and the Multimillion dollar deals she’s been a part of - stink like rotten fish. It’s common knowledge at the capitol that Wheatley has been Mike Krusee’s mistress for many years.

Without a recent photo we wouldn’t know if she was standing next to us in the capitol elevator - UNTIL NOW. I hired a photographer last week to capture an image of Wheatley, the most wanted lobbyist in the State of Texas.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you’ve read the double article that expose Wheatley for her failure to follow state law, as well as connections with Rep. Mike Krusee, Gov. Rick Perry, HillCo, and more - CLICK HERE).

This photo was taken at her downtown work parking lot.


Wheatley drives a new dark blue 2007 BMW 328i (purchased from BMW of Austin in 2/07). Texas license plate: 618 TWF


Wheatley has a monthly parking lot lease at Olive Grove Partners lot, which is located at the S.W. corner of Trinity and 11th.


Note the 823 Congress building - where HillCo Partners, HillCo Media and HillCo Direct all office out of - which can be seen from Wheatley’s parking lot. The photographer said she walked down the alley between 10th and 11th - toward Congress after she arrived about 11:15am. She left the lot about 4:00pm.


Read the double article that expose Wheatley for her failure to follow state law, as well as connections with Rep. Mike Krusee and multi-million toll road contracts HERE).

If your sick and tired of the corruption, and you’d like to help finance surveillance of the cockroaches that run from the spotlight - email me at Sal@TexasTollParty.com

More to come.

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Substitute transportation bill (with more exemptions) glides on in after Reps & Sens fear work during summer vacation

House sends toll road bill to Senate (click to read)

House finds the Senate's MILQUETOAST moratorium hard to swallow.

Dawnna Dukes Biggest Supporter: HILLCO PAC

"Dawnna Dukes' biggest contributor since 2002 is none other than HILLCO PAC-- which is run by Craddick's close lobbyist buddies Bill Miller and Buddy Jones. HILLCO PAC has given her $11,000."

TOLL ROAD LOBBY THREATENS TEXAS BLOGGER WITH LAWSUIT

In a response to a Muckraker blog article I published on 5/9/07 (see below), Hillco Partners, one of the most powerful lobby firms in Texas sent a letter to threaten me with a lawsuit.

I see this threat letter as a deliberate attempt to squelch my freedom of speech by those who seek to shift our Texas freeways to tollways. HillCo is connected to Rep. Mike Krusee, Gov. Rick Perry and other toll road profiteers such as PBS&J, Goldman Sachs and Fluor.


HILLCO PARTNERS LAWSUIT THREAT LETTER
Download and read the threat letter by clicking orange headline.

The censorship letter refers to the blog article called “TRANSPORTATION CHAIR’S MISTRESS LANDS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR TOLL ROAD CONTRACTS” (see below). It’s about Melinda Wheatley, the most wanted lobbyist in the state of Texas and her unique influence with married State Rep. Mike Krusee.

Interestingly, the HillCo Partners letter targets only one paragraph of the blog article:

“A reliable inside source confirms today that Krusee and Wheatley are still “an item” and that Wheatley is now lobbying at one of Austin's most influential lobby firms, HillCo Partners, under the guise of a “public relations specialist” (so she can try and sidestep filing more legally required lobbyist reports).”

The HillCo letter, from Attorney J. Hapton Skelton of the Law offices of Skelton and Moody, says:

“This statement is false in every respect.”

After we exchanged emails, I now wonder if HillCo is suggesting that my reliable source didn’t give me such information. Or, perhaps HillCo thinks my contact of two years is just an imaginary friend?

Since I received the original threat letter, I spoke with my contact again to confirm. My inside source tells me that she was told first hand that Wheatley did “work for HillCo”. Perhaps that could mean HillCo Partners, or a sister company called HillCo Media (also known as HillCo Media Southwest), or HillCo Direct, all with the same 823 Congress Ave in Austin address. I don’t know.

I don’t know anything more about Wheatley working with or not working with either HillCo company. What I do know is that my source has proven to be reliable - time after time.

My source also told me that they would not be surprised if Krusee and/or Wheatley complained to HillCo Partners to do something to shut me up, perhaps send a letter from an attorney.

The lawsuit threat letter does NOT deny anything else in the article. It does not deny that HillCo Partner’s J. McCartt has paid for many of Krusee’s travel bills. Nor does the letter deny that McCartt’s clients included TTC contractor Fluor Corp., Texas toll road investor Goldman Sachs (who plays all angles of tolling and selling our freeways) and the scandalous PBS&J, an engineering firm that has worked on several Texas toll road projects.

MORE ABOUT HILLCO

Aside from the numerous connections I lay out in the original article (see below) HillCo’s J. McCartt was the treasurer of a the political action committee that pushed for an amendment to finance highway construction through the Gov. Perry’s Texas Mobility Fund in 2001. One of the first pieces of the puzzle to steal and toll our freeways.

A Texas Observer report says this of HillCo Partner’s power:

“...HillCo Partners stands apart. It has an influence and reach—stretching from the statehouse to the state Supreme Court—that almost gives it the status of a shadow government.”

THREAT LETTERS TO CENSOR BLOGGERS

Special interests have been known to send threat letters to bloggers to squelch our free speech.

It’s happened to me twice in two years. State Rep. Dawnna Dukes (whose unpopular freeway toll vote came the morning after her sisters contract was signed with the tolling authority) and Everett Owen (a “No Bid” Contractor with the tolling authority) both threatened to sue as a way to shut me up. Both times, my attorney told me they were both full of shit, that they were trying to shut me up. I called their bluff, and no lawsuits were filed.

Stay tuned.

BLOG ARTICLE PUBLISHED 5/9/07

TRANSPORTATION CHAIR’S MISTRESS LANDS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR TOLL ROAD CONTRACTS.

THE MOST WANTED LOBBYIST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS UNIQUE INFLUENCE WITH THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR MIKE KRUSEE.

For years, the married republican State Rep. Mike Krusee, the chair of the House Transportation committee, and lobbyist Melinda Wheatley’s have had an intimate relationship.

A reliable inside source confirms today that Krusee and Wheatley are still “an item” and that Wheatley is now lobbying at one of Austin's most influential lobby firms, HillCo Partners, under the guise of a “public relations specialist” (so she can try and side-step filing more legally required lobbyist reports).

According to reports, HillCo’s J. McCartt, a former aide to Gov. Perry, has paid for many of Krusee’s travel bills. McCartt’s clients included TTC contractor Fluor Corp., Texas toll road investor Goldman Sachs (who plays all angles of tolling and selling our freeways) and the scandalous PBS&J—an engineering firm that has worked on several Texas toll road projects. McCartt flew Krusee to Washington in 2005 to address a conference on public-private partnerships. McCartt also flew Krusee to Las Vegas to deliver the keynote address at a PBS&J toll summit a week after the 2005 regular session ended.

About ten (10) months ago, I filed a formal “sworn complaint” with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) on Melinda Wheatley’s failure to file legally required lobbying reports for many months and years.

I fully expected Wheatley to pay off her chronically delinquent TEC fines soon after I filed the complaint. But she did not.

