Sen. Kirk Watson vs. Ric Williamson

TxDOT’s unelected Ric Williamson is at it again, pissing off elected leaders and citizens alike.

Yesterday’s Statesman article is a follow up of the story about Sen. Watson’s freak out letter to TxDOT a couple weeks ago. TxDOT, under Ric Williamson’s leadership, sent a response letter back to Watson. Except, the letter didn’t really answer any of Watson’s questions, and now Watson is more unhappy - that’s Ric Williamson modus operandi to a tee.

Watson’s original letter asked if TxDOT would still give CAMPO the gas tax dollars needed to subsidize the Austin freeway to toll way conversions, as TxDOT promised (and voted on by Sen. Watson and the other tollers last October).

Without that diversion of our gas tax dollars, the Austin freeway tolls are not financially feasible. And now, after the unpopular toll vote lead by Sen. Watson in Oct, Watson is starting to feel like he’s being played.

I wrote about why the whole freeway tolling planning process, from top to bottom is in turmoil, just a couple weeks ago.

Williamson has a long history of erratic behavior and making enemies in the Capitol and in Congress. The Dallas Morning News wrote about a bill that was created last year to remove holdover appointees, because of Williamson. Some might say Ric Williamonson has a sort of social retardation, I believe he has a chemical imbalance. Really. Here’s a guy that continues to rub legislators the wrong way, while his agency is up for Sunset Review!

Proof that the unelected Ric Williamson “ain’t right” in the head (or at least not doing the people’s business):

Watch this VIDEO of Williamson pissing off Sen. John Carona.

Williamson’s directive drives Congress “Into Tizzy” says Houston Chronicle.

Texas Homeland Security Director 2006 email to Assistant Attorney General says Williamson doesn’t know what he’s talking about. "This Ric guy is a piece of work. Full of off the wall projections and recommendations and yet does not know what his own agency is already doing."

Toll happy Williamson tells AAA Texas, "Pay your 15 cents a mile and get the heck out of my way."

Watch this VIDEO of Williamson pissing off Rep Harper Brown

Williamson so angry he refuses to shake mayor's hand.

"TxDOT leadership has begun to take on a very different and mean-spirited tone of late,” said Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkinsson "This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, especially coming from appointed officials who are unable to be held accountable by the public."

“I've worked with TxDOT very well, but not since Ric Williamson has been onboard the Commission and really not since Rick Perry has been Governor because they don't like input, they don't want comments that might be constructive to this process.” said Dallas County Commissioner, Kenneth Mayfield, 7/06

Williamson says he wants toll rates to be as high as possible, watch the video.

"State transportation officials have pushed San Antonio leaders, treated them rudely and ignored them,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff in 2005.

Williamson refuses to go to a Transportation summit, Rep. Linda Harper Brown responds, "It's unfortunate that one individual would act so childish, to boycott a summit that is so important to this state simply because of personal reasons."

Williamson doesn’t know his own toll plans. Transcript of Costello vs. Williamson in 2004.

“Highway extortion” “Unreasonable” said State Sen. Jon Lindsay, 1/07

Williamson continues to lie to the public and the press, claiming $2 to $3 gas tax increase would be needed if we didn’t toll, after a 2006 report from the Governor's Business Council (GBC) told legislators that only pennies a gallon would be needed.

Under Williamson's leadership, the Auditor found TxDOT inflating it's needs by tens of Billions of dollars HERE and video HERE.

Search 'Ric Williamson' in TTC News Archives HERE

Ok, so maybe you don’t think he’s crazier than a shit house rat. But let me ask you this simple question. How can Ric Williamson be working on behalf of Texans, when so many Texans are unhappy with what he is doing and how he is doing it?

Ric Williamson Falling

What happens when an appointed chair of a powerful agency, in control of the states infrastructure, has gone off the deep end? Not playing with a full deck. The lights are on but no body is home. Fruit Loops. Bonkers.

At the very least, Ric Williamson is out of control.

Can Rick Perry's hand picked TxDOT chair be impeached?

