BIG Federal Fight Begins Tuesday: Gas Tax Increase vs. Privatizated Tollways

Well folks, this is a surprise, and a must read.

Looks like an actual debate on Gas Tax vs. Privatized Toll Roads on a Federal level is to begin Tuesday. Who Woulda Thunk It?

According to this new article, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission is scheduled to publish its recommendations tomorrow in support of an increase in gas tax over privatizing roads, on Tuesday, Jan. 15, leading up to committee hearings in the U.S. House and Senate. You've got to read the whole Land Line article, here is just a taste:

The 12 commissioners with varying backgrounds debated whether to recommend an increase in fuel taxes – the traditional method of maintaining a highway trust fund – or the Bush Administration’s push to privatize and/or toll more highways.

“What it came down to in the debate was whether there should be a federal role in highway and transportation funding or whether there shouldn’t be a federal role,” Mike Joyce, senior government affairs representative with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, told “Land Line Now” on XM Satellite Radio.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters chaired the commission.

Joyce said Peters did not have a stacked deck for her pro-privatization stance.

“What we are finding is that the administration was not able to hijack this commission the way that they thought they could and determine what this report was going to say,” Joyce said.

“We have heard that nine commission members sided one way, and there are three members of the commission we hear are going to offer a dissenting minority opinion, essentially on how they feel the report should have been structured,” Joyce said.

The commission majority – those that favored fuel taxes – includes Vice Chairman Jack Schenendorf, a longtime advocate of trucking issues, and Patrick Quinn, co-chairman of U.S. Xpress Enterprises.

On the dissenting side – those favoring privatization – Peters garnered support from former DOT Interim Secretary Maria Cino and another commissioner, according to Joyce.

Another article about the report in The Hill states:

A panel of public and private officials who reviewed the country’s transportation needs for the past two years wrote the long-awaited report. Congress formed the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission in the last highway bill.

“Every stakeholder in the transportation industry … has been waiting for this report to come out,” said Janet Kavinoky, director of transportation infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Nothing like this has been done before,” said Rosario Palmieri, vice president for infrastructure policy at the National Association of Manufacturers.

Terri Hall and The Muckraker Team Up to Trash TTC in BusinessWeek.

BusinessWeek has come out with a good article called, "Meetings begin in Texas toll road plan" that helps to expose the TTC (Nafta Super Highway).

CLICK ON THE COMMENT SECTION to see the whole schedule. Each town hall meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., but registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

I figured they would do a good job on it based on the questions the reporter asked me last week.

It's rare that Terri and I get to double team, but I like it. It seems like just yesterday that Terri Hall found me at the Capitol lawn during a TTC rally in 2005, searching for advice on how to stop the road and land crooks in San Antonio. She's come a long way, and it's good to know she's out there giving em hell on a regular basis.

Here's some of the article:

Backers of the TTC already have been accused of backroom political dealing, mounting a propaganda campaign and caving to foreign ownership.

"We really are getting ripped off," says Terri Hall, of San Antonio, who heads TURF -- Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom. The group is suing the transportation agency, alleging its promotional campaign violates a ban on state officials using their authority for political purposes.

and

"Hall argues elected officials in the counties affected by the project have "sold out to the road lobby" and succumbed to courting.

And Sal Costello, whose Austin-based Texas Toll Party has been opposing the TTC, speculated transportation officials should expect a cool reception at the meetings, which he said he won't attend.

"These meetings will change nothing," he said.

Toll Authority Director Threatens (and lies to) a Citizen Via Email.

Mike Heiligenstein, Executive Director of Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), sent threatening emails to a Central Texas citizen, as well as a number of untrue statements, according to forwarded emails I’ve received from the citizen.

This is the same tolling authority that the Texas Comptroller’s did an investigative report on and found “Double Taxation Without Accountability” and “Favoritism And Self-Enrichment”.

And, the Comptrollers report also found the CTRMA gave out NO BID contracts (Millions of dollars worth - of our tax dollars!) to themselves and their crooked friends. See the NO BID contract list here.