KRUSEE'S MISTRESS WHEATLEY IS THE MOST WANTED LOBBYIST IN TEXAS TODAY!

Shockingly, after 10 months, the brazen Wheatley has NOT paid any of the past delinquent fines with the TEC. Not only that, but according to the TEC’s own website, she is the most wanted lobbyist in the state of Texas today! Maybe that should not be a surprise.

AG’S OFFICE SUED WHEATLEY. WHEATLEY REFUSES TO PAY DEFAULT JUDGMENT AFTER 7 YEARS.

In 1999, the Attorney General’s office sued Melinda Wheatley for failing to pay yet another TEC delinquent account from the 1990’s. The Bankruptcy and Collections division of the AG’s office won a Travis County Court judgment that includes attorney’s fees and court costs. Wheatley has refused to pay the default judgment as well as the 10% annual interest that continues to mount each year. The AG’s office tells me a personal lien is also in place but Wheatley has not reported any ownership of property in the past seven years.

The formal complaint I filed 10 months ago was finally presented to the TEC on April 13th, 2007. The complaint has yet to be resolved or dismissed and a TEC attorney says the hearing could take place soon.

HISTORY OF KRUSEE AND WHEATLEY

Melinda Wheatley and Rep. Mike Krusee began working together on education issues in the late 90’s. In 2003 Krusee became the Chair of the House Transportation Committee after former chair Joe Pickett refused to go along with the unaccountable transportation legislation Gov. Perry wanted pushed. That same year, records show Wheatley began to lobby on Transportation issues.

Over the years, the Wheatley (12/6/1967) has kept many of the details of who she works for, and how much she gets paid, a secret.

WHEATLEY’S UNIQUE INFLUENCE WITH KRUSEE EQUALS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS FOR HER TOLL ROAD CLIENTS.

Limited state records show Wheatley earned between $70k and $150k in the first two months 2005. Wheatley listed TransCore, Texas Council of Engineering Companies, Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas and City of Austin as her transportation clients.

TransCore, one of Wheatley’s many transportation clients received a multimillion dollar contract with TxDOT in Sept. 2005. The contract for eGo Plus RFID tags, branded locally as TxTag, is for 2 million tags over two years.

Another transportation client of Wheatley, the Texas Council of Engineering Companies (TCEC) included URS, HNTB, PBS&J & Carter & Burgess, Inc. All of which have received numerous multimillion dollar toll contracts.

WHEATLEY GETS NO BID CONTRACT FROM TOLL AUTHORITY

Comptroller Strayhorn’s investigative report on the freeway tolling authority shows Wheatley’s Informative Efforts, LLC, now defunct, was given a NO BID contract (see app. #5) for freeway toll road work. It was Mike Krusee’s legislation that created the freeway tolling authority.

Wheatley ignored Texas law and additional conflicts of interests when she failed to list J.P. Morgan as one of her clients in 2004. The Comptroller’s Report states:

“Informative Efforts: The principals of this public relations firm are Cathy Howell and Melinda Wheatley, who are subcontractors for Nancy Ledbetter Associates, which in turn contracts with HNTB. Their relationship with the transportation industry may represent a potential conflict of interest. Informative Efforts had a consulting arrangement with JP Morgan Securities Inc., a CTRMA contractor, and was paid a retainer fee of $7,000 per month plus expenses. The Austin office of JP Morgan Securities indicated that Informative Efforts performed lobbying work and that it was a short-term contract terminated around March 2004. Melinda Wheatley was Informative Efforts’ primary contact with JP Morgan Securities. Wheatley was listed on the 2004 Texas Ethics Commission lobby list for only one client, TransCore, a sponsor of Team Texas. This company provides services and products that enable toll authorities to manage transactions using toll tags. As such, TransCore is a potential CTRMA contractor.”

How has J.P. Morgan been fairing in Krusee’s Toll Road Deals?

In 2005 the CTRMA invested $284 million in a J.P. Morgan Money Market. J.P. Morgan Securities is also part of the Cintra Trans Texas Corridor Team.

Up to $1 billion dollars of TxDOT Fund 6 bonds is controlled by J.P. Morgan Securities, which acts as the senior manager for the initial issuance. Fund 6 revenue bonds are backed by state highway revenues and anticipated federal transportation appropriations.

By refusing to file lobbyist reports, what are Wheatley (and Krusee) hiding?

What kind of partnership does Melinda Wheatley have with Mike Krusee?

Should Mike Krusee and Melinda Wheatley be investigated by the District Attorney?

Should the press ignore the fact that the House Transportation Chair’s mistress, the most wanted lobbyist in the State of Texas, has landed multi-million dollar contracts?

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Lawmakers looking to hitch a ride on SB 792 for their dead bills, causing a delay in toll road bill's quick legislative itinerary

Special grand jury investigating Dannenbaum Engineering

TxDOT leaks 'mysterious letter' to sabotage NTTA bid against Cintra on SH 121

Congressional Leaders Warn States Against Rushing into Private Toll Road Deals

In a letter sent to governors, state legislators, and state transportation officials on Friday, Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar (Minn.) and Subcommittee Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.) said many public-private partnerships involving highways (also called PPPs or CDAs in Texas) do not protect the public interest.

“Although we invite all financing options to be on the table as we evaluate opportunities to increase investment in our nation’s infrastructure, we strongly caution you against rushing into PPPs that do not fully protect the public interest, the integrity of the national system, and which do not constitute a sustainable national system of transportation financing,” the Chairmen wrote.

The letter expressed strong concerns over states and local authorities leasing toll facilities to private operators.

“These deals make good business sense to the companies that are investing in the projects, but we have serious concerns about whether these transactions offer a net balance of benefits for the American public,” it read.

The letter further cited the Bush Administration’s efforts to promote highway PPPs, to the point of drafting model legislation for states to adopt. The Committee is preparing a discussion paper to present its concerns in more detail and answer the Administration’s claims.

"The Committee will work to undo any state PPP agreements that do not fully protect the public interest and the integrity of the national system,” the letter read. To read the letter click the link at the bottom of this page.

Texas Senate Ditches HB 1892 - Reps to vote soon - ACTION ALERT (click here)

DALLASBLOG: IMPASSE ON THE TOLL ROADS

"While privatization sounds very conservative and efficient, as long as government has the “apron strings,” the resultant “crony capitalism” is seldom an improvement over government-run alternatives."

"The whole process of adopting toll roads in Texas has been at odds with citizens’ rights to know and be properly represented. The CDA’s have been under clandestine negotiation not visible to the public, or even the state auditor. The expenditures are “off budget,” contrary to the objective of balanced budgets where current spending should equal current assessment of taxation."

“It would appear that the Texas Legislature has firmly said, “No, not here in Texas.” Let us let them know that they are speaking for the majority of Texans who urge them not to waver.”

Perry's toll bill gains traction

Governor and TxDOT Again Stirring the Toll Pot

STATESMAN: "Toll road compromise reached"

I say HB 1892 IS ALREADY a compromise! Texans don't want the shell game crap Mr. 39% is selling.

