HR3: Using more Tax dollars to privatize and toll public roads.

The Lone Star Report has an interesting article on how Congresses HR 3, makes it easier for states like Texas to build new toll roads. President George W. Bush is expected within the next few weeks to sign the $286 billion federal transportation bill, HR 3, which passed July 29. Here are a few excerpts:

"Minnesota Democratic Congressman Jim Oberstar expressed concern that the amendment gives states incentives to toll new roads. "This amendment really crosses the line on tolling to mix federal funds with tolls is anathema to the idea of a publicly supported transportation system through our Highway Trust Fund and the user fee," he said. "I could understand if the gentleman from Texas (Burgess) were advocating and others were advocating tolls and toll-only facilities. But to cross the line and mix Highway Trust Fund dollars with toll funds to encourage building of toll facilities to indirect competition with toll-free highways, just does not make any sense at all."

"Sal Costello, founder of the grassroots anti-toll organization called Texas Toll Party, agreed to disagee, calling the measure a "tax and toll proliferation" bill. The Burgess amendment, he said, "gives states more credit for tolling publicly funded roads, which is upside-down in most people's opinion."

"HR 3 extends the federal pilot program that allows eligible states to convert existing free Interstate highways into toll roads."

Reps who pushed and voted FOR HR3:
Senator Kay Baily Hutchison
Congressman Loyd Doggett
Congressman LAMAR SMITH
Congressman Michael Burgess
Congressman Pete Sessions
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

Reps who voted AGAINST HR3:
Senator John Cornyn

Congressman Michael Burgess & $286.4 Billion HR3 bill pushes more Tolls on Texas taxpayer funded freeways.

Congress just approved a massive $286.4 billion highway bill (HR3). You might think the bill would be a cure for TxDOT's "we're poor, so we must toll the roads we've already paid for" argument for tolls.

But, you'd be wrong.

Early reports already show how even more of our tax dollars will go to Tolling Texas roads we've already paid for. Read the last line in this article a few times, and let me know what you think in the comment area below.

From MyWestTexas.com: "TxDOT spokesman Glen Larum of Odessa said the six-year bill "is a major win for Texas transportation" with $669 million for 220 projects.

It creates a $15 billion Private Activity Bond program for intermodal facilities, encouraging private sector investments and partnerships and advancing Trans Texas Corridor plans.

It'll add options for new federal highways to be toll roads and for local communities to use Transportation Development Credits to meet federal road and transit match requirements."
More Here

CNN report on political fat favors in bill LAMAR SMITH voted for: "Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, cited dozens of what he suggested were questionable projects in a highway bill, including $3 million to fund production of a documentary about infrastructure advancements in Alaska.

The bill, he said, is "terrifying in its fiscal consequences and disappointing for the lack of fiscal discipline." Joining McCain in voting against the bill were Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, and Jon Kyl, R-Arizona.
More Here

DALLAS tells of fat & tolls: "The bill also provides new options to charge tolls on new federal roadways..."

The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.

"Texas Sen. John Cornyn was one of only four senators to vote against the bill. He argued that the state deserves a larger share of money than it would receive in the new bill.

This bill simply continues the pervasive and longstanding funding inequity, and I cannot support that," he said, adding that the bill was "cut up in special-interest projects and pork-barrel spending."

"In addition, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound, Texas to receive more financial credits from the federal government for building toll roads with state and local money."
More Here

What do you think? Add your comments here.