The Comptroller also found toll authority board members, such as Chair Robert Tech, who’s refused to resign, who’s property near toll projects has increased in value as much as 989%, since becoming chair.

What is amazing is that Heiligenstein, a person that heads up an agency that handles hundreds of millions of dollars of the public tax dollars and infrastructure, would be so unprofessional to get into a pissing match with a citizen.

The fact that Heiligenstein gets aggressively defensive, and sends veiled threats to the citizen, just for sending him an email, gives further proof of his severely flawed character and lack of judgement.

After Tom finds a “Circle of Parasites” article I wrote on this blog in 2006, he copies and pastes portions and sends it to Heiligenstein via email. Tom’s email includes:

“...your (ex) wife filed a "Income Withholding for Child Support" petition in Williamson County to force you to pay $1,500 a month in child support, for your daughter Katherine. District Court Judge Jergins signed the order (case # 03-556-f395) for income to be withheld from you and to be paid by the CTRMA.

Are you refuting the public records?”

Heiligenstein responds and suggests that garnished wages are the law for everyone in Texas and responds with this veiled threat:

I am refuting your libel. Your interpretation that somehow the facts support your slanderous charge....” Heiligenstein also states, “You're welcome to check out if I have ever missed a single payment by even a day.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org

Sure he hasn’t missed a child payment, last time I checked Heiligenstein's wages are garnished! - the CTRMA takes that money from his pay check, and the CTRMA makes the payment for his child. Last time I checked, garnishing pay checks is NOT part of any law in Texas, but hey, I’m not a lawyer.

Heiligenstein suggests just by this citizen sending an email to him is enough to make it public and slander:

Once its on the email waves its public.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org

Tom hits back with some colorful language, since Heiligenstein is a public figure and it’s nearly impossible for a public figure to successfully sue for libel/slander, and he includes more from my blog:

Mike,

You'll have better luck getting monkeys to fly out of your ass, than to win any libel/slander case - ask any lawyer, and he'll tell you that's a fact. YOU owe the taxpayers of Texas an apology.

P.S. Why haven't you sued Sal Costello then?

What do you have to say about these juicy issues? In 2004, however, the Texas Ethics Commission cited Heiligenstein and three other Williamson County commissioners for an ethics violation relating 2004, however, the Texas Ethics Commission cited Heiligenstein and three other Williamson County commissioners for an ethics violation related to the promotion of that same bond package. The Ethics Commission found that the commissioners used public funds for political advertising in connection with the Williamson County Road Bonds Program. Each commissioner received and paid a $400 civil penalty for the violation. Several future CTRMA contractors also worked on this bond program.

Before the CTRMA was created by Heiligenstein, and others in the "Circle", records show he was involved in real estate deals that went into Bankruptcy (#90-14004 Williamson County)

But the interesting part of the official bankruptcy affidavit records show that Heiligenstein, who owed many businesses and individuals, also owed James Mills and Mike Robinson, who Heiligenstein later appointed CTRMA board members.

As Williamson County Commissioner, Heiligenstein voted for the formation of CTRMA and for the appointments of four of its board members. Then, those board members thanked him by hiring Heiligenstein as Executive Director while the bloated bureaucratic CTRMA was being run with our tax dollars.

Well, Mike?

Heiligenstein responds:

You are a funny guy. Instead of resorting to emails come over and lets discuss. Lets put a face on it big shot.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org

Heiligenstein sends another veiled threat:

By the way, my attorney just asked that I forward your email from yesterday. He is very interested in pursuing this. Would you like to meet with him? He's very good.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org

Then Heiligenstein insults the citizen and misinforms the citizen by claiming he’s never been beat by Sal Costello:

When was the last time you did anything worthwhile for your community?

I've beat Sal at every turn he is 0 fer. He causes me no concern. He is a non-entity.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org

Mike Heiligenstein is a flat out liar, or must have some new kind of retardation amnesia:

1) Just look at this map. Loop 360, South Mopac and other sections of Phase II have been stopped under my leadership - those lost toll tax payments have cost the toll authority hundreds of Millions of dollars in revenue.