CONGRESSMAN LAMPSON CALLS OUT TXDOT EXTORTION AND SLAMS DOT SECRETARY OVER TEXAS TOLL ROAD INTERFERENCE

“NTTA did not bid on SH 121 because of extortion by TxDOT.”
– Congressman Nick Lampson

WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Friday, and six weeks after a quadruple bypass, Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Stafford) peppered U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") Secretary Mary Peters with hard questions regarding DOT's interference with toll moritorium HB 1892.

The Texas Department of Transportation ("TxDOT") had recently coordinated with the DOT’s Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA"), resulting in letters to TxDOT that advocated the bill be stopped, therefor allowing our roads to be sold to private interests.

The bill now awaits a publicly acknowledged, forthcoming veto by Texas Governor Rick Perry.

"The federal government should not be interfering with Texas counties' control over their own toll roads, and more importantly, should not be interfering with any state issue, period," said Congressman Lampson. "I am pleased to be working with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison on this issue so that we can protect matters that are rightfully within the jurisdiction of the Texas state legislature."

At Friday's Committee hearing, Congressman Lampson questioned Secretary Peters as to why the DOT issued multiple letters highlighting its views on this particular state legislature issue. These letters, in no uncertain terms, threatened to block federal highway funding for state roads if H.B. 1892 is implemented in its current form as passed.

"County officials are rightfully upset about the actions of Governor Perry, TxDOT, and the FHWA, and I will continue to work with them and my Texan colleagues in Congress to address their concerns in the future," added Congressman Lampson.

Read Congressman Lampson's powerful statement from the hearing HERE.

Burka: Texas House in Full Revolt Against Craddick; CRADDICK PLEADS: SAVE MY JOB

Govs pro-veto peeps get slammed by CorridorWatch.com's Linda Stall!

"HB1892 has become the hottest issue of the 2007 session. Threats to the Legislature fly out of the Governor's Office while TxDOT continues waving its arms. Is anyone listening?

Chairman Carona is working to clean-up HB1892 and keep the moratorium in law.

HB1892 hasn't been signed - or vetoed. If Senator Carona has his way the threatened veto won't happen. Instead he and others are working to use a Senate bill to "improve" provisions of HB1892. CorridorWatch is told that the 2-year moratorium and CDA buyback safeguards will remain unaffected.

Dates to watch: May 18 and May 28.

If Carona is to be successful he must move the new bill (SB792) through the Senate and House before the May 18 veto deadline for HB 1892. Until the session ends on May 28 almost anything can happen.

Federal funding threat long on drama, short on substance.

On May 9, 2007, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters confirmed in a letter to U.S. Senator Hutchison that HB1892 "can be implemented in a manner consistent with Federal Law" and "would not affect the State's eligibility for funding under the Federal-aid highway program.""

– CORRIDORWATCH.COM

ALERT: TTC RAIL PURE PORK BILL - UNLIMITED DEBT AND TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES!

RAILROADED?

by Eileen Welsome of Texas Observer

With only a couple of weeks left in the session, lawmakers are rushing to put through legislation that eventually could cost taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars. One bill that passed the House and is pending in the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security committee is a very brief piece of legislation, HB 3747, that would allow TxDot to use money from the general fund for the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund.

The rail relocation effort is part of TxDot’s grand scheme to build the Trans-Texas Corridor...(Read the rest of the story here)

HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS VOTE DOWN ROAD BOND SCHEME BY 52%

Congratulations to Hays County Citizens! Road Bond Proposition 1, a $172 million road bond scheme to have County taxpayers pay for unneeded state roads, has been defeated by 52%.

As reported on this blog weeks ago, these oversized, overpriced 9 million dollars a mile state roads got stopped, thanks to Citizens for Responsible Roads, Charles O'Dell, lots of hard workers and good friend Peter Stern, who said hell no and educated others about the special interest pay day scheme. The public was not part of the process that decided on what roads would be put on the ballot - even the county’s transportation department was left out of the loop.

Greedy Special Interests (Former County Commish Bill Burnett, Klotz Associates Inc.; Dannenbaum Engineering Corp.; Carter & Burgess Inc.; and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman - as Hays Future Now PAC) spent over $83,000 to try and trick voters, thirteen times as much as Citizens for Responsible Roads.

Special Interest politicos who pushed for the scam were (NEVER VOTE FOR THESE SELL OUTS) :

• Sen. Jeff Wentworth
• Rep. Patrick Rose
• Hays County Commissioner Will Conley
• Hays County Commissioner Jeff Barton.

Former Pct. 3 Commissioner Bill Burnett, who voted to toll roads we've already paid for as a member of CAMPO, works for Dannenbaum Engineering Corp, as he did while he was working for the county. Records show Gov. Perry has received more than $150,000 from President of Dannenbaum Engineering, James D. Dannenbaum, who does road work for TxDOT.

See more details in the comments area below.

Thank God for Texas and Texans (minus the special interests)

Governor, lawmakers try to work out agreeable toll road legislation - threat of a special session looms.

Sen. Nichols: "If it takes a special session to get this right, I'm all for it." and read "Slouching Toward a Special Session" from the Observer.

EVIL CLOWN FRIDAY IN THE MARBLE HELL HOLE

KRUSEE PASSES TXDOT TOLL EMPOWERMENT BILL

A new bill that gives the rogue agency TxDOT more authority, HB 2268, just passed out of the House and is now heading for the Senate.

Rep. Krusee will have others hold hold up this horrible bill and claim it is a solution citizens have been asking for, but it does just the opposite and gives TxDOT MORE power to steal our land and our roads! House Bill 2268 let's TxDOT acquire land before a toll or road project is approved, before environmental studies are completed, before public hearings take place, etc. In short, it lets TxDOT lock in a route in advance, and then pretend like all the public input and research might actually change their decision.

Contact ALL Senate Transportation Committee members and tell them, “Kill HB 2268 in committee. We do not want to give TxDOT more power."

Phone the capitol and ask for each Senator 512-463-4630 (John Carona, Kirk Watson, Kim Brimer, Rodney Ellis, Robert Nichols, Florence Shapiro, Eliot Shapleigh, Jeff Wentworth, Tommy Williams). To email: firstname.lastname@senate.state.tx.us (replace with each senator's first or last name, for example 'john.carona@senate.state.tx.us')

MR. 39% HAS "NO TOLL FREEZE" PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY

Rick "Mr. 39%" Perry will wave a 6 page letter at his press conference Friday from the Federal Highway Administration (to compete with a good letter Hutchison extracted from Secretary Peters) in order to justify vetoing the private toll moratorium bill, HB 1892

Something exclusive and interesting coming Monday! Can't say more!

The “Take On Traffic” Con Men - More Lies for Toll Profits

Gary Farmer and John Langmore assist Sen. Kirk Watson in
the tolling freeways scam with Take on Traffic (TOT).

They call themselves a “coalition of concerned citizens”, but the profiteers from Take On Traffic (TOT) are far from your ordinary citizens, and they've spent gobs of money with a campaign intended with numerous glossy direct mail pieces to trick real citizens. They are special interest profiteers advocating for a toll plan that allow them to line their own pockets.

Who is the local toll lobby?