Here's what happened yesterday.

State Sen. John Carona, slipped into Krusee’s House Transportation committee hearing to once again try to schedule a meeting with TxDOT’s Ric Williamson, who was testifying. Apparently, Williamson has been refusing to meet with Carona, the chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.

"I just wondered if I could ask you, Chairman Williamson, if you and I might meet sometime this week on important transportation issues," Carona said.

"You are a clever guy," Williamson said, which got some laughs. "But I have to be sure that I haven't worn out my welcome."

"Well, it will go a long way to the relationship if I can see you this week, at your convenience, this week, on some transportation issues," Carona said. "We might find we can have more in common on these issues than we realize, but we really can't achieve any of that unless we meet."

"I look forward to visiting with you," Williamson said.

"This week?" Carona asked.

"Yes sir."

"OK. All right, thank you." Carona said.

"Visiting with you about the appointment," Williamson added.

"Oh, you mean you can't commit?" Carona said, surprised.

"I'll call you," Williamson said.

"Can I expect sometime this week, an appointment?' Carona asked.

"I will call you," Williamson said.

This is where Carona laid in.

"Well, this highlights part of the problem right here," Carona said. "It is this kind of lack of commitment and artful dodging for something as basic as an appointment to meet with you that causes the hostility and the friction that exists right now."

Carona continued, "The fact that you would sit there and be so arrogant that you would not even commit to a meeting date when I'm telling you that over the next several days I'll be available at anytime that will work for you is very troubling," he said. "It certainly doesn't build the kind of relationship that I think any of us want to see."

To end the conversation Williamson said, "Thank you,"

"Sir, you're refusing to make a commitment with me this week?" said Carona, who was again surprised at the artful dodge.

"Uh, frankly senator, I'm speechless," Williamson said.

Williamson is an arrogant bully, who I now believe could have some mental problems.

The unstable Williamson claims he only has one boss, the Governor, when he is supposed to represent the people of Texas. To Williamson, Texans are just fools to be harvested of our roads and our land.

But, don’t take my word for it, here’s what others have said about Williamson:

"This Ric guy is a piece of work.
Full of off the wall projections and recommendations
and yet does not know what his own agency is already doing."
— Texas Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw, 1/06

"TxDOT TRAMPLED ON US"
–Rep. Joe Pickett (El Paso), 7/06

“Not only is that double taxation,
it is taxation without representation"
Frisco Mayor Pro Temp Maher Maso, 1/06

"TxDOT leadership has begun to take on a very different
and mean spirited tone of late."
— Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkinsson, 1/07

“I've worked with TxDOT very well, but not since
Ric Williamson has been onboard the Commission and really
not since Rick Perry has been Governor because they don't
like input, they don't want comments that might be
constructive to this process.”
— Dallas County Commissioner, Kenneth Mayfield, 7/06

“Highway extortion” “Unreasonable”
State Sen. Jon Lindsay (Houston), 1/07

“local branches of government and the Legislature
are no longer part of the process.”
— Ft. Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, 7/06

"State transportation officials have pushed San Antonio
leaders, treated them rudely and ignored them."
— Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, 8/05

"It's unfortunate that one individual would act so childish,
to boycott a summit that is so important to this state simply
because of personal reasons."
— Rep. Linda Harper Brown, 8/05

BREAKING NEWS: Ric Williamson, The Most Hated Man In Texas, Dead

Ric Williamson, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman, "died overnight of a major heart attack" according to Paul Burka's Texas Monthly blog. Williamson was 55.

About 7 months ago, the Statesman did a report that included Burka's thoughts of Williamson, and how his TxDOT work was hard on his health:

"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."

A Texas Monthly article this summer called him “the most hated person in Texas, public enemy number one to a million or more people.”

Ric Williamson, a Gov. Perry appointee, has been the leading force at TxDOT to push tolls on roads we've already paid for, as well as the TTC land grab schemes - for many years. Many elected leaders have had major problems with Williamson's shocking behavior - see many examples here.