2) The lawsuit my group filed and won proved the CTRMA was unconstitutional, then the toll authority had to pay my group almost $20,000 in legal fees.

3) And, some of the other major wins I can mention are noted here. There are actually many other wins that I can’t mention.

4) Years of pain and hardship, as we’ve bogged down the Phase II toll roads since 2004 (see map again), and we’re not done yet.

Then Tom says:

Mike,

You are the funny one. I can't for the life of me figure out why you, a guy that heads a multi-million dollar agency, would even bother to get in a pissing match with a citizen (tax-payer) like myself. And then, knowing how much trouble a guy like Sal is causing you and your crooked cronies, would lay down the juvenilistic type of jargon that you are doing. You are making yourself (the mighty head of the CTRMA) look like a penny ante, two bit dolt. Your veiled threats have been noted.

Sorry, but I have to call it like I see it.

The Heiligenstein says:

And you are right, I am wasting time on you. You are now officially "junk" status.

Mike Heiligenstein
CTRMA
(512) 996-9778
mstein@ctrma.org”

Man, is this guy an infant or what?

HEILIGENSTEIN PROFITS OFF
TOLLING OUR FREEWAYS

Sen. Kirk Watson and other freeway tollers on CAMPO just voted to divert $910 million tax dollars intended for freeways, into a plan that would toll our public highways, and the unlected, unaccountable CTRMA will set the toll rates and collect the money.

When our freeways are tolled, the cost of maintaining those roads will shift from being paid with gas tax (TxDOT's responsibility) to tolls (our families responsibility) permanently.

Before Mike Heiligenstein became Executive Director of the CTRMA, Heiligenstein, as Williamson County Commissioner voted to create the unaccountable CTRMA and gave the CTRMA $500,000+ tax dollars.

One of the sleazy six, Travis Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, along with Judge Sam Biscoe of Travis County voted to create the CTRMA and gave them $500,000+ tax dollars.

To date TxDOT has given the CTRMA tens of millions of our tax dollars.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
HEILIGENSTEIN’S WIFE A TXDOT CONTRACTOR

Mike's new wife Lisa England, also profits off our roads.

In 2006, I reported that Lisa England was a certified contractor for TxDOT and provided a link to her name on TxDOT’s website. But soon after I reported it, her name was removed from TxDOT's site.

She most probably has created a business name to hide behind. As the type of work performed, she had listed "Management Consulting Services". TxDOT refused to release documents that would shed more light on the deals Lisa England has crafted with TxDOT or the toll authority, or as State Rep. Pickett rightfully calls them, the mini-TxDOT.

HEILIGENSTEIN THE LIAR GETS A
FAT 25% RAISE IN 2007

In March 2007, news came out that Heiligenstein got a big fat raise. A $190,000 base salary, as well as $40,000 in deferred compensation (which he could take now) and other cash payments - not to mention numerous perks such as car allowance.

Heiligenstein got a 25% raise, when most people would be fired. It’s been documented that he lied to elected officials and central Texas communities about toll rates.

For years, Heiligenstein promised that our tolls would only cost 12 to 15 cents a mile. A recent Statesman article exposed the Heiligenstein that tolls are costing as much as $1.50 a mile. Many times the promised rate.
l

LONE STAR REPORT: "Likely Williamson’s core policy themes will become priorities for his successor."

IRS probe sought into foundation's support for Perry

Group alleges top contributors funneled money through pastors

By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN — A project to mobilize faith-based voters to support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage may have illegally served Gov. Rick Perry's re-election campaign, according to a complaint filed Thursday with the Internal Revenue Service.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

Is Dawnna Dukes Paying Personal Debt Off With Campaign Funds?

And, after you click the headline above (and read that article) watch the VIDEO of Dukes vs. Costello from 2004, when I out her for trading her freeway toll vote for toll contracts for her sister.

Six-month report on Lubbock, Texas red light camera performance shows accidents up 52 percent. Financial failure may doom the program.

More TxDOT Failures

TxDOT and it's contractors have a history of screwing things up.
And who pays for these mistakes? You and your family
(as the knuckleheads who make the mistakes are often promoted).