And, those who fund the exorbitant TOT campaign are unknown, as they hide behind loopholes in the law, so they don’t have to report where the money comes from. These charlatans are so desperate to profit off our families via the unaccountable tolls on roads we’ve already paid for - they can’t tell the truth about the numbers. Just like TxDOT, they have to fluff the numbers to sell tolls.

UPDATED: LYNDA RIFE CONTRACTS FOR TOT CAMPIAGN

TOT FUNNY NUMBERS

TOT throws out absolutely ridiculous numbers that are not anchored in any reality. TOT’s website, created by Mark Nathan (campaign manager for many freeway tollers such as Mayor Will Wynn), says “we need to find at least $12.7 Billion in funding” in the next 20 years. (that’s like $1.7 million a day!)

CAMPO once claimed $13.8 billion as the "funding gap" and then agreed $3.7 billion was a "math mistake". Then the auditor’s office chopped down the number further and said $4.9 billion isn't going to actually improve traffic.

TOT LIES IGNORE THE FACTS!

THE TOT LIE SAYS we’d have to raise our gas tax “between $1.20 and $1.77 a gallon” even after the Texas Transportation Institute report says just pennies of an indexed gas tax would be needed. The TTI report states tolls are NOT needed at all, that indexing the gas tax and placing the incremental revenue in the mobility fund to pay off bonds allows us to build the roads we need now.

Here’s just another example of the cooked up numbers from the profiteers. Actual State Comptroller’s fuel sales numbers:

730 million gallons gasoline annual in 2005
200 million gallons diesel annual in 2005

Compare the actual numbers above to TakeOnTraffic lies found at their website in a calculations link on a page called (get this) “How did we get our numbers” (I think they pulled these numbers out of their ass):

148 million gallons gasoline annual in 2006
345 million gallons gasoline annual in 2006

TakeOnTraffic significantly underestimates the revenue generation from the gas tax to scare citizens into thinking double tax tolls are needed. And they call the double tax a “user fee”, even though the tolls go directly into their pockets, and anything left over goes into slush funds. Who’s being used here?

How many hundreds of thousands of homes have they polluted with these direct mail toller lies?

WHO IS TAKE ON TRAFFIC (TOT)?

The profiteers happen to include the same old snake salesman that tried to force Phase II freeway tolls on Central Texas from the start of 2004 (Toll Lobby). TOT is the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and it looks like Capital Area Transportation Coalition (CATC) and RECA are there to support as well. TOT is working in conjunction with Sen. Kirk Watson and former leader of the Chamber, to usher in his plan B tolls/managed lanes (coming soon).

TAKE ON TRAFFIC (TOT) is made up of Road Engineering firms, Toll Road builders, Banks, Attorneys, Developers and others who profit off the freeway tolling scam:

John Langmore (TOT Spokesman, TOT Chair and Rep. Mike Krusee associate)
Gary Farmer
Bury + Partners
Carter & Burgess
Heritage Title
HNTB
Martin & Salinas Public Affairs, Inc.
Home Builders Association
JPMorganChase
Locke Liddell & Sapp
Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.
PBS&J
RECA
URS
Frost Bank
Jackson Walker LLP
Endeavor Real Estate Group
Temple-Inland, Inc.
Wells Fargo Bank

According to this news report John Langmore is the Chair of TOT.

Langmore played a principal role in formulating and drafting Krusee’s freeway toll bill, HB 3588. Langmore impersonates a Transportation Planning Expert to continue to rake in fat contracts, even though he has NO education in transportation planning, not even an online college course.

John Langmore was the campaign treasurer, campaign manager and PR contact for SafeRail PAC, a political action committee that had success in altering our Texas Constitution in 2005 which allows unlimited tax dollars (blank checks) and debt to be syphon for new corporate rail in the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC). State records show Zachry Construction (of Cintra Zachry), Herzog Construction, HNTB , PBS&J, Carter Burgess, Pate Engineer and TateAustin contributed to SafeRail PAC.

Will the Austin American-Statesman expose the funny numbers? You tell me. The Statesman is on the Chambers executive committee.

When will a reporter ask them where all that campaign money comes from? And, how many hundreds of thousands of dollars they have spent?

Report Outlines Dangers of Private Toll Roads

CAMPO's 2030 plan, ALL TOLLs!

AP: Governor wants roads bill changed before end of session (click to read)

COMING SOON: How the con men at "Take on Traffic" profit off tolling roads we've already paid for!

TRANSPORTATION CHAIR’S MISTRESS LANDS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR TOLL ROAD CONTRACTS.

THE MOST WANTED LOBBYIST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS UNIQUE INFLUENCE WITH THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR MIKE KRUSEE.

For years, the married republican State Rep. Mike Krusee, the chair of the House Transportation committee, and lobbyist Melinda Wheatley’s have had an intimate relationship.

A reliable inside source confirms today that Krusee and Wheatley are still “an item” and that Wheatley is now lobbying at one of Austin's most influential lobby firms, HillCo Partners, under the guise of a “public relations specialist” (so she can try and side-step filing more legally required lobbyist reports).

According to reports, HillCo’s J. McCartt, a former aide to Gov. Perry, has paid for many of Krusee’s travel bills. McCartt’s clients included TTC contractor Fluor Corp., Texas toll road investor Goldman Sachs (who plays all angles of tolling and selling our freeways) and the scandalous PBS&J—an engineering firm that has worked on several Texas toll road projects. McCartt flew Krusee to Washington in 2005 to address a conference on public-private partnerships. McCartt also flew Krusee to Las Vegas to deliver the keynote address at a PBS&J toll summit a week after the 2005 regular session ended.

About ten (10) months ago, I filed a formal “sworn complaint” with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) on Melinda Wheatley’s failure to file legally required lobbying reports for many months and years.

I fully expected Wheatley to pay off her chronically delinquent TEC fines soon after I filed the complaint. But she did not.

KRUSEE'S MISTRESS WHEATLEY IS THE MOST WANTED LOBBYIST IN TEXAS TODAY!

Shockingly, after 10 months, the brazen Wheatley has NOT paid any of the past delinquent fines with the TEC. Not only that, but according to the TEC’s own website, she is the most wanted lobbyist in the state of Texas today! Maybe that should not be a surprise.

AG’S OFFICE SUED WHEATLEY. WHEATLEY REFUSES TO PAY DEFAULT JUDGMENT AFTER 7 YEARS.

In 1999, the Attorney General’s office sued Melinda Wheatley for failing to pay yet another TEC delinquent account from the 1990’s. The Bankruptcy and Collections division of the AG’s office won a Travis County Court judgment that includes attorney’s fees and court costs. Wheatley has refused to pay the default judgment as well as the 10% annual interest that continues to mount each year. The AG’s office tells me a personal lien is also in place but Wheatley has not reported any ownership of property in the past seven years.

The formal complaint I filed 10 months ago was finally presented to the TEC on April 13th, 2007. The complaint has yet to be resolved or dismissed and a TEC attorney says the hearing could take place soon.

HISTORY OF KRUSEE AND WHEATLEY

Melinda Wheatley and Rep. Mike Krusee began working together on education issues in the late 90’s. In 2003 Krusee became the Chair of the House Transportation Committee after former chair Joe Pickett refused to go along with the unaccountable transportation legislation Gov. Perry wanted pushed. That same year, records show Wheatley began to lobby on Transportation issues.

