JP Morgan is now working with the CTRMA to create phase II of the toll tax debt scheme, which will be worth many Billions of dollars in profits, as they shift Austin's freeways to tollways, reports Austin Business Journal. It's a win-win for all the elites involved! (Except for you and yours, who will pay more daily)
Sen. Kirk Watson's loves back room deals. This time it looks like it will cost all Austin drivers $1,000's of dollars a year, as nearly $1 million tax dollars will be diverted to shift Austin freeways (71W, 71E, 290E, 290W and 183) to tollways. Without this massive tax subsidy the scheme will not work finacially.
If you remember, TxDOT offered nearly $1 million before the Oct. 2007 CAMPO toll vote, but after the vote they told Watson they would no longer give the $1 million and that Watson would need to find the $1 million from local funds.
After months of behind closed door meetings, it looks like Watson made a deal to get all or most of those diverted tax dollars for NOT opposing Delisi's appointment.
Paul Burka reports on Watson's deal:"I have to give Delisi good marks for her first meeting. Not only did she say the right things, but she also seconded a motion to approve projects in Austin, the home of state senator Kirk Watson, who could have killed her appointment by invoking senatorial courtesy. Watson was criticized for allowing the appointment to go through, but his opinion was that Delisi was smart, and that if he busted her, the next person might not be, and he’d rather have a smart Perry loyalist as chairman than a puppet."
From the Statesman :
Work on six projects can go on Engineering work on six toll road projects, which the Texas Department of Transportation's money crunches shelved for six months, can move forward after a 4-1 vote Thursday by the Texas Transportation Commission.
The commission's nod essentially puts the projects — adding managed lanes to MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1); expanding portions of U.S. 290 East, U.S. 183, Texas 71 and the "Y" at Oak Hill as toll roads; and building one new road, Texas 45 Southwest — in the hands of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
to be on the Special Interests Payroll!
MORE KIRK WATSON CONFLICTS Taxpayers Pay Sen. Watson $450 an Hour to Do Land Deals!
VIDEO: Sen. Watson's Toll Hearing
Set up to Squelch Free Speech
13 comments:
Watson deserves to lose his home. These tolls are going to kill the Austin economy and increase congestion all over the place. What a snake.
How the hell are we going to drive with $4 gas and $8 tolls everywhere?
I think I'm gonna puke!
Anon 8:04,
You ain't. Remove the ability to travel freely and the masses will have been captured.
Watson is a major scumbag!!!!
When is this a-hole up for reelection?
Term ends in 2011.
Is it just me or is Watson a midget?
I'd guess he's about 5' 4".
He stood right next to me at a urinal at one of CAMPO's meetings last year - I've got details about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/5j9yyh
How can we stop this??? Is it too late?!?
Do the Eckhardt amendments still apply or not?
I wouldn't put any trust into that Sarah Eckhardt "amendment". It was just her way to cover up for her betrayal of all who helped vote her into office. She is a despicable lying scumbag.
Tolls (almost) never get removed from roadways once they are payed off. It's basically free money for the politicos to spend as they please.
7:39 pm,
Sure the Eckhardt amendments still apply (until CAMPO rescinds them by vote). They were only adopted by policy last October.
Post a Comment