UPDATED

How will Williamson's death effect freeway tolls and the TTC? We'll see. Some have suggested Krusee would take his place. But, I don't think Perry would appoint Krusee. Mike Krusee lacks a college degree, the basic intellect, political savviness, and any gravitas whatsoever for the position.

How do I feel about Williamson's death? I feel for his family. A death in anyone's family is always very difficult. But sadly, and to be honest, the rest of our families will be better off without Ric Williamson leading the charge to place the highest toll rate possible on our freeways.

Gov. Perry appointee uses intimidation to toll public highways.

Ric Williamson appointed by Gov. Perry to govern TxDOT to privatize and toll Texas public highways, continues to exude his rabid style of Toll Road bullying all over the state.

Are we getting open and honest discussion about Texas' transportation policy in the meetings? NO WAY. If you are a local official and you don't agree with Ric Williamson, he'll lecture you about tolls and then he may take away your regular highway funding.

"The Texas Transportation Commission should be used to public scrutiny. But most of the scrutiny has come from boosters and beggars wanting a new highway who will not risk antagonizing the commission by publicly questioning the way it does the public's business."
– Austin-American Statesman, 12/28/03

THIS WEEK, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said of Williamson's intimidation "I'm not going to be run over from some guy with a big ego from TxDOT."

But that rabid Ric Williamson style is nothing new. At the 12/19/02, meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, Harris County Judge Eckels said that we should have a balanced system of toll roads and free roads. Eckels said that we need to look at increasing the gasoline tax to maintain a balanced system. Eckels was immediately and harshly rebuffed by Williamson, who questioned why anyone could support an increase in the gasoline tax because 25% of the money goes to education.

At the 3/27/03, TTC meeting, Collin County Judge Harris stated that the gasoline tax needs to be considered as part of the funding for future transportation improvements. Ric Williamson told Harris to get lost, that tolls are the only way Texas will finance highways. Williamson indicated giving local regions the option to increase their fuel tax would not something to consider.

SA EXPRESS Today: "State transportation officials have pushed San Antonio leaders, treated them rudely and ignored them, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff charged Tuesday.

Commissioner Lyle Larson, who says he's been ostracized by Gov. Rick Perry for opposing state toll road plans, is trying to cut the authority's funding.

"I don't know what kind of Kool-Aid's being sloshed around Austin," he said. "But let me tell you, people are opposed to this."

Larson claims the state asked the county to form the authority just to have a shield against angry motorists. The authority is bureaucratic deadwood, he said, because state officials insist on deciding how to handle private proposals to build the city's first 47 miles of toll roads.

More on Ric Williamson's Death

"In your lifetime most existing roads will have tolls"
— Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson 10/11/04

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: TxDOT chairman Williamson dies

McBlogger: So Sad To See You Go...

Austin American Statesman: Williamson, who led Texas toll road push, dies at 55

Full of Crap Blog: Can't spell PRICK without RIC

MaxConcrete: Chief Toll Henchman Dies of Heart Attack

Burka Blog: Don't Blame Ric Williamson

Dallas News: "Highway to Hell" Tolls for "King of The Road"

A service has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Jerry Durant Auditorium at Weatherford High School, 2121 Bethel Road in Weatherford.

Search 'Ric Williamson' in TTC News Archives HERE

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How Rick and Ric Benefit While Taxpayers Pay More.

Gov. Rick Perry and his appointed TxDOT chair Ric Williamson claim Texas has run out of tax dollars to build any more free roads.

But, TxDOT, under the Perry and Williamson direction, is diverting billions of tax dollars, intended for free roads, into toll roads (where freeways should be). Then the toll road, that took the limited right of way for a public expressway, is sold off with back room deal called a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA). A freeway toll tax monopoly, like SH 121 in Dallas, is created in secret.

And, even though Gov. Perry promised the 4,000 mile Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) would cost the public zero tax dollars, a recent state auditors report reveals the TTC has already cost taxpayers $90 million, and not even one mile has been built.

