Posted on 10/02/2006 9:52:01 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
We Americans are a suspicious lot. Gas prices go down and a good many of us assume there's a conspiracy that starts and ends in the White House.
Take the results of a recent Gallup poll. Forty-two percent of those surveyed agreed with the statement that the Bush administration "deliberately manipulated the price of gasoline so that it would decrease before this fall's elections."
It's a good yarn, but I can't ignore the fact that nearly two-thirds of those who said they suspected President Bush of pulling a fast one heading into the Nov. 7 elections are registered Democrats.
Plus, I can't help but like the colorful explanation of White House spokesman Tony Snow, who said rigging gas prices would give President Bush "the kind of magisterial clout unknown to any other human being."
"If we're dropping gas prices now," Snow said, "why on earth did we raise them to $3.50 before?"
I wish I could similarly shelve my skepticism about the recent decision by the Texas Department of Transportation to finally release details about how private developers want to do us a favor by building and running a network of toll lanes and rail lines, called the Trans-Texas Corridor.
After fighting the release of many of the deal's particulars for a year and a half, TxDOT lifted the curtain on about 1,600 pages of public information Thursday.
The timing is suspicious because it came 40 days before the Nov. 7 election. The same election where Gov. Rick Perry, the unabashed booster of the super corridor from Oklahoma to Mexico, is trying to survive a hotly contested five-way race where the toll road question has become a hot-button issue.
To throw another log on the conspiracy fire, TxDOT's governing body, the Texas Transportation Commission, is appointed by guess who? The governor.
Sorry to say, but asking whether politics had something to do with the release of this information is like asking Carole Keeton Strayhorn if she's a grandma.
Still, it was only fair that I consulted San Antonio's representative on the Transportation Commission, Hope Andrade. Andrade is a Perry appointee, but she also has a rock-solid reputation among both Democrats and Republicans in this town.
Saying she wished the commission "could de-politicize the process," Andrade said it simply took 18 months for the agency to pore through the 1,600-page proposal. The plan calls for developers to invest $8.8 billion to build 370 miles of toll roads and pay the state $2 billion for the right to collect tolls for 50 years.
"The timing makes it tough," Andrade said, "but I submit to you it was just the process."
Given the raging controversy that has spilled into the governor's race, I asked Andrade if it was a good idea in retrospect for TxDOT to join the plan's authors, Spain-based Cintra and San Antonio-based Zachry Construction Corp., in a lawsuit fighting the release of those details.
Andrade stood by the decision because she said the release of the plan before it was signed by TxDOT Director Michael Behrens would have had a chilling effect on other companies looking to bid on pieces of the corridor project.
"We want to encourage competition," Andrade said, stressing that Cintra-Zachry will still have to bid on the projects.
I hope Hope is right. But I still feel better about falling gas prices.
10-01-06 CorridorWatch.org MEMBER NOTICE
FREE NO TTC STICKERS
CorridorWatch.org is happy to offer high-quality vinyl NO TTC stickers for your car or truck. And, they are FREE.
That's right, absolutely FREE!
The original paper "NO TTC" sticker has been worn by thousands of Texans attending scores of TTC meetings and public hearings. We gave away 10,000 of the round paper NO TTC stickers during the most recent TxDOT TTC-35 hearings. You may have even worn one yourself or have seen them on your television news.
Our basic NO TTC stickers have been so popular we enlarged the design and silk-screened them on durable vinyl stock for outdoor use.
We are now ready to give away thousands of the NEW 3-1/2 inch round weatherproof stickers with removable adhesive backs. These red, white and black stickers feature the red circle and diagonal slash over large black TTC letters so that you can tell the world (and your elected officials) that you are not a fan of the Trans Texas Corridor. If you want to see what they look like visit www.CorridorWatch.org.
Our only request is that if we give you a FREE sticker that you put it on the back window of your car or truck where it can help spread the word that the Trans Texas Corridor is a flawed project.
HOW TO GET YOUR FREE STICKERS
Mail a self-address first-class stamped envelope to:
CorridorWatch.org
Free Sticker Offer
Fayetteville, TX 78940-5468
Each envelope received will be filled with two stickers and returned by U.S. Mail. (If you would like four stickers, please send us two stamped envelopes) We will mail as quickly as possible, but please allow 2 weeks for delivery.
No Donation Necessary!
These stickers are yours at absolutely no cost (except for your own envelope and first-class postage). Of course any donation that you might include with your envelope would be greatly appreciated. Donations make it possible for CorridorWatch.org to maintain its website, attend meetings and speak before groups all across Texas. Without your generous donations CorridorWatch.org would not be able to provide thousands of free flyers and handouts to support our mission of increasing public awareness and understanding of the impact that the Trans Texas Corridor will have on Texas.
COUNTDOWN TO SUMMIT II -- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH -- AUSTIN
Make your plans now to attend the CorridorWatch.org Toll & Corridor Summit II before it is too late.
The Summit is open to the public and you are invited to join us and learn what is happening in the world of tolls and corridors.
And a LOT is happening . . . .
TTC-35 MASTER PLAN RELEASED
Thursday, September 28, TxDOT released their Master Plan for TTC-35. This 1,600 page document will be a hot topic of discussion at Summit II.