IT'S NOT NASCAR, AND WE DON'T LIVE IN CARTOON LAND - YOU WASTEFUL IDIOTS

According to the Times Record, TxDOT and Zachry Construction screwed up a ramp in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was dedicated in November with a party, but they never opened it because the curved ramp has a "bank just like a NASCAR track", and they were concerned" the "safety of drivers".

It will cost $400,000 just to remove the surface and the cost to rebuild it again is still unknown. The design of the ramp was created by TxDOT engineers in Austin. I don't have to tell you they won't be fired.

And, the retardation gets worse. Let's see if you also say "WTF" to this one, as I have. As if they live in a cartoon land:

"Once the surface is removed, engineers hope the beams will naturally rise and a new surface can be laid. Kelly said none of the other ramps on the flyover have the same flaw."

So, only the beams they want to rise up might rise up to magically fix the Nascar issue, and then the new ramp they install won't push the same beams back down? Shit, I think I'm getting an ulcer.

THE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON AND NOBODY IS HOME

Officials in Cleburne, Texas are ticked off with TxDOT's lack of action with stop lights. The mayor says it all in the article:

“The light was approved in 2006, went to bid in February 2007 and was supposed to be operational by August,” Godley Mayor David Wallis said. “According to TxDOT, it was already paid for, and it was just a matter of putting it up.”

Concrete bases sit on the corners of Texas 171 and FM 916, but the traffic light poles remain on the ground.

“August passed, then October, then [TxDOT] quit returning calls,” said Stephanie Hodges, Godley city administrator. “Then we heard it was supposed to be done by Christmas, but then [Johnson County Commissioner] R.C. [McFall] called and said the contractor had gone bankrupt.

SA EXPRESS: Panel wants to double or triple gas taxes

Shame. Shame. Reporters asleep at the wheel.

Shame on you reporters out there. I know your reading this blog. This email just came in, from a well known elected official:

"Kudos to the Muckraker for being the only media outlet that I know of to write about the Sunset Advisory appointments. Thanks for keeping us informed."

Gov. Rick Perry's First Book Revealed

So, Mr. 39%, otherwise known as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has his first book coming out in February. A reader of this blog just sent me a pdf of the newsletter, with all the details, and the pic above. The forward is by none other than Ross Perot. Hmmm.

You might think he wrote about how, as Governor, he did something fantastic, or perhaps how he did something great as a legislator years ago, or about the time, during several session of the ledge, he spent frolicking with his room mate Ric Williamson.

But, you'd be wrong.

He wrote about the Boy Scouts. The book is called, "On My Honor". Maybe the target audience is former Boy Scouts who are now con men pretending to be conservative Republicans?

The newsletter states this of Perry's first book:

"...the sentimental recollection of his formative years in the Boy Scouts, the strong influence of the organization's principles on his life and his assessment of the ongoing attacks by the liberal left on the venerable American organization."

The books website, www.OnMyHonorTheBook.com, includes reviews from Sean Hannity and Newt Gingrich, and touts the Gov's great accomplishments (that I was unaware of):

"Texans are safer because Gov. Perry ordered an aggressive border security initiative..."

and

"Perry has led the fight for better schools"

and

"And in 2005, Perry signed a historic $15.7 billion property tax cut for homeowners and businesses that also includes new taxpayer protections against appraisal increases."

Sounds like fiction to me.

No mention of Perry's double tax tolls (tolling public highways) nor the land grabbing TTC.

California Toll Agency Wants Power to Seize Cars (click to read)

This is what happens when the unelected (unaccountable) are in control and there are limited checks and balances.

89 House Seats Will Be Contested in 2008: GREAT SOURCE for Complete List from Paul Burka

U.S. Panel May Propose 40-Cent Increase in Gas Tax

Red Light Camera Vendor Under Investigation for Mail Fraud

BAD NEWS FOR TXDOT: TxDOT critics appointed to Sunset Advisory Commission

Many folks are emailing me saying that the Sunset Review won't fix TxDOT. I don't expect miracles, but I do expect change at TxDOT, and change is always good for us, especially when we created the dialog.

I am hopeful, and here's why...