When the railroad was first laid down in the United States, crafty businessmen could contribute to officials who would decide the exact path of the railroad. Businesses near the railroad would have a vast advantage over those who where not. Being able to transporting goods and services cheaper than your competitors can pumps up profits, and kill competitors.

A 1997 financial statement from Rick Perry, the last financial public statement before his investments would be locked into a trust, shows how Perry has interests in MKS Consulting, an oil and gas company that Ric Williamson and his wife run.

MKS Consulting will benefit from the TTC, which will include enormous underground pipes to transport oil, gas and other utilities. Those TTC pipelines will pass only miles away from Weatherford Texas, which is the home office of MKS Consulting and hometown of Ric Williamson.

Should a rogue Governor and his close pal benefit while taxpayers pay more for wildly unpopular policies?

Also of interest, Ric Williamson’s hometown of Weatherford was one of the very first cities to receive “pass through financing” from TxDOT, a rare no toll financing option to build a free road in Texas today.

And, just days ago, TxDOT gave Weatherford Texas a grant (paid for with tax dollars, intended for freeways we can “no longer afford”) which will pay for Weatherford's police overtime.

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How Rick and Ric benefit while taxpayers pay more.

Gov. Rick Perry and his appointed TxDOT chair Ric Williamson claim Texas has run out of tax dollars to build any more free roads.

But, TxDOT, under the Perry and Williamson direction, is diverting billions of tax dollars, intended for free roads, into toll roads (where freeways should be). Then the toll road, that took the limited right of way for a public expressway, is sold off with back room deal called a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA). A freeway toll tax monopoly, like SH 121 in Dallas, is created in secret.

And, even though Gov. Perry promised the 4,000 mile Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) would cost the public zero tax dollars, a recent state auditors report reveals the TTC has already cost taxpayers $90 million, and not even one mile has been built.

When the railroad was first laid down in the United States, crafty businessmen could contribute to officials who would decide the exact path of the railroad. Businesses near the railroad would have a vast advantage over those who where not. Being able to transporting goods and services cheaper than your competitors can pumps up profits, and kill competitors.

A 1997 financial statement from Rick Perry, the last financial public statement before his investments would be locked into a trust, shows how Perry has interests in MKS Consulting, an oil and gas company that Ric Williamson and his wife run.

MKS Consulting will benefit from the TTC, which will include enormous underground pipes to transport oil, gas and other utilities. Those TTC pipelines will pass only miles away from Weatherford Texas, which is the home office of MKS Consulting and hometown of Ric Williamson.

Should a rogue Governor and his close pal benefit while taxpayers pay more for wildly unpopular policies?

Also of interest, Ric Williamson’s hometown of Weatherford was one of the very first cities to receive “pass through financing” from TxDOT, a rare no toll financing option to build a free road in Texas today.

And, just weeks ago, TxDOT gave Weatherford Texas a grant (paid for with tax dollars, intended for freeways we can “no longer afford”) which will pay for Weatherford's police overtime.

Sen. Kirk Watson vs. Ric Williamson Spat in the Statesman - The Real Skinny.

Ok, there’s a lot happening in the last few days, many of them are not ripe enough to share, but they are coming soon, so check back.

The whole freeway tolling planning process, from top to bottom is in turmoil. The political infighting below is just a snapshot of how the foundations are continuing to crack.

In 2005, when the CTRMA borrowed $200+ in debt for a few miles of 183A, toll bond dollars were easy to get.

But today, the cost of driving (gas) is high, and gas prices are not expected to drop again. AND, the costly bond insurance, like the ones used to bump up the US 183A bonds to investment grade, are now under severe Wall Street pressure for all the risky municipal debt they insured.

SA Express wrote about the effects of gas prices on tolls last year - HERE.

The overall US and global economy are both in terrible shape.

And Texans are driving less.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, Travel Volume Trends and Energy Information Agency, Short-Term Energy Outlook, Traffic volumes on urban arterial roadways in Texas in September 2007 were 1.3% lower than in September 2004. Over the same period, the U.S. retail gasoline price increased by 49.9%. The Energy Information Agency’s December 11, 2007 Short-Term Energy Outlook predicts that the average U.S. gasoline retail price will increase by another 21.6% between September 2007 and May 2008.

