Take my advice and use the Big Dig tunnel sparingly. It's leaking like a sieve.
Posted on 12/12/2004 7:28:40 AM PST by Theodore R.
Hutchison holds tense meeting with Perry supporters in El Paso
EL PASO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison reacted angrily recently after several El Paso business leaders suggested that she not challenge Gov. Rick Perry in 2006 because their large campaign contributions to state leaders have increased the city's influence in Austin.
During the private luncheon last week, Hutchison, R-Texas, was asked to instead run for re-election for the Senate. She responded by denouncing the role large contributions play in state government, some of those attending said.
The meeting was organized as a briefing by the senator on various issues, but several Perry supporters turned the conversation to the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Many of those at the meeting agreed the discussion got severely strained after some of the business leaders mentioned their large contributions to Perry, also a Republican. Hutchison has said she hasn't decided whether to run in 2006.
El Paso businessman Woody Hunt said he reminded the senator that El Paso had not fully participated in state politics in the past and has long been neglected. He and others decided to open up their checkbooks and become players.
"We need to be better connected to the state. We need to be able to have access. We need to be able to communicate," said Hunt, who's donated almost $200,000 to Perry in the past four years, campaign finance records show.
El Paso businessman Ted Houghton, said he didn't expect Hutchison to react the way she did.
"That's when the meeting fell apart, unfortunately. Our point was, we like what we have for El Paso and we like what we have for the state of Texas," he said.
The senator's spokesman, Dave Beckwith, said Hutchison reacted to Perry supporters specifically touting the accomplishments produced after significantly stepping up their political contributions.
"Senator Hutchison is appalled that people are being strong-armed, feel they have to hand over huge contributions in order to be heard in the state's political process," Beckwith said Friday.
"What she's been hearing around the state is encouragement — to provide the leadership to clean up that system."
That response from Hutchison's office brought a quick response from Perry's campaign.
"Others can deal in the Washington-style politics of personal destruction and blind ambition to do what is best for themselves, but Governor Perry will continue to be a strong, ethical and effective leader for El Paso and Texas as a whole," said Luis Saenz, Perry's campaign director.
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Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com
BobL - Since Nov 30, 2004
Democrat for much longer, I'm sure.
The governor can sign a parent consent law passed by the Gneral Assembly. Currently, 20 states have parent consent laws on the books.
"Laws Requiring Parental Consent or Notification for Minors' Abortions"
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/library/abortion/statelaws.html
Sure he can sign it and would I'd suspect but he can't make the law by himself. That's a legislative function.... Texas has a parential notification law as you know but it does have a 'judicial bypass'...
"BobL - Since Nov 30, 2004
Democrat for much longer, I'm sure."
Again, read ANY of my posts on other subjects - there are hundreds before you classify me as anything other than a conservative. But I understand that a Democrat trying to stir up the pot would have a perfect forum here. Rush calls them Seminar Callers - and it took him a couple of years to catch on. They always open their calls by "I'm a conservative Republican, but..." Now he's wise and the few times they still try it, he mumbles under his breath to the listeners, it's pretty funny.
Anyway, there is NOTHING the Republicans can do at the federal level that would make me desert them (and that's probably more than most of you people who flirted with Perot can say). If this country doesn't make it to 2050, it will be because Clinton sold/gave our military technology to the Chinese. And you do not hear Seminar Callers (or Seminar FreePrs) remind people of that.
"Every issue you've raised indicates overreaction due to lack of research and experience, or you're listening to hysterics or MSM."
You will NEVER have market forces at work on something like highways. Think about it, if you could, then Williams Brothers would be able to identify a need, and then bulldoze a path from Point A to Point B - regardless of what's in the way - then lay a road, then charge tolls. That would be market forces. After all, isn't that what Southwest Airlines did.
For highways, you need someone in control, and I'd rather have it be representatives that have to respond to angry commuters because of inadequate capacity, than some appointed Transportation Czar who's incentive is to maximize revenues, rather than minimize congestion. You may not fear someone with that power, but I do - and we're about to get it here, unless people starting to think this through.
"Incremental tolls occur on most toll roads. It's just different terminology. Regular commuters' transponders eventually provide discounts. Some drivers get off early to avoid higher tolls and drive through neighborhoods with some detriment but also increasing local revenues"
Yes - that would happen and that is my objection. Since it seems necessary, I'll lay out how this should be done:
1) Every vehicle is tracked and tolled by the mile, regardless of where they travel (other than private property) - the data is stored in your car.
2) You pay that tax when you buy gas. It's uploaded from your car. Once you pay that tax, you have the option to permanently delete that record.
3) Rates can be varied due to traffic load (congestion pricing), but all revenues received from tolls MUST be put back into highway maintenance and expansion. If you do that, then you eliminate the perverse incentive to let traffic get worse and worse, so as to raise rates and maximize revenues for social programs. It acts as a self-checking mechanism.