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced his appointments yesterday to the Sunset Advisory Commission. The appointments could be bad news for TxDOT, says the Dallas Blog article. Click on the new appointments below to see where they stand:

Sen. Glenn Hegar as Vice Chair (ran against TTC)

Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

Michael Stevens (public appointee - part of task force that released critical report on TxDOT in 2006)

Hegar, Stevens, and Hinojosa join Sen. Bob Deuell, Sen. Kim Brimer, and Sen. Craig Estes.

Some of the members that were not mentioned in the article, that I was told last week by Sunset are also on the commission, include these Reps appointed by Craddick:

Rep Linda Harper-Brown (had a couple battles with TxDOT and Williamson)

Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst (one of the most outspoken Reps!)

Rep. Carl Isett as Chair (Pro TTC? Maybe he'll see the light)

Rep. Ruth McClendon

Rep. Dan Flynn

When I spoke with a staff member of the Sunset Review last week I was surprised that they knew my name and had been reading this Muckraker blog. Here are a couple other items I found out...

The process will stretch into 2009. First the comments are due (next Monday). Then a report is put together by the Sunset staff with recommendations. The public hearings then take place. The commission decides on recommendations to the ledge. The agency is abolished or a bill is created and filed with the ledge to modify the agency. If the bill passes, the agency is modified. If the bill fails, the agency is automatically abolished.

The Sunset process has streamlined and changed state government. Since Sunset’s inception in 1978, 52 agencies have been abolished and another 12 agencies have been consolidated.

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.

Gov. Perry's Book Release

Richard V., a pal of mine, sent me an email about Gov. Perry's sales pitch for a book he has coming out next month. Rick Perry, who calls himself a conservative, has been the lead force to toll tax funded freeways and the land grabbing TTC.

With only 39% of the voters selecting him to govern Texas last time around, I don't know how many people will shell out $30 on Perry's fabrications, when we get them for free almost daily from the press. Here's the email:

Sal,

In the mail today came a newsletter from Perry announcing his book release in February….inside he touted his accomplishments in six categories, education, border, budget, economy, lawsuits, and…..transportation.

In the 80 or so words about his transportation record, not one mention of toll roads….instead, the emphasis was on local control. Hiding from his own record he would be…and that tolls have become, if not a third rail, at least a highly charged issue.

FYI and Happy New Year.
Richard

Tollers are known for pushing toll roads, without ever using the "T" word.

Sen. Kirk Watson, who lead the charge to divert $910 million tax dollars to shift more Austin freeways to tollways in October, almost never uses the word "toll" in his mass emails, and with the press.

2006 Poll: 85% want to stop Texas Highway Fund diversions

50% Toll Tax Hike Every 4 Years Planned for NJ

SUNSET REVIEW OF TXDOT DEADLINE EXTENDED 1 WEEK: See my posts from the 3rd and the 7th (below) and send your comments in today!

EZ-Pass Or EZ-Cash? Why Toll Roads Are A Bad Idea

By National Motorists Association President, James Baxter

Electronic transponder technology, like E-ZPass, is making toll roads more palatable, but that doesn’t mean toll roads are good public policy.

Toll roads are an inefficient, backwards approach to providing public highways. Worse, they foster corruption, political patronage, and discourage needed improvements on the rest of the highway system.

Don’t be fooled by the references to “free-market principles,” “proper pricing,” “supply and demand,” and “economic incentives” from those selling the for-profit roadways. The truth is, any resemblance to free-market principles is more illusion than fact.

A real market-based system has willing sellers, willing buyers, and reasonably unfettered competition. Any highway of consequence falls flat from the get-go, when it comes to market principles.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Texas Study: HOV/Carpool Lanes Cause Accidents

Texas Transportation Institute study finds that non buffer-separated HOV lanes cause a 50 percent increase in injury accidents.

WHY TXDOT, AN AGENCY GONE ROGUE, SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

To my faithful blog readers, I apologize.

I had promised an article giving evidence of the CTRMA's executive director misinforming and threatening a citizen to be done last week. I miscalculated how many hours my report for the Sunset Review would take (2,700 words later). The CTRMA's executive director article will come this week.