The pressures above are mounting to get the freeway tolls in, before it gets worse.

And, you add the chemically imbalanced Ric Williamson to the equation - then you've got real fireworks.

Sources say, the real reason for TxDOT (Ric Williamson) giving Sen. Kirk Watson a hard time about the nearly $1 Billion tax dollars (to shift Austin freeways to toll ways) was because Watson allowed the Eckhardt Amendments, (which some tollers feel “ties their grubby little hands”).

That is why Williamson is torturing Watson. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see the Statesman article from yesterday here.

So, what can happen?

Well, perhaps TxDOT/Williamson is just torturing Watson, or maybe they are trying to get the unaccountble toll authority (CTRMA) to cover some or all of the debt.

In any case, it’s a bunch of crooks fighting over how they set up this unaccountable taxation of tolling our freeways with nearly $1 Billion tax dollars.

Also, I hear that perhaps CAMPO Executive Director Micheal Aulick’s retirement, might not have been his idea, but perhaps Kirk Watson’s. Sources say that Watson (and a couple other CAMPO members) were not happy with how Aulick was doing his job, and they want a more politically seasoned person to carry the toll road message.

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.""

Shift may loom in toll road debate

Push for higher gas tax could follow chief's death

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News

The death of Ric Williamson, the fiery, whip-smart chairman of the state transportation commission, could upend the still-roiling debate over toll roads in Texas in the new year.

Mr. Williamson died Saturday of a heart attack at age 55, sending shock waves through the nearly 15,000-employee department he led as well as the political and policy circles where his combative style and pro-toll-road agenda had engendered enormous change – and criticism.

Always careful to credit Gov. Rick Perry, a close friend and former roommate, Mr. Williamson emerged as a lightning rod in recent years as he pushed to let private companies build and operate toll roads throughout Texas.

"We are [expletive] running out of money," he told The News in a wide-ranging interview a week before his death, allowing his usual thoughtful, precise vocabulary to give way to frustration over continued resistance to the governor's toll road policies. "It absolutely boggles my mind how men and women elected to make courageous decisions in leading this state cannot focus on the simple fact that our congestion is rapidly approaching an intolerable level."

It was Mr. Williamson's sometimes-abrasive approach that has those who clashed with him hoping his successor will take a more conciliatory tone and a balanced approach to the state's problems. One of those critics, Sen. John Carona, D-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he is hoping that Mr. Williamson's successor will support raising state gas taxes to help reduce the need for tolls.

Even Mr. Williamson's supporters acknowledge that he often bruised feelings. Still, fellow members of the commission say he was indispensable.

"Ric was focused laser-like on the issues, well read and always researched things thoroughly," said commissioner Ted Houghton of El Paso.

Mr. Williamson was focused on finding a way to pay for the new roads and added lanes that Texas' booming metropolitan areas need – even as such traditional revenues as gas taxes failed to keep up with costs. In general, new roads in Texas will have to be toll roads, Mr. Williamson said often in recent months.

Plenty of powerful voices have disagreed, however.

Last session, the Texas Legislature passed a partial moratorium on a centerpiece of Mr. Perry's strategy, slowing his plans to privatize toll roads. Mr. Williamson spent most of 2007 criticizing the moratorium as an example of fuzzy-headed legislative intrusiveness. But he also led a vigorous effort to work around the new rules, and within months of the session's close unveiled a list of more than 80 highway projects eligible for toll roads.

Those stormy debates are expected to carry into 2008.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Dead Toller Attacks Texans From the Grave.

Like the end of a bad movie, when the audience thinks the bad guy is dead, and everything is safe - Ric Williamson, the late chair of TxDOT, rises from the dead to force tollways down our throats. Well, not exactly, but close.

Mary Ann Williamson, Ric Williamson's the old lady, says Williamson's toll and pave everything policies should continue, and that we don't "have a choice", according to this new Statesman article:

As for Williamson’s policies, Mary Ann Williamson said they should continue.

