ping
Thanks for posting this. I am so very opposed to this & feel that it will negatively impact our state in the same way that NAFTA did. I cannot imagine how many more illegals this will funnel to our country/state.
It is expected to use 584,000 acres of our land. Governor Perry done us wrong on this one.
www.corridorwatch.org
Senate SLAMS DOOR on HB 2702 Amendments (05.16.05)
CorridorWatch.org MEMBER BULLETIN - May 16, 2005
A DARK DAY FOR OPEN AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT
> HB 2702 REFERED TO SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY
> SENATE RULES SUSPENDED; PUBLIC HEARING THWARTED
> EVERY AMENDMENT TO HB 2702 IS TOSSED BY SUBSTITUTE
> WHAT'S NEXT
=====================================
HB 2702 REFERED TO SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY
HB 2702, as amended, was received by the Senate on Friday, May 13th. Today, May 16th, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED; PUBLIC HEARING THWARTED
The Senate demonstrates how to circumvent public input.
The very last motion before the Senate adjourned today was made by Senator Todd Staples. On his motion Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended so that the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee he chairs could immediately meet at his desk and consider HB 2702.
Upon Senate adjournment the committee met to consider only one bill, HB 2702.
Rule 11.10(a) requires at least 24 hours public notice before a committee can meet. With the rule suspended there was effectively no public notice before the meeting.
Rule 11.18(a) requires that no bill be reported to the Senate before it has been the subject of an open public meeting before a committee or subcommittee. It also requires the chair to afford a reasonable opportunity for interested parties to appear and testify. With the rule suspended there was no open public meeting and no interested parties were afforded any opportunity to appear and testify.
EVERY AMENDMENT TO HB 2702 IS TOSSED BY SUBSTITUTE
The Senate has demonstrates that bills can move very fast when you suspend the rules, avoid pesky public input, and completely disregard the hard work performed by the House (who actually worked to address the concerns of their constituents).
The Texas House debated provisions of HB 2702 for two hours and fifteen minutes. In the process they considered more than 30 amendments and adopted many of them. Amendments included: limitations and certain prohibitions on non-compete agreements by TxDOT; increased public disclosure requirement for TTC environmental impact hearings; protection of private landowner development rights; and, a prohibition of toll projects being required for access to mobility bond funds.
The Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security met today for less than three minutes to consider HB 2702. Without discussion the committee replaced the entire text of the bill with the language they reported out in SB 1706. By doing so they rejected every amendment we fought hard for in the House.
Tomorrow (May 17) the Senate will send HB 2702 back to the House with the recommendation that the bill with the House language be rejected; and, that the substituted Senate language be passed.
WHAT’S NEXT
It's likely that HB 2702 will soon be in Conference Committee where all the gains we've made will be removed. It's pretty clear that the 79th legislature is not going to address our serious TTC concerns. That said, CorridorWatch.org is preparing to take the battle against the TTC to the next level.
STAY TUNED – THERE'S MUCH MORE TTC FIGHT TO COME!
Support CorridorWatch.org and tell TxDOT the TTC is unwelcome on your land with a CorridorWatch.org "No TxDOT Trespassing" sign.
Fence Signs: http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/cw-signs.htm
David & Linda Stall
CorridorWatch.org
[I'm afraid that "sneaky as a Texas politician" is going to become a common household phrase if this sh*t keeps up. --TSR]
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Just as a refresher, what precisely are HB2702 and SB1706 about?
There is something tremendously wrong with this whole TransSexual Texas Corridor or whatever they call it thang. It just stinks to high heaven. Frankly, I think Perry is just feathering his retirement nest. You can bet $$$ that Perry will be making big bucks off this deal after he leaves office.
Some belated news about the anti-TTC rally.