Below, you can read my whole report (with suggestions and all) submitted to the Sunset Review called:

WHY TXDOT,
AN AGENCY GONE ROGUE,
SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

PEOPLE FOR EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION
STATE of TEXAS SUNSET REVIEW OF TXDOT

JANUARY 7, 2008

TxDOT, an agency in control of Billions of tax dollars for Texas transportation, is out of control.

Under unaccountable, appointed leadership, TxDOT has thumbed it’s nose at not only Texas citizens, but elected local, state and national leaders:

VIDEO: TxDOT chair refuses to meet with chair of Texas Transportation Committee at House Transportation Committee meeting, 2/13/07

Houston Chronicle article titled, “TxDOT Directive Drives Congress' Texans into Tizzy”, states, “"Arrogant," fumed Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco. "A letter like this is not a way to build relation ships," complained Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston. Said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble: "TxDOT needs to understand the elected representatives make the decisions on what projects we do — not the bureaucrats."” 3/22/07

Bexar County commissioners threatened by TxDOT. As reported in the San Antonio Express, “TxDOT leadership has begun to take on a very different and mean-spirited tone of late," Adkisson's letter states. "This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, especially coming from appointed officials who are unable to be held accountable by the public.".” 6/19/06

Read the rest of the report HERE.

RFID Tracking chips may expose ports to attack (Click to read - San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle)

Report: U.S. has ignored warnings that radio technology can trigger bombs. RFID Technology can set off explosives in shipping containers using $20 worth of parts from Radio Shack.

NJ-NY tolls rise by 42%

Unelected officials have no problem raising toll taxes.

Car And Driver Magazine: How Politicians conspire with owners of private highways to make you pay—twice.

Death of Williamson and Statesman Political Spin

"Carlyle's new fund allows big foreign investors to purchase America's infrastructure indirectly."

Soon, Roads Could Start Tolling for Carlyle

Thomas Heath and David Cho, Washington Post

Someday, the Carlyle Group may want to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. For real.

The District buyout firm has raised $1.15 billion for an infrastructure fund that it will use to partner with federal, state and local governments in running vital public projects in the United States, including water and sewer systems, bridges, tunnels, highways and airports.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

TxDOT Has Major HOV Lane Problems in Dallas

Action Item. Take a Stand. Help Fix TxDOT.

The Texas Department of Transportation is currently going through a sunset review, which happens every 12 years. This is a great opportunity for any concerned Texas taxpayer.

The sunset review is used to decide if an agency should continue or needs to be abolished. If you want to make changes in TxDOT, now is the time to let them hear from you.

Copy, paste and email this important change to sunset@sunset.state.tx.us now:

For accountability, the current unelected TxDOT
commission should be replaced with one elected person.

Send the email by Monday, January 7, 2008. Please include your name, address and phone number for verification. I'll have a complete list of recommendations here tomorrow.

Houston Chronicle: "Some Valley leaders complain that TxDOT is aggressively pushing them to consider private company toll roads."

The Statesman Misinforms The Public - Again.

The Austin American Statesman has done it again.

Today's editorial tricks Statesman readers with the same politician talking points - by suggesting these toll roads don't use our tax dollars. The editorial FAILS to mention the massive amounts of tax dollars to be DIVERTED to pay for these new revenue generating roads:

"...many people were upset because they believed tolls were being slapped on highways they said had already been paid for with taxes, even if the tolls were to pay only for using new lanes or to finance local highway construction."

The editorial today fails to mention the diversion of $910 million tax dollars to pay for the next set of Austin toll roads that will shift our freeways to tollways. The fact is, the new tolled expressway lanes are built with mostly tax dollars intended for freeways - not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars of right of way we've already paid for. This to create monopolistic toll roads to collect more tax dollars from our families.

No other city in the country has shifted it’s existing public highways to toll ways. Under this double tax toll plan, voted in by profiteer Sen. Kirk Watson and other CAMPO board members in October, portions of 71W, 290W, 71E, 71W, 45SW and 183 will be toll toads. To make matters worse, unaccountable, unlelected people will set the toll tax on roads our tax dollars helped pay for.