“Even if you don’t care for some of these things,” she said, “I don’t think you have a choice.”

What? We don't have a choice? Is that arrogant or what? Hell, I was under the impression this was a democracy, not a dictatorship. And, not a dictatorship run by an arrogant corpse.

Go fly a kite lady. We've had enough of your family, Gov. Perry, Sen. Watson and all the rest of the crooks rooting around in our pockets.
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Ric Williamson, Chair of TxDOT says Keeping Costs of Freeway Tolls Down is NOT TxDOT's Strategy.

CLICK ON VIDEO TO WATCH

TxDOT chair, Ric Williamson, appointed by Rick Perry, sees big dollars as freeways get shifted to tollways. Are tollers interested in keeping the costs down for taxpayers? "That's not our strategy" says Ric Williamson in the video. It's about HOW MUCH TXDOT CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF OUR FAMILIES. $.10, $1.00, $2.00 a mile? Taxpayer dollars are diverted to pay for the expressway, then the freeway is shifted to a tollway and the public will be charged as much as possible. A DOUBLE TAX.

TxDOT Mows Down Signs Honoring Veterans

Just a few days before Veterans day, TxDOT landscapers mowed down nearly 100 signs honoring South Texas Veterans.

The signs are part of a yearly “Highway of Honor”. Proper permits were obtained from TxDOT in advance by the American Legion and a local church - but that didn't stop TxDOT from the disrespectful destruction.

The signs were shredded and turned into countless fragments of trash as they were spread along 20 miles of FM 2100, North East of Houston.

KTRK (ABC news) in Houston has the story:

Past American Legion Commander Anselmo saw the crew mowing right over the signs Friday morning. He says he tried to stop them, but the crew didn't speak English.

Anselmo, who served two tours in Vietnam, ran up ahead to grab his sign and those of his five family members. He saved those, but says he couldn't save many others or the respect that each soldier or Marine is due.

Anselmo laments that he now once again has that empty feeling that he felt upon returning from Vietnam.

"Whenever I got off the plane and they were spitting on me, I felt like I was being spit on again," he said.

What is the solution to change this rogue agency?

Make it accountable to the voters. Top TxDOT leadership should be elected, not appointed.

Currently Ric Williamson, the chair of TxDOT who is a Gov. Perry appointee, is a holdover.

Ric Williamson is a key problem with TxDOT. TxDOT under Williamson's leadership, is stealing our roads and our land to double tax Texans. This YouTube video of Williamson proves he doesn't care how much it costs our families.

DALLAS NEWS: 'Holdover' appointees (like Ric Williamson) targeted

'Holdover' appointees targeted

Legislature: Senate leaders back bid to add chamber review when tenures of governor's picks end

By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – Key lawmakers, concerned that the governor is circumventing the Senate, said Wednesday that they'll join efforts to give the chamber more authority to review state board appointees.

The proposal targets "holdover" appointees, those whose terms have expired but who continue to serve until the governor reappoints them or names a replacement.

The issue has gained a higher profile because Gov. Rick Perry's friend, Ric Williamson, continues to chair the Texas Transportation Commission although his term expired in February.

The strong-willed, toll road-touting Mr. Williamson has detractors and would have a tough fight winning Senate approval if he were reappointed while the Legislature is in session.

But under current law, Mr. Perry can wait until the session adjourns May 28, then reappoint Mr. Williamson, who could continue to serve without Senate review until the next regular session, in January 2009.

Sens. Glenn Hegar, Steve Ogden and Mike Jackson have authored constitutional amendments to stop "holdovers" and make board members step down if they aren't formally reappointed. Read the rest HERE.

Proof that Gov. Perry's TxDOT doesn't know their own toll plans.