Unfortunately none of that is happening - rather it's just a money grab by our governor.
"BobL - Since Nov 30, 2004
Democrat for much longer, I'm sure."
One last thing, I treat you guys with respect - the Dems aren't even capable of that. Can't argue that one.
In 1997, a proposal was made to extend the Westpark Toll Road into Fort Bend County and another proposal was recently made that Fort Bend County construct, as tolled facilities, the main lane overpasses of the only existing portion of the Grand Parkway (Segment “D”). Taxpayer/residents would still be able to drive on a “free” Grand Parkway, they would have to stop at 11 different intersections that have, or will have, signal lights or stop signs.
There were several reasons for these proposals:
1. Current state and federal gas taxes will cover only about one-third of needed new roads and even less for the fastest growing precinct (approaching 10% annually) in the second-fastest growing county in Texas.
2. Most all of the state gas tax goes to maintaining existing roads.
3. By using “local” funds, instead of federal or state dollars, which come with strings attached, we are able to build the roads much sooner and for less money. Counties are funded almost exclusively by property taxes, which in my and many others’ opinions are already too high. Tolls are the only other source of funding for counties to build more roads.
4. Currently, Texas gets back from the federal government about 88 cents for every
dollar Texas taxpayers send to Washington, the other 12 cents goes to projects like the “Big Dig” in Boston and if federal gas taxes are increased 20 cents Texas will be lucky to get back 17 cents. Additionally, the Houston Region gets back, on average, about 90 cents of every dollar of state gas tax or of the 88 cents that Austin gets back from the federal government. That percentage is currently higher because of the improvements to I 10, but this is the exception to a general rule and will most likely end when I 10 is completed.
5. Toll roads by their nature are “user paid facilities”. If you do not wish to “pay” for the road you do not have to use it, there are alternative roads. If you do use the road, you pay for it.
6. The county will build a “toll road” only when it is feasible, that is where projected revenues cover projected expenses and debt service.
I am unaware of any local or state official who proposes to “toll” existing free roads. Most believe to do so is fundamentally unfair to the taxpayer/resident or they know doing so would be the end of their political career. A state agency, such as the Texas Department of Transportation, is able to float “trial balloons” about tolling certain roads, because the heads of those departments do not stand for election.
There are no current proposals to toll existing federal or state highways. There are proposals to toll “added capacity”, similar to the proposal for the existing Segment of the Grand Parkway.
The state has already stated that, where feasible, new roads will be toll roads, including the rest of the Grand Parkway.
There is a move to embrace “user-paid facilities” such as toll roads because of the resistance to higher taxes.
It is the Democrats, like those in Boston, who want someone else to fund the roads they drive on.
Except for the Boston part. We had a big fight over that and, as usual Kennedy won. We keep trying; God bless the Mass. GOP!
Any mention of the Criminal Invader / American Traitor Industry at the meeting...?
How's the Big (moneypit) Dig coming along? (hahahahahaaaa)
Take my advice and use the Big Dig tunnel sparingly. It's leaking like a sieve.
...oh, brother...lol
No kidding! It's our own Niagara Falls in there. Apparently we'll be suing the designer/builder's assets off.
And on a philosophical note, I almost got over my intense hatred towards toll roads. My wife had started a business that looked promising and I figured that if I could allocate an extra $5,000 per year (for both of us), I'd just stick a transponder on my car and simply buy my way to mental peace.
Well, the business didn't work out, so I'm back to trying to protect my wallets from these cash grabs.
I was called by a push poll being put out on behalf of Perry. I got the impression that they were trying to gage public reaction to the KBH positions which the Perry people thought might be KBH's weak points. Of course, I couldn't be sure, but I'll bet the calls are limited to a list of Republican supporters. Getting ready for the primary, obviously.
Wonder what they would have said if you had told them that all gubernatorial candidates thus far mentioned in either party are unacceptable to you.
I am an elected official, a County Commissioner in Fort Bend County (Southwest of Houston). I have to face the voters every four years.
Fort Bend County has a severe traffic problem due to our rapid growth. Currently, to address this problem, I have two choices given the federal and state funding for new roads, or rather the lack thereof. One – vote to raise everyone’s taxes and fund the roads that way. This entails using government powers to forcibly take money from taxpayers who do not want to give it up voluntarily and spend it on projects that many will not benefit from. Or, two – build a toll road and exact a toll from those who use the facility, thereby giving the individual the option of paying or not paying the “tax” depending on whether or not they use and benefit directly from the toll road.
Frankly, I prefer doing the latter.
Point to some resources so that we can look into that claim. I have not heard of Perry wanting to turn all roads into toll roads. I would like to know where you learned that.
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