Lawmakers to study transportation department's advertising

KRISTV.com ^ | December 3, 2007 | Associated Press

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

AUSTIN -- House Speaker Tom Craddick has asked lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation's multimillion-dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor.

Craddick, R-Midland, included a review of the Keep Texas Moving campaign on a list of topics that the House State Affairs Committee will study leading up to the 2009 legislative session.

Craddick also asked the Appropriations Committee to review transportation spending over the past five years and study alternatives for funding future transportation needs.

The transportation matters were among the "interim charges" that Craddick assigned last week. Other matters to be reviewed in advance of the next session are voting fraud and local enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Some lawmakers and anti-toll activists have condemned spending state highway funds _ estimated to be from $7 million to $9 million _ on a public relations campaign.

"While it may be appropriate, at times, for government agencies to educate citizens through public service announcements, I maintain that government should not ever spend the money raised from taxpayers to lobby the public," said Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, who asked for a formal review of advertising spending by all state agencies.

Transportation officials have defended the Keep Texas Moving campaign as a response to lawmakers' demands for the agency to improve its communication with the public.

In November, transportation department officials said future road projects are in jeopardy because of a looming budget deficit. The agency predicted a deficit of at least $1.8 billion by 2012.

Spokesman Randall Dillard said the agency welcomed lawmakers' review of transportation spending. It is "an excellent opportunity to fully explore the health of transportation finance in Texas," he said.

Toll roads and the state's aggressive policies regarding the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor were among the major issues of the last legislative session.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

High-speed rail right on time for Texas

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[samtheman]

House Speaker Tom Craddick has asked lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation's multimillion-dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor.

I thought we were told in other articles and other threads posted here in FR that this road is a "complete fiction" the belief in which is nothing but a "paranoid fantasy"?

Which is it, a road or a fantasy?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I thought we were told in other articles and other threads posted here in FR that this road is a "complete fiction" the belief in which is nothing but a "paranoid fantasy"?

The "NAFTA Superhighway" is a fantasy. The Trans-Texas Corridor is perfectly real.

[samtheman]

And in terms of its effect on the US/Mexico border, please list the ways in which the NAFTA Superhighway (the fantasy) is different from the Trans-Texas Corridor. Here's my list of their differences:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

Health issues may make this week's pings hit-or-miss. I'll know more later today...

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[wolfcreek]

“The “NAFTA Superhighway” is a fantasy.”

Funny, In the movie “Red Dawn” Powers Booth’s character referred to the Cuban and Nicaraguan armies, invading the US via the NAFTA highway. Prophetic Perhaps?

[WildcatClan]

Thanks for the ping. This is nuts! I have to believe this isn’t going to sit well with Texans. I don’t think advertising this is really in the Governments best interest. :)

[wolfcreek]

“I have to believe this isn’t going to sit well with Texans.”

To top that, the CTRMA (Austin,TX area), advertises constantly with this little animated dude standing on the dashboard telling us how *good* the toll roads are. (I hate the little dude)

[WildcatClan]

"(I hate the little dude)"

LOL