The Statesman first endorsed the Austin toll plan on June 27, 2004. Since then they have failed to do any investigative reporting on the corruption (other than Dawnna Dukes) of tolling our public highways.

The sadest part? Free lanes could be built with that same $910 million dollars (without any debt), and those lanes would move traffic faster than any type of toll booth.

Click on the first link above to read the editorial and make comments online. Also, since they have blackballed my letters to the editor, consider writing one (150 word or less) and mention the key points above.

Ric Williamson's Last Toll Road

Four Candidates file to fight - to take on Toller Commish

Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Texas and Emily Cowan have both filed as Libertarian candidates to take on one of the CAMPO “Sleazy Six” Tollers - Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty (Precinct 3 - the district I live in).

Karen Huber, a citizen activist who has been working on growth related issues in SW Central Texas for years, and Alberto Gonzales both filed late December as Democrats to take on Double Tax Daugherty.

No Republican, other than Daugherty, filed. I had a real good one lined up, but he changed his mind soon after he said he'd run.

Daugherty, as a CAMPO board member this past October, voted to divert $910 million tax dollars to pay for more Austin toll roads.

El Paso Times: Houghton could replace Ric Williamson as TxDOT chairman...

...while Texas Monthly's Paul Burka asks if Krusee will get the job.

OIL HITS $100 A BARREL: Another Nail in the Toll Road Coffin

The New York Times article from today, Oil Hits $100 a Barrel for the First Time, is more bad news for toll roads.

The San Antonio Express came out with an article last year that tells why high gas-prices negatively effect the prospects of more toll roads. The feasibility of all toll roads are based on traffic and revenue projections.

Just a couple of months ago the Energy Watch Group put out a report that states that the worlds oil supply peaked in 2006, and production will start to decline at a rate of several percent per year.

As gas costs rise, people drive 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%.

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Today is filing deadline for Texas primaries, County Commisioner Gerald "Freeway Toller" Daugherty Still Has No Republican Opponent for $80k a Yr Job

Filing must be received by the filing entity no later than 6 p.m. Statewide and multi-county district offices file with the State Party Chair. Countywide and districts within one county file with the county's party chair.

Dallas Morning News lauds Ric Williamson and claims 'No one has been able to disprove the argument for building the TTC.'

Happy New Year!

I'll wish all Texas citizens a great 2008 - - Except for the scoundrels who ignore the public will and benefit off our assets.

To start 2008 out with a bang, I just finished sending out about a dozen juicy public information requests to freeway tollers like Gov. Ric Perry (Mr. 39%), Sen. Kirk Watson and Commish Gerald Daugherty - to name a few.

I'll be sharing the good nuggets with you first, in the coming days!

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.

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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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.

Victoria leaders unhappy that TTC-69 may run in northern part of county

EXCLUSIVE Evidence Coming Next Week - Toll Authority Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein Threatens (and lies to) a Taxpaying Citizen Via Email.

TxDOT sets TTC-69 hearings

New NASCO NAFTA Superhighway Docs Released From MnDOT

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?

City Caught Manipulating Yellow Time for Big Profit

by TheNewspaper.com

Richland Hills, Texas covers up yellow light manipulation by falsifying official signal timing documents.

Officials in Richland Hills, Texas have manipulated the yellow signal timing at the city's lone red light camera monitored intersection. By slicing the amount of warning time available to motorists from 3.6 seconds to 3.0 seconds for several months, the intersection of Glenview Drive and Booth Calloway Road generated an estimated $300,000 in extra photo ticket revenue. Richland Hills Police Chief Barbara Childress admitted that she ordered a private contractor to shorten the yellow signal time.

"I had actually reduced the time," Childress admitted to KDFW television.