Dialog between TxDOT's biggest boss, Ric Williamson and myself proves TxDOT doesn't know it's own plans (the following is a transcript of TxDOT Commission Meeting from 10/28/04)

MR. WILLIAMSON: We have the dilemma of having to provide infrastructure for that growth in the fashion that the governor and the legislature has given us. It was the governor's view that if we were to have to go down this path, the wisest course of action was to place the financial benefit of doing this at the taxpayer level of those who were going to pay for it. So we created the structure of the RMA and toll equity so that if you choose to pay a toll, every time you pay a toll in Central Texas, that dollar is staying in Central Texas.

MR. COSTELLO: THAT IS NOT TRUE. The dollar that somebody pays at a toll booth, a portion of that, a large portion of that, about 45 percent of that dollar goes to collecting that dollar. That is what happens with the tolling idea. It is a sloppy, inefficient, additional tax, that's what it is.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Why don't we stop for a second. Is anyone here with expertise that can speak to that? Phil? Because if Mr. Costello believes that 45 percent of our gross revenue goes to collecting the toll, then if he's right, then we need to be doing something real fast.

MR. POWELL: I can't tell you exactly what the percentage is right now.

MR. BEHRENS: State your name for the record.

MR. POWELL: I'm David Powell, director of Information Technology and Operations for the Turnpike Authority Division. I don't have an exact percentage as to what that is. I know on the total project budget there's something like 5 percent for toll collection systems, and the operations the per transaction cost can be somewhere around a quarter apiece. A lot of that is labor to collect the transaction which people locally employed is a high component of that cost.

MR. WILLIAMSON: I thought that our system or any system we invested in also envisioned electronic tolls only, no coin collections. Is that not the case?

MR. POWELL: Absolutely, yes, and electronic toll collection is much less expensive.

MR. WILLIAMSON: I'm sorry, Mr. Costello.

MR. COSTELLO: Also, what was proposed to CAMPO when they voted that this would be an all-electronic plan, but when you add toll booths -- which now they're talking about collecting cash as well, you're slowing down traffic, we're talking about bottlenecks all over Austin. How does that help mobility? And again, we want to see a study.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Well, Mr. Costello, I can tell you that this commission has made it very clear publicly we will not invest the state's equity in any toll plan that is not 100% electronic. We're not going to be in the toll booth business

MR. COSTELLO: Well, I suggest you look at the CTRMA's website because they are backing off the electronic route only on their website and even in recent papers, The Houston Chronicle yesterday talked about the problems with all-electronic. These tollways that were all-electronic, they're having major problems with them.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Well, major problems from one person's perspective. We view the very objection you have to the traffic backup for coin boxes as being more of a problem than whatever problems are occurring electronically, and I will just tell you -- in fact, if you care to stay till probably about six o'clock tonight, we're going to have a discussion about interoperability of tolls, and we will repeat our toll master down there what we've said to him ten times: no booths; we are not in the toll booth business, we're in the electronic toll business, that's all we're in.

After TxDOT promises NOT to be in the toll booth business, I find TxDOT documents showing dozens of toll booths for Central Texas. The diagram below shows how the toll booths hold TOILET's. Doesn't look 100% electronic does it?

DEIRDRE DELISI to replace Ric Wiliamson?

Former Perry chief of staff (9/04 - 6/07) Deirdre Delisi (to the left) is on the short list to replace Ric Williamson as TxDOT chair, according to Quorum Report (who says that they have not gotten confirmation of the actual appointment):

"Reasonably reliable sources tell us that former Perry chief of staff Deirdre Delisi is, at the very least, under serious consideration to replace Ric Williamson as the new chair of the Texas Transportation Commission."

Houston Chronicle: Ric Williamson revealed as "Off the Wall" by e-mail records (click here)

That day, McCraw wrote Assistant Attorney General Jay Kimbrough about Gov. Perry's friend and appointed chair of TxDOT, Ric Williamson "This Ric guy is a piece of work. Full of off the wall projections and recommendations and yet does not know what his own agency is already doing. "

Gov. Perry Calls Texans "Dunces"

Gov. Perry thinks you are an Idiot.

Polls have shown Texans are against diverting highway funds to pay for more toll roads, as well as the TTC land grab.

