Thursday, May 17, 2007

Representatives report 'less than zero' support for the Trans-Texas Corridor

WOW !

SB792 is Now Our New and Improved TTC CDA Moratorium Bill.

Today's House vote 145 to 2. The next stop is the Senate.

5/17/07

CorridorWatch.org
Copyright 2007

Representative Lois Kolkhorst came through with a couple great amendments that will ensure the moratorium really stops the Trans Texas Corridor for two years.

SB792 is a virtual bullet-bill, but not bullet-proof.

The vote to pass SB792 as amended was an incredible 145 to 2. Then, only minutes later the House did something rarely seen, they suspended the Constitutional Rules and moved to take a third and final vote immediately without waiting until Friday.

Now the bill will be shot over to the Senate where they had hoped to get it on the Governor's desk by Friday morning. The big question is will they accept it as amended by the House, or complicate the process by going to a conference committee.

Almost three hours of TTC bashing.

The vast majority of discussion and debate that took place on the House floor today was contempt for the Trans Texas Corridor. Most other toll and highway projects where left alone, except SH281 and Loop 1604 in San Antonio. That wasn't the case with the Trans Texas Corridor.

Representative after Representative told the assembled body how much their constituents dislike the TTC. Representative Harvey Hilderbran said that in his district there was, "zero support for the TTC." That caused someone on the floor to yell out, "less than zero."

It was very clear that the members of the House have been hearing us and our concerns about the Trans Texas Corridor. It was especially gratifying to hear Representatives say that the TTC comes nowhere near their district and yet their

If you can stand to make another phone call . . .

This would be a good time for those with a concern about the Trans Texas Corridor to share that thought with their Senator, again. Leave a message on their machine tonight or call before the Senate session starts at 10am Friday morning.

Given the roller coaster ride so far this session, it's hard to get too excited.

We are another step closer to a moratorium, but it seems that the finish line is always a day away. What will the Governor do when the bill lands on his desk? Will he veto HB1892? Will he sign SB792 upon arrival, or will he make us wait another week to find out its fate?

None of the uncertainty however, should lessen the sweet taste of victory achieved today. Together we have kept a moratorium bill alive and managed to strengthened it in the process.

Thank you everyone. Again.

Members of CorridorWatch and our numerous friends and allies in the fight have won another tremendous victory for the state of Texas and its citizens.

CorridorWatch especially applauds the Representatives who listened to our concerns and led the charge on the House floor. Without their efforts we would have been lost.

© 2007 CorridorWatch: www.corridorwatch.org

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