Childress' account of why and when this change was made, however, was inconsistent with the facts. She first claimed that the "speed up" effect of the MPEG compression used with Redflex online violation videos confused her, leading to an unfortunate order to shorten the signal timing below the minimum standard established by the Texas Department of Transportation. MPEG video compression does not speed up videos. Second, city documents assert that the signal timing had only been shortened during a thirteen day period in August (view documents in a 520k PDF file), evidence provided to KDFW television proved otherwise. Violation videos from June 9, July 28 and a motorist's videotape of the intersection from August 11 and 14 documented that the signal was providing just 3.0 seconds of yellow, as opposed to the 3.6 seconds provided before the ticket cameras were activated.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

My Top 20 Corruption Articles

Below are some of my favorite past corruption articles. They are not in any particular order, and I've included more than just this past year. Enjoy!


20. Sen. Kirk Watson Has No Clothes -
AND, he's on the Payroll of Special Interests

19. PET Inc. vs. Gov. Perry (Perry appeal and flip-flop)

18. Toll Road Conglomerate Silences Nagging Texas
Newspapers by Purchasing Newspaper Group.

17. SA EXPRESS: Texas Toll Authorities Pay Losing Bids Big Bucks

16. AP: Double TaxTag double bills 50,000 Austin drivers
TxDOT Mows Down Signs Honoring Veterans

15. EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Internal emails record TxDOT deception.

14. Melinda Wheatley, One of the Most Wanted Lobbyists in Texas Gets Nabbed - Must Pay $10k Fine.

13. State Auditor Warns TTC Costs and Benefits are Unknown


12. How Rick and Ric benefit while taxpayers pay more.

11. Large Hole opens in Houston Freeway, TxDOT clueless.

10. TxDOT Program Placed Medicaid Patients in the
Hands of Convicted Criminals and Unlicensed Drivers

9. See How Sen. Watson Runs - From the Truth.

8. The State of Taxes has run out of Money! (and other tall tales)

MY TOP 4 FAVORITE ARTICLES FROM

THE CIRCLE OF PARASITES SERIES

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

How Krusee Cohort, John Langmore,
Syphons Tax Dollars.

Convicted CRIMINAL, Pete Peters,
Connected to Freeway Tolls

Deadbeat Mike Heiligenstein
Runs Freeway Tolling Authority

7. Local Toll Authority, which has given out NO BID Contracts,
will Administer Tolls for Austin Texas.

6. TOLL ROAD LOBBY THREATENS MUCKRAKER WITH LAWSUIT

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

4. Indexing Gas Tax Costs 30 Times Less Than Tolls

3. The Toll Road and “Managed Lane” Hollow Promise


2. My Don't Tag Texas PHOTO ESSAY of March to the Capitol Steps

1. Everything You Need To Know About Austin Freeway Tolls

2007: Toll devolution, rising transit costs and broken Krusee control

TXDOT Recants Statement Saying Lack Of Funding Is Due To The War

TxDOT Poor Planning Creates Nightmare Before Xmas (Click to Read)

Zogby: Ron Paul Will Surprise You

Pennsylvania Turnpike officials spend nearly one million in gas tax dollars to keep their own jobs.

You CAN Handle The Truth, Jerome Corsi Ph.D - The Late Great USA

Sen. Hutchison Passes One Year Texas Tolling Moratorium of Federal Highways

Giuliani plummets in latest NBC/WSJ poll

A Big thank you to B, who's spent years archiving Freeway Toll and TTC news articles. Enjoy some of the best...Happy Holidays Fellow Citizens!

Tricky Rick's Archive Picks

--Big Money Paves the Way
--Perry's Patrons hit Paydirt
--'Under the Radar' Scheme
--Texans voted for the TTC?
--Cintra's Inside Man
--Big Time Blowback
--The Highwaymen
--Corporate welfare trough
--Railroaded to toll roads
--Rick's Way or the Highway
--TxDOT Cooks the Books
--The so-called 'moratorium'
--Guv loves eminent domain
--Hornswoggled Again
--Paving the Way for Profits

"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it"
-- George Santayana

X-MAS BONUS - A MUST READ/CLICK HERE: How Carona, Dukes, Craddick, and others Spend Campaign Cash. The Series.

Example: Texas State Senator John Carona has many interesting expenditures, including: $175,788.86 to "Associa" (happens to have the same address as Senator Corona).

Possible Craddick Kamikaze