Over the years, the Wheatley (12/6/1967) has kept many of the details of who she works for, and how much she gets paid, a secret.

WHEATLEY’S UNIQUE INFLUENCE WITH KRUSEE EQUALS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS FOR HER TOLL ROAD CLIENTS.

Limited state records show Wheatley earned between $70k and $150k in the first two months 2005. Wheatley listed TransCore, Texas Council of Engineering Companies, Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas and City of Austin as her transportation clients.

TransCore, one of Wheatley’s many transportation clients received a multimillion dollar contract with TxDOT in Sept. 2005. The contract for eGo Plus RFID tags, branded locally as TxTag, is for 2 million tags over two years.

Another transportation client of Wheatley, the Texas Council of Engineering Companies (TCEC) included URS, HNTB, PBS&J & Carter & Burgess, Inc. All of which have received numerous multimillion dollar toll contracts.

WHEATLEY GETS NO BID CONTRACT FROM TOLL AUTHORITY

Comptroller Strayhorn’s investigative report on the freeway tolling authority shows Wheatley’s Informative Efforts, LLC, now defunct, was given a NO BID contract (see app. #5) for freeway toll road work. It was Mike Krusee’s legislation that created the freeway tolling authority.

Wheatley ignored Texas law and additional conflicts of interests when she failed to list J.P. Morgan as one of her clients in 2004. The Comptroller’s Report states:

“Informative Efforts: The principals of this public relations firm are Cathy Howell and Melinda Wheatley, who are subcontractors for Nancy Ledbetter Associates, which in turn contracts with HNTB. Their relationship with the transportation industry may represent a potential conflict of interest. Informative Efforts had a consulting arrangement with JP Morgan Securities Inc., a CTRMA contractor, and was paid a retainer fee of $7,000 per month plus expenses. The Austin office of JP Morgan Securities indicated that Informative Efforts performed lobbying work and that it was a short-term contract terminated around March 2004. Melinda Wheatley was Informative Efforts’ primary contact with JP Morgan Securities. Wheatley was listed on the 2004 Texas Ethics Commission lobby list for only one client, TransCore, a sponsor of Team Texas. This company provides services and products that enable toll authorities to manage transactions using toll tags. As such, TransCore is a potential CTRMA contractor.”

How has J.P. Morgan been fairing in Krusee’s Toll Road Deals?

In 2005 the CTRMA invested $284 million in a J.P. Morgan Money Market. J.P. Morgan Securities is also part of the Cintra Trans Texas Corridor Team.

Up to $1 billion dollars of TxDOT Fund 6 bonds is controlled by J.P. Morgan Securities, which acts as the senior manager for the initial issuance. Fund 6 revenue bonds are backed by state highway revenues and anticipated federal transportation appropriations.

By refusing to file lobbyist reports, what are Wheatley (and Krusee) hiding?

What kind of partnership does Melinda Wheatley have with Mike Krusee?

Should Mike Krusee and Melinda Wheatley be investigated by the District Attorney?

Should the press ignore the fact that the House Transportation Chair’s mistress, the most wanted lobbyist in the State of Texas, has landed multi-million dollar contracts?

UPDATE AS OF 5/16/07....

TOLL ROAD LOBBY THREATENS TEXAS BLOGGER WITH LAWSUIT

In a response to a Muckraker blog article I published on 5/9/07 (see below), Hillco Partners, one of the most powerful lobby firms in Texas sent a letter to threaten me with a lawsuit. I see this threat letter as a deliberate attempt to squelch my freedom of speech by HillCo, who are connected with Rep. Mike Krusee, Gov. Rick Perry and other toll road profiteers PBS&J, Goldman Sachs and Fluor.

HILLCO PARTNERS LAWSUIT THREAT LETTER
Download and read the threat letter by clicking orange headline.

The censorship letter refers to the blog article called “TRANSPORTATION CHAIR’S MISTRESS LANDS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR TOLL ROAD CONTRACTS” (see below). It’s about Melinda Wheatley, the most wanted lobbyist in the state of Texas and her unique influence with married State Rep. Mike Krusee.

Interestingly, the HillCo Partners letter targets only one paragraph of the blog article:

“A reliable inside source confirms today that Krusee and Wheatley are still “an item” and that Wheatley is now lobbying at one of Austin's most influential lobby firms, HillCo Partners, under the guise of a “public relations specialist” (so she can try and sidestep filing more legally required lobbyist reports).”

The HillCo letter, from Attorney J. Hapton Skelton of the Law offices of Skelton and Moody, says:

“This statement is false in every respect.”

After we exchanged emails, I now wonder if HillCo is suggesting that my reliable source didn’t give me such information. Or, perhaps HillCo thinks my contact of two years is just an imaginary friend?

Since I received the original threat letter, I spoke with my contact again to confirm. My inside source tells me that she was told first hand that Wheatley did “work for HillCo”. Perhaps that could mean HillCo Partners, or a sister company called HillCo Media. I don’t know.

I don’t know anything more about Wheatley working with or not working with either HillCo company. What I do know is that my source has proven to be reliable - time after time.

My source also told me that they would not be surprised if Krusee and/or Wheatley complained to HillCo Partners to do something to shut me up, perhaps send a letter from an attorney.

The lawsuit threat letter does NOT deny anything else in the article. It does not deny that HillCo Partner’s J. McCartt has paid for many of Krusee’s travel bills. Nor does the letter deny that McCartt’s clients included TTC contractor Fluor Corp., Texas toll road investor Goldman Sachs (who plays all angles of tolling and selling our freeways) and the scandalous PBS&J, an engineering firm that has worked on several Texas toll road projects.

MORE ABOUT HILLCO

Aside from the numerous connections I lay out in the original article (see below) HillCo’s J. McCartt was the treasurer of a the political action committee that pushed for an amendment to finance highway construction through the Gov. Perry’s Texas Mobility Fund in 2001. One of the first pieces of the puzzle to steal and toll our freeways.

A Texas Observer report says this of HillCo Partner’s power:

“...HillCo Partners stands apart. It has an influence and reach—stretching from the statehouse to the state Supreme Court—that almost gives it the status of a shadow government.”

THREAT LETTERS TO CENSOR BLOGGERS

Special interests have been known to send threat letters to bloggers to squelch our free speech.

It’s happened to me twice in two years. State Rep. Dawnna Dukes (whose unpopular freeway toll vote came the morning after her sisters contract was signed with the tolling authority) and Everett Owen (a “No Bid” Contractor with the tolling authority) both threatened to sue as a way to shut me up. Both times, my attorney told me they were both full of shit, that they were trying to shut me up. I called their bluff, and no lawsuits were filed.

Stay tuned.

How Krusee Cohort, John Langmore, Syphons Tax Dollars.

This is Attorney John H. Langmore, one of the key confidence tricksters behind the Krusee & Perry TTC Land Grab and Freeway Double Tax Tolls. Langmore is a key player for the Special Interests.