SECRET CDA EXHIBITS RELEASED
TxDOT has also finally released the Conceptual Design Plan (Exhibit B) and Conceptual Financial Plan (Exhibit C) of the Comprehensive Development Agreement executed between TxDOT and Cintra-Zachry LP on March 11, 2005. By agreement the lawsuit between Cintra-Zachry and the Attorney General has been dropped. Now we can see what the big secret was all about.
During Summit II David Stall of CorridorWatch.org will review these plans, the content and their potential impact.
SUMMIT II KEYNOTE SPEAKER – DR. PAT CHOATE
NAFTA critic and H. Ross Perot's Vice President running mate Dr. Pat Choate will be the keynote speaker for the Toll & Corridor Summit II in Austin.
With a doctorate in economics focused on the role of government and industries in economic development, Choate has made waves challenging the benefits of free trade. A native of Maypearl, Texas, Pat Choate is an independent thinker unafraid to ruffle establishment feathers. In 1993, he co-authored with H. Ross Perot the best-selling book "Save Your Job, Save Our Country: Why NAFTA Must Be Stopped -- Now!"
With a broad knowledge of public-private partnerships and the economic impact of free trade agreements Dr. Choate will provide with his informed perspective on the Trans Texas Corridor.
Other announced speakers include: Bill Barker, David Showalter, and Erik Slotboom.
Summit II speakers will cover a number of topics including: private property rights, environmental impact of the TTC, Texas traffic trends & projections, TTC-35, TTC-69, public-private partnerships, and effective grassroots organization.
REGISTER TODAY ONLINE AT www.CorridorWatch.org
You can register online right now. Register by Wednesday and take advantage of the early registration discount. Yes, we accept major credit cards.
For more information about the Toll & Corridor Summit II please visit www.CorridorWatch.org
10-01-06 CorridorWatch.org NEWS FLASH
CorridorWatch.org NEWS FLASH - SEPTEMBER 28, 2006
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION FILED IN U.S. CONGRESS OBJECTING TO NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY SYSTEM AND FOREIGN CONSORTIUM FUNDING & MANAGEMENT
U.S. Representative Virgil Goode, Jr. (R-Va) has introduced a Resolution in the United States House to express the sense of Congress that the United States should not engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway System or enter into a North American Union with Mexico and Canada. The Resolution also raises concern about a NAFTA Superhighway System funded by foreign consortiums and controlled by foreign management, which threatens the sovereignty of the United States.
Representative Ron Paul (R-Tx) is a co-author of this Resolution.
Contact your Senators and Congressman and let them know if you want them to support House Concurrent Resolution 487.
Texas Senator and Congressman Contact Information: http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/expand/TX-SenRep.htm
[ FULL TEXT OF HCON 487 IH ]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 487
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should not engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway System or enter into a North American Union with Mexico and Canada.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 28, 2006
Mr. GOODE (for himself, Mr. PAUL, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, and Mr. TANCREDO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should not engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway System or enter into a North American Union with Mexico and Canada.
Whereas, according to the Department of Commerce, United States trade deficits with Mexico and Canada have significantly widened since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
Whereas the economic and physical security of the United States is impaired by the potential loss of control of its borders attendant to the full operation of NAFTA;
Whereas a NAFTA Superhighway System from the west coast of Mexico through the United States and into Canada has been suggested as part of a North American Union;
Whereas it would be particularly difficult for Americans to collect insurance from Mexican companies which employ Mexican drivers involved in accidents in the United States, which would increase the insurance rates for American drivers;
Whereas future unrestricted foreign trucking into the United States can pose a safety hazard due to inadequate maintenance and inspection, and can act collaterally as a conduit for the entry into the United States of illegal drugs, illegal human smuggling, and terrorist activities; and
Whereas a NAFTA Superhighway System would be funded by foreign consortiums and controlled by foreign management, which threatens the sovereignty of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That—
(1) the United States should not engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway System ;
(2) the United States should not enter into a North American Union with Mexico and Canada; and
(3) the President should indicate strong opposition to these or any other proposals that threaten the sovereignty of the United States.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
BTTT
Say "NO" to the Corridor.
Say "NO" to Perry.
Agreed on both counts
One part of this TTC mess that most Texans will not like is that one of the TTC gang, a company called Transcore wants an RFID tag on every vehicle in Texas. The have been pusing this RFID thing from several fronts and recently tried to get it added to the recently passed insurance verification legislation. What's RFID? Basically it's 666 for your car.
Drop a dime or two if'n you can......
Is the address correct? No PO Box or street address is given...
I have two envelopes and a donation ready...
Carol explains where the TTC concept originated
She was for it before she was against it.
Say yes to the corridor.
I can't imagine what this country would be like if you guys were around in the 50's and 60's when we trying to build the interstate highway system.
Wouldn't that still be grand ways to travel, conduct commerce, etc.
Now you have a good one.......
At least the Interstate highway takes you somewhere. The Corridor does not connect to any of the major Texas cities.
Looks like "KOOKMAGNETTHREAD" is the appropriate keyword right now.
You do your profile anyway you chose and I'll do the same thank you.
I prefer that my taxes not be raised to fund roads as long as private industry will put up the money. Thus those that chose to ride will pay and those that don't ride won't pay.
Maybe we've had an exchange regarding the TTC, if so I wasn't impressed enough to remember it. I don't have a problem with limited access cross county roadways. Thus until another proposal gets on the table for consideration then I'll support this one.
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