May 12, 2009
Getting it exactly wrong...
WOW. I didn't think anything could top HB 3588 from the 2003 session but HB 300 not only tops it, it exceeds it. We have a lot to cover here including the people on whom you should assign the blame. These folks really need a lot of shame and ridicule heaped upon them. Especially that twerpy Rep. Phillips from Sherman who looks like a junior version of fatass Sen. Carona.
Rep. Isett and Phillips, with Trans Chair Pickett's blessing, snuck in an amendment to the TXDOT Sunset bill that would extend PPP's well into 2015. Further it would make it easier for TXDOT to privatize our roads, even though there is no way a private entity can run the road cheaper than the State of Texas. Of course, one has to wonder why the hell, if privatization is sooo awesome, we didn't just privatize TXDOT entirely and fire everyone at the Agency? Why leave them intact? Such questions, of course, never get asked because they lead to uncomfortable answers. So do questions about what really is the best way of funding transportation in this state... private or public taxes. The answer is always public taxes. From one of Burka's pieces...
I received an e-mail from a person who is very familiar with TxDOT’s problems, political and practical. The e-mail made the following points:1. Aside from the Trans-Texas Corridor issue, the frustration members feel toward TxDOT is that the agency doesn’t deliver the projects they want.
2. Both chambers passed budgets that don’t meet TxDOT’s current obligations. The agency says that money for new construction will run out by 2012.
3. Both chambers have passed bills to increase diversions from gas tax revenue.
4. Although TxDOT officials have stated repeatedly that gas tax revenue is declining, the Legislature has done nothing (except authorize bonds, which means borrowing money) to seek new revenue.
The stalemate on this is political. The way to break it is to raise motor fuels taxes, issue bonds based on the revenue, and index the tax to inflation, with a cap on the increase. The governor could break the impasse by coming out for a gasoline tax increase. He’s not going to do it. The governor and the agency continue to press for comprehensive development agreements for toll roads as the funding solution. The Legislature and the public hate the idea of privatizing highways. They are not going to give in to the pressure for more toll roads, especially if it means privatization. This leads to the final point in the e-mail:
5. At this rate, it doesn’t matter what they do in Sunset, without the money to fund the system, it really doesn’t matter.
The bill to increase the size of the Trans Commission to 15 elected representatives is actually a good one despite what Burka and the DMN think. In reality, the cause of all this are the appointed commissioners who serve only one master, Governor Perry. They've spent almost a decade working hard to convince the Lege that privatization is the only way we can fund roads. It's worked so well they've even managed to convince a few Democrats like Rep. Pickett and Sen. Watson. Pickett I can understand because from all reports he's so desperate for infrastructure in El Paso he'll blow anyone to get it. I guess we now know that 'anyone' includes lobbyists for privatization interests and leadership at TXDOT. Sen. Watson just wants to be able to write in the Watson Wire that he's doing something (anything!) to alleviate traffic, even if it is going to stick us with a hefty tab for the next 50 years. Needless to say, the appointed commission has been a disaster.
Also, changing the commission over to three from the Governor and one each from the Speaker and the Lt. Gov doesn't do much in so far as giving people a focus for transportation issues. Rep. Leibowitz's plan does that and creates a far more responsive agency which isn't saying much considering what we have now which is basically a legalized version of the mob.
Burka did nail it on the final bill though...
I overlooked one other significant change to the bill (and no doubt there are others). Amendment 134 extended the authority for Comprehensive Development Agreements — that is, privatized roads. The authority was extended to 2015. This was done in spite of representations that the bill would not deal with methods of financing roads. This was a breach of faith with the overwhelming majority of members who have concerns about TxDOT. The Senate should substitute the original Sunset bill for the House bill and start over.
Now the focus shifts to the Senate where a bunch of bills are coming up...including the awesome one to turn TXDOT into a combo of Lehman and AIG. The bills are SB 220, 404, 1350 and 1669. Every one of them should be defeated but probably won't because the D's in the Senate are overwhelmed by Sen. Nichols' limited intellect and Sen. Carona's fatness. Which says a lot about them. Of course, it says far more about the Republicans in the Senate, a massive collection of cowards and ego maniacs (and egomaniacal cowards). Speaking of, where's Dan Patrick? For someone up everyone's ass on his insipid little radio show, you'd think he'd be railing against the fact that if all this passes Texans are going to get a far larger tax bill than that which would accompany an indexed gas tax. And that's without even counting the sure to materialize losses from the enhancements written by the Transportation Revolving Fund.
The ultimate in foolishness are the idiots in the Lege who have convinced themselves that privatization is the only way. And to this group of uncritical thinkers, my thanks. With your ignorance and my GS stock, I'll be able to retire right about the time things really go off the rails here in Texas and move to a state where the electeds are a little less clueless.
Posted by mcblogger at May 12, 2009 08:49 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.mcblogger.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/4496
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