Attorney John Henley Langmore (DOB 11/30/1962) was the Policy Director for the Texas House Transportation Committee during the 78th Legislative Session in 2003. Langmore played a principal role in formulating and drafting State Rep. Mike Krusse’s HB 3588, one of the most comprehensive transportation bills ever passed in the state of Texas, it completely altered the accountability of transportation projects. New powers were given as unelected bureaucratic mini-TxDOTs were created to toll already funded freeways. This “Frankenstein” law also allowed the TTC to take private land for foreign profits.

Many elected officials had no idea that 3588 was a Trojan horse. Most only skim the summary of a bill and use trust as a barometer.

Today, John Langmore continues the confidence game as he impersonates a Transportation Planning Expert to continue to bilk taxpayers for his special interest pals as well as get insider contracts for himself.

But, shockingly, Attorney Langmore has NO education in transportation planning, not even an online college course.

The snakelike Langmore has gone beyond the call of special interest duty. Since creating HB 3588, he’s slithered his way into the deep nooks and crannies of the unaccountable deals his legal language helped to create.

Langmore's SafeRail PAC Opens the Door for Looters.
Langmore was the one man band for SafeRail PAC. He was the campaign treasurer, campaign manager and PR contact for SafeRail PAC, a political action committee that had success in altering our Texas Constitution in 2005. Prop 1 in 2005 allowed unlimited tax dollars and debt to be syphon for new corporate rail in the TTC.

A quick glimpse of state records show Zachry Construction (of Cintra Zachry) gave SafeRail PAC $10,000, Herzog Construction gave $10,000, HNTB gave $6,000, PBS&J, Carter Burgess, Pate Engineer folks each gave $5,000 each.

TateAustin received over $12,000 for PR and Langmore’s SafeRail PAC spent over $32,000 on a radio buy in Houston to trick voters. Langmore contributed $471.31 in cash and $10,000 of campaign management and public relations services, sure to be repaid with thank you contracts.

The Proposition 1 constitutional amendment that Langmore helped to secure (53% to 47%) is a simple open-ended corporate subsidy scheme --- literally a blank check. Taxpayers will pay unlimited tax dollars (and generations of debt) to move private corporation rail lines into Gov. Perry's Trans Texas Corridor (and this after the governor had promised Texans that no public funds would be used for the TTC). Unaccountable people will decide how the taxpayer based rail fund will be spent, as corporations profit.

Langmore registered as a Texas lobbyist in 2005 representing Toll & Road Lobby companies such as Pate Engineering and Infrastructure Corporation of America. Pate and Langmore contributed to Krusee in 2005. Some say “that’s how the wheels stay greased”. Langmore has contributed to other politicos like Gonzalo Barrientos and Kirk Watson as well.

Is the system built for corruption and incestuous deals?

AND, how does Langmore get himself placed on every committee Krusee is not already on? He's also on the CAMPO Growth Subcommittee.

The address that Langmore submitted to the State for lobbying is interestingly the same address as Mike Weaver’s Prime Strategies, 1508 S. Lamar Blvd. Mike Weaver helped to create the local freeway tolling authority (CTRMA) and gave his own company, Prime Strategies, the first Toll Authority NO BID contract. Comptroller Strayhorn’s report shows Weaver's company billed the CTRMA for well over $600,000 from 2002 to 2005. The NO BID contract was paid for with tax dollars.

In 2006, I witnessed the special interest trio, Mike Weaver, John Langmore and Bill Burnett (former CAMPO board member who voted to toll roads we’ve already paid for) as they told Travis County Commissioners that Hays, Williamson County and two dozen other local governments across Texas are moving forward with a common sense NO TOLL option (pass through financing) while Travis must tolls on roads we’ve already paid for. The Commissioners bought it hook line and sinker.

As a very close associate of Mike Krusee, like Melinda Wheatley, Langmore cleans up on "Good Old Boy" transportation contracts. So many transportation contracts came his way, including Zachry, in 2004 that he needed to create a new business as a Transportation Consultant. He calls it “John Langmore Consulting” and it to offices out of 1508 S. Lamar Blvd. Langmore has also received toll road related marketing contracts through TateAustin, paid for with our tax dollars.

Having NO education in Transportation doesn’t stop Langmore. Hey, Mike Krusee has NO college degree, and that doesn’t stop him. Langmore is a Co-Chair of Envision Central Texas Transportation and Land Use Committee, which is now focused on planning the details of the primer for the TTC, the $1.5 Billion dollar SH 130. Mike Heiligenstein joins Langmore as a board member of ECT.

After graduating from UT’s School of Law and Graduate School of Business in 1989, John began his career working in Akin Gump’s Washington D.C. office. Langmore was Licensed in Texas in 1991 (State Bar Card Number 11922650), but, as of this year his license is inactive. Langmore had an executive role with Caterpillar in Tennessee for 11 years and a short stint as a photographer in San Antonio.

Langmore’s past also includes two (2) DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) CONVICTIONS, at least 24 months of probation and hundreds of dollars in fines.

Public records show Langmore and his wife Catherine Langmore owning 1408 Preston Ave. Austin TX 78703-1902, with an assessed value of about $500.000.

John Langmore has altered our Texas Laws and our State Constitution to where it is now legal to steal our roads, our land, our tax's and even generations of debt for the Toll Road Mafia's Personal Enrichment Program.

To this day Langmore, continues to influence where and how our tax dollars are spent, as he skims a bit for himself and impersonates a Transportation Planning Expert.

This article is part 10 of a 10 part series called “Circle of Parasites”. Freeways have never been tolled in the history of the U.S., but that doesn’t stop a close circle of self serving individuals with a long history of looking out for themselves at the expense of others.

Read the other “Circle of Parasites” articles (just click below):

1 of 10: Deadbeat Mike Heiligenstein Runs Freeway Tolling Authority

2 of 10: Two Toll Authority Board Members Refuse to Resign

3 of 10: Austin American Snakesman

4 of 10: Convicted CRIMINAL, Pete Peters, Connected to Freeway Tolls

5 of 10: Rep. Mike Krusee and Lobbyist Melinda Wheatley.

6 of 10: Ghost Organization Voted to Toll Austin Freeways

7 of 10: State Rep. Dawnna Dukes Payolla Toll Vote Ignores Constituents and Federal Law

8 of 10: County Commissioner Limmer and Convicted Criminal formally do business.

9 of 10: TxDOT Engineer, Bob Daigh: Secret Deals, Lies and a Convicted Criminal

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TxDOTs $18 million rest stops (click to read)

FHWA fights for Cintra to get 121 freeway toll, not local authority - Feds say Texas in breach of federal procurement law

Burkablog - Perry delays on HB 1892 deliberate and orchestrated

Craddick overruled by House - Craddick Shrinks Into Chair

LAST TIME RULING OF THE CHAIR WAS APPEALED WAS 1973

Perry’s office accepts toll road bill at 9:15am today. Perry has until 9:15am Friday, May 18, to sign, veto or let it become law without his signature

BREAKING NEWS: LOCAL AUTHORITY OUTBIDS CINTRA BY $833 MILLION FOR 121 FREEWAY TOLL ROAD

Tollway board bids $3.3 billion for 121 project
By JAKE BATSELL / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO - The North Texas Tollway Authority unveiled a $3.3 billion bid today to build and operate the State Highway 121 toll road, revealing a much-anticipated proposal that agency officials say is superior to the state’s tentative $2.8 billion deal with Spain-based Cintra. Read the whole story HERE.