During the eulogy for Ric Williamson, at a Weatherford High School auditorium, Perry took a moment to slam Texans and call us "Dunces" (which means dumbass) since we oppose the TxDOT Road, Tax, Debt and Land corporate give away program:

“When a genius comes into the world, you will know him by this sign: that the dunces are all in confederacy against him,” Perry recited. “Jonathan Swift didn’t know Ric Williamson, but he pegged him.

The unabridged dictionary describes the word "dunce" as "A dull witted, stupid or ignorant person".

You gotta love that Mr. 39%.

Well, you don't actually.

Ric Williamson Goes to Washington

A very reliable source tells me that Ric Williamson, the chemically imbalanced head of the rogue agency TxDOT, has been summoned to the principals office. He's meeting in Washington DC today with United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Perry's Trans Texas Corridor Catastrophe.

Boondoggle costs Texans most while politicians corporate friends profit.

"...concentrating on the four primary routes first,
is the beginning of generating the cash flow..."
- Texas Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson,
appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to govern TxDOT

"Because there are issues of confiscation of private land, State and
National sovereignty and other similar concerns, the Party urges the repeal of
HB 3588 authorizing the Trans-Texas Corridor. Further, we urge the removal of
all authorization and powers granted the Texas Transportation Commission
and the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction and
operation of the Trans-Texas Corridor."
- Republican Party of Texas Platform says "NO" to Corridor.

"Governor Perry and his friends spent a great deal
of time researching ideas to create more revenue."
- Texas Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson,
appointed by Gov. Rick Perryto govern TxDOT

The singular focus of the Corridor plan is to generate revenue. It intentionally bypasses urban centers. Those metropolitan areas are left to deal with their own traffic and mobility problems, including access to the Corridor. Perry's plan allows private land to be taken away from its current owner to lease it for commercial, industrial or agricultural purpose.

With only 5,000 miles of toll roads in the United States today, The Trans Texas Corridor is a 4,000 mile plan of supertollways and more. The Corridor will include tollways for 12 passenger vehicles lanes, 4 truck lanes, 2 passenger train tracks, 2 commuters train tracks, 2 freight train tracks, underground lines for water, natural gas, petroleum, telecommunication, fiberoptics and overhead high-voltage electric transmission lines and electrical transmission towers.

Plans also include gas stations, garages, restaurants, hotels, stores, billboards, warehouses, freight interchange, intermodal transfer areas, passenger train stations, bus stations, parking facilities, dispatch control centers, maintenance facilities, pipeline pumping stations, and of course, toll booths. The Trans Texas Corridor is the largest engineering project ever proposed for Texas. This statewide network of corridors will measure a quarter mile wide and cost over $180 Billion dollars.

"Local citizens would suffer the negative impact of
such a corridor without receiving any benefit"
- Diane Lacy, Jeff Davis County Commissioner

"It's going to kill agriculture.
Depending on where it goes, that is part of my family's land."
- Richard Cortese, Bell County Commissioner

"This would waste AG lands, and the access
and egress issues are of real concern,"
- Judge Jerry Bearden, Mason County

"If there is no access to the small towns,
it will change the face of the state."
- Will Lowrance, Hillsboro Mayor

"I am concerned about what this could do to the county."
- Richard Cortese, Bell County Commissioner

"If it is done the way it's proposed, it will hurt us..."
- Carlos Vigil, Cooke County Community Development Director

"With a right-of-way approximately 1,200-feet-wide, the proposed
corridor could change the face of agriculture in Texas forever as it
swallows up thousands of production acres of farmland."
- Juliet Briskin, Country World News

"It's a terrifying nightmare. I'm scared to death of this."
- Bill Durst, Fayette County Inspector

"The government is out of control.
They're trying to take our property rights away from us,"
- Rep. Harvey Hilderbran

"Texas should not be sold out to foreign interests.
Texas farms and ranches should be for Texas farmers and ranchers.
We should not let a Europeans consortium take our Texas birthright.
Our elected leaders should not be asking us to give them our land and
then insist we should have to pay to drive across it (as toll roads.)"
- Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.