Breaking News Coming Here Today!

BREAKING NEWS: KRUSEE’S GOT SOME BIG BALLS!

SHOCKER:
KRUSEE WILL
RUN IN 2008!

After Rep. Mike Krusee won his last race with only 50% of the vote, most thought he'd scurry off for a fat lobbyist job.

A very reliable inside source says House Tranpportation Chair Rep. Mike Krusee is gearing up to run in 2008. Krusee has already hired a professional to help try and side step the many minefields of the 2008 primary and general election campaigns.

Krusee just barely won his 2006 general election with only 50% of the vote. Krusee’s narrow win against a Democrat in a Republican (Williamson County) district was a real shocker. Krusee's main opponent, Karen Felthauser, had virtually no money to produce a competitive campaign.

Paul Burka of Texas Monthly had this to say about the Felthauser v Krusee race in HD 52:

"One more race to mention: Mike Krusee got 50.1% (Make that 49.72%, EOW) of the vote. He is the author and biggest defender of the highway bill that authorized toll roads throughout Texas. His Round Rock district is in the heart of the Central Texas controversy over tolling. A well financed campaign that hammered him for his support of toll roads might have taken him out. And yet, Democrats completely ignored Karen Felthauser."

You can bet Krusee will have to deal with at least one well financed race, if not two. Other sharks always smell the blood in the water.

Krusee and John Langmore created Gov. Perry's HB 3588, the legislation that allows our freeways to be tolled and sold to private corporations. This double tax legislation also allows foreign companies such as Cintra to take our land (TTC). The road and land deals allow for fat profits, after taxpayer subsidize the roads and land deal schemes. Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDA’s), created by Krusee’s legislation allow the deals to be secret.

GET THIS...

In the spring of 2006, I figured we’d plant the seed and start telling the story of the “Krusee Corruption” by finding him an opponent, in hopes that a viable opponent (with money) would naturally surface to take him out in 2008.

Myself and a couple of pals in our PAC, got an unknown (with no money) to run in Krusee's 2006 Republican primary (CLICK HERE TO READ!). As a matter of fact, the opponent we found signed up just minutes before the WilCo deadline closed. On a shoestring budget we moved forward. I created her VoteBarbara.com website, flyer, ad (CLICK TO READ) and online bumperstickers hitting Krusee hard for his double tax of tolling roads we've already paid for. Our volunteers, led by Richard Reeves, delivered the flyers to thousands of District 52 homes.



With virtually no money, we got 36% of the vote! (we got 45% East of 130). I believe the work we did in the primary paid off early, with Krusee barely winning the general election by only 50%.

Proof of Krusee's growing unpopularity began in 2005. Propositions 1, 3, and 9, were all rejected by Williamson County voters. State Rep. Mike Krusee was a big proponent of all three!

The latest finacial reports shows Krusee sitting on over $360,000 of special interest dollars to fight for his seat. He’ll most probably collect another easy $200,000 and use those dollars to send direct mail, run TV, Radio and newspaper ads to lie to the voters.

Will our political action committee (People for Efficient Tranportation PAC) step up again to help take him out with volunteers work and money? Hell yes, and we get two bites at the apple! Donate today for the fight HERE.

Firms that benefit fund Hays County roads campaign

Special Interests (developers, builders and engineering firms) are spending tens of thousands of dollars to sell a $172 million road construction package on the May 12 ballot in Hays County. Hays Future Now PAC has collected over $83,000 in contributions, thirteen times as much as Citizens for Responsible Roads, who oppose the $9,000,000 dollars a mile road bond scheme that has the county paying for state roads.

Contributers to the special interest PAC include engineering firms that have already been awarded contracts on the road projects (if approved by voters): Klotz Associates Inc.; Dannenbaum Engineering Corp.; Carter & Burgess Inc.; and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman.

Former Pct. 3 Commissioner Bill Burnett, who voted to toll roads we've already paid for, is working for Dannenbaum Engineering Corp, as he did while he was working for the county, a conflict of interest. Records show Gov. Perry has received more than $150,000 from President of Dannenbaum Engineering, James D. Dannenbaum, who does road work for TxDOT.

STATESMAN: There is no mention of the price on any of the 4.5-mile turnpike's tolling points.

TxDOT Politics as Usual

QuorumReport.com Reports: MULTIPLE EFFORTS TO DELIVER TOLL ROAD MORATORIUM BILL TO GOVS OFFICE ARE UNSUCCESSFUL

by QuorumReport.com May 4, 2007 10:08 PM

Moratorium supporters checking to see if Governor for the Day, Senator Mario Gallegos can receive it on Saturday

Rep. Wayne Smith (R-Baytown) tells Quorum Report that multiple efforts to deliver HB1892, the private equity toll road moratorium bill to Governor Perry's office today were frustrated by an absent clerk. Multiple efforts to reach the clerk failed because he left early.

The urgency in delivering the bill is because the clock starts running on a gubernatorial veto when the bill is time stamped as having been received. Once the governor vetoes the bill as expected, it will be a test of legislative will to see if 2/3s actually holds to over ride the veto.

Sources in the governor's office dismiss any conspiratorial explanations and say they will receive the bill on Monday, plenty of time for both the veto and the possible over ride. Nevertheless, the delay gives the Governor and his allies an additional three days to round up votes to block the over ride.

However, an unusual wrinkle popped up this evening. Sources tell us that supporters of the bill are looking into delivering it to Senator Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) tomorrow, while he is Governor for the Day. The spot is generally considered honorary for one senator each session. It requires both the Governor and the Lt. Governor to be outside the state.

The question is whether or not Gallegos' office can receive the bill and time stamp it, therefore starting the clock running.

Burka Says Texas Senators Are A Bunch of Lilly-Livered Chickenshitt Cowards!

Paul Burka, Senior Executive Editor of Texas Monthly, says his sources say Gov. Perry will veto the 2 year moratorium. Burka then forecasts the Texas Senate will not have the backbone to override the veto against Mr. 39%. Burka says the Senate will fold “like tinfoil before August.”

The following is taken from the Burka blog, as well as the dialog in the comments area. Paul Burka said:

“...House Bill 1892 will not become law in its present form.

Governor Perry will veto the bill. He will never accept the primacy of the metropolitan toll authorities over Tx-DOT. I believe the Senate will fail to override the veto. Even if both houses override, however, the game is not over. Perry will call a special session on transportation. If the Legislature fails to send him a bill he can live with (which repeals the objectionable provisions of 1892), he will call another special session. And another. This is war. The Legislature can avoid the showdown by recalling 1892, in which case Perry could allow the stand-alone moratorium to become law. I don't believe the Legislature has the stomach for this fight.”

Patricia Kilday Hart said:

“...I would not underestimate the strong anti-Perry sentiment in the Senate. Perry's comments yesterday about taxpayers being left out of this session's work only fueled the urge (which has existed since the HPV order) to poke a thumb in the governor's eye...”

Paul Burka said:

“...Do I have a good reason to believe, after having talked to folks close to the governor, that he will veto the bill? Yes. Can I make a judgment about what the governor might do based upon my years of knowing him? I think so. On most policy issues, Perry does not really get engaged. But he has been fully engaged in transportation from the start of his governorship, and he thinks his policy is right, and he will not give in. If he keeps calling the Legislature into special session, eventually the Legislature will have to give in. This time they won't go to Ardmore. I-35 is too crowded. One more thing. Anonymous, if you want to believe that the Legislature is not allowed itself to be bullied, how many years have you been watching Texas politics? Talk is cheap in this world.

They'll crumple like tinfoil before August.”

Rudy Giuliani's Lawfirm Represents CINTRA.

FORBES: Cintra aims to bid for at least 9-10 motorway projects in 2007

Texas House Votes to Ban Automated Speed Cameras

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS: What will Perry do now?

"Perry must now decide whether to stick to his toll guns and veto the bill. If he does, legislators could easily muster the 100 House votes and 21 Senate votes to override his veto, and do it well before the session ends May 28."

Yesterday's Letter to Statesman Editor

Road of a different stripe

Re: April 23 article "On MoPac, a question of safety."

The Texas Department of Transportation's proposed $110 million restriping of MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) is inherently unsafe. The 8 1/2-foot wide commercial trucks routinely on the road will have just 15 inches on each side in the new lanes — just a tad wider than a regular desk ruler. Cars will have only about 2 feet. The out-of-scale TxDot renderings make the lanes look spacious.

Common sense tells us more wrecks are likely. In highway constructions zones, where TxDot reduces lanes and shoulders, the speed limits are dropped to about 45 mph. Even then, it is a white-knuckle drive while packed in that close together.

Perhaps a new name is in order — "RatPac."

STEVEN MIERL
Austin

TEXAS OBSERVER: No More Krusee Control (A must read - click here)

139-1: KRUSEE STANDS ALONE - MORATORIUM PASSES! -

BREAKING NEWS:

Bill restricting private toll roads heads to Perry

House Bill 1892, which would restrict private toll road contracts in a variety of ways, heads to Gov. Perry's desk after passing on a 139-1 vote. The lone nay vote was State Sen. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson. While Perry may veto the bill, the Legislature would have enough time before it adjourns May 28th to override such an action.

(As reported by Austin Statesman)

"Many House lawmakers applauded when the
bill was passed. The only dissenting vote
was cast by Rep. Mike Krusee."
– More from AP/Houston Chronicle.

Sen. Nichols: "Today the Legislature sent a clear
message: We will not sell our transportation
system at bargain-basement prices."
– More from Dallas News.

Mother Jones: Road to Ruin?

Scandal Plagued Toll Authority Charges 12,000 Drivers for “Free” Ride

The CTRMA toll authority admitted today that 183A drivers are being overcharged.

Drivers with TxTAG’s were promised they could test drive the new 183A toll road for free this month. But now we learn over 12,000 drivers have been overcharged. Steve Pustelnyk, spokesman for the toll authority blames the overcharging on computer errors.

This overcharging is only the latest problem for the bureaucratic toll authority that has lost a lot of credibility with the community.

Years before other Phase I toll roads opened up in Austin, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority promised the public they would only be paying 15 cents a mile. But, just weeks ago the Statesman revealed sections costing as much as $1.50 a mile. Ten times the promised cost!

And Texas Comptroller’s investigative report showed the same toll authority giving out NO BID contracts to themselves and their friends. The report also found “Double Taxation Without Accountability”.

And the toll authority gave "pay off" contracts to the sister of State Representative Dawnna Dukes, the day before Dukes made a very unpopular vote to toll Austin freeways.

This also isn’t the first time the CTRMA has overcharged drivers.

With all of it’s problems the toll authority just rewarded it’s executive director, Mike “deadbeat dad” Heiligenstein, with a 25% raise!

Sen. Hutchison sends letter to FHA, says FHA has crossed the line from technical assistance to advocacy (click to read the letter)

TEXAS MONTHLY: It is 10:05 p.m. Do You Know Where Your Moratorium Is?

"Meanwhile, today House Transportation chairman Mike Krusee moved Robert Nichols' stand-alone moratorium bill out of committee, where it had been mired. Krusee, of course, is a strong advocate of Tx-DOT's policies, so this was not the unfriendly act that it seemed. If Tx-DOT has to swallow a poison pill, better the moratorium than Carona's multifaceted restrictions."

FLYING-PIG ALERT: Krusee committee passes toll road ban

By Ben Wear | Austin American Statesman | Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 03:11 PM

So, if the Legislature passes TWO bills banning private toll road contracts for two years, would the moratorium last four years?

Okay, we’re kidding and the answer to that is no. And it’s a good bet that the House Transportation Committee and its chairman state Rep. Mike Krusee were not considering that math when they unanimously passed SB 1267 today. But there could be other legislative calculations at work.

The committee convened during the noon hour around Krusee’s desk on the House floor and voted 7-0 for the bill, which would forbid the state and other Texas toll road agencies from signing long-term toll road leases until September 2009.

The bill, like the other legislation carrying the moratorium now, carries a lengthy list of exceptions. Most of them are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Spanish toll road builder Cintra and some partners have dangled a $2.1 billion upfront payment in front of local leaders. That money, which Cintra would pay for the right to build and operate the Texas 121 toll road in Collin County for 50 years, would help pay for several other highway projects in the area. Read the rest of the article HERE.

TRUTH BE TOLLED TAKES TOP AWARD!

TRUTH BE TOLLED TAKES TOP AWARD!

William Molina's film, "Truth Be Tolled" (http://www.truthbetolled.com/), which chronicles Texans' strong opposition to state plans for a new network of privatized toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), received top honors at the 40th Annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival with a Platinum Award (out of 4,500 total submissions). The impressive list of past Remi award winners includes Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, George Lucas, Ridley Scott and the Coen brothers.

WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, with more than 4,500 category entries received from 37 countries. No awards are given in any category unless the scores from the juries are high enough to place for honors.

TxDOT letter to congressmen asks them NOT to seek federal funds! (click to read)

TxDOT Throws Away $6 Million Dollars

TxDOT Flushes Another $6 Million Dollars

Just years ago, in an effort to make the massive gray highway more esthetically pleasing, TxDOT spent $6 million dollars to have a lush green landscape installed in North Texas on I-75.

Today, Gov. Perry's TxDOT is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to tear out the professionally installed trees, shrubs and other plants - because it forgot to plan for the maintenance costs, according to a Fox News report.
.

State Auditor busts TxDOT (and the Online Fight at San Antonio Express)

Truckers’ Calls to Congress Result in Delay of Opening Mexican Border.

DOT finally listens to concerns about safety and security.

Responding to concerns repeatedly raised by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and others, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would delay a pilot program that will open the border to 100 Mexico-based trucking companies.

The Association has been leading a campaign to make sure its members, the media and the public are aware of the risks to safety and security. So far, the DOT officials have provided no relevant details to the public on how they plan to handle those issues.

“The next step should be to carefully address where we are – the loopholes and shortcomings,” added Spencer. “The public has the right to know exactly how the DOT plans to ensure the safety and security of those who drive on our highways.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, MO, area. The Association currently has more than 152,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.