Perfect Metaphor For Texas GOP's Failure

The above picture (from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission) shows what the roads looked like in many rural areas of the state more than 70 years ago. If the residents of the area was lucky, they would get some gravel spread on the road (which worked pretty well unless a good rain came and washed much of it away). But paved asphalt roads were still just a dream.

And if the Republican state government gets its way, a good portion of rural Texas will return to those bad old days. Those Republicans have been so stingy with state funds in recent years (so they could give the rich and the corporations unneeded tax cuts) that most state agencies are now underfunded, and unable to adequately meet the needs of Texas citizens -- from education to medical care to mental health to help for the poor and disadvantaged, and in many other areas.

And the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has not been immune to the cuts. This agency, responsible for the upkeep and building of roads and bridges in the state, doesn't have the money to adequately complete its mission. So, to save money, they are now preparing to remove the asphalt paving from many rural roads, and replace it with a layer of gravel. They say they just can't afford to fix the potholes in those roads.

Currently the plan is to turn 80 miles of paved roads in six Texas counties (Live Oak, Dimmit, LaSalle, Zavala, Reeves, and Culberson) into gravel topped roads. But if they get away with that (without too much political flack), you can bet the plan will soon involve many more counties and many more miles of rural Texas roads.

Much of the damage to these roads (which the state says it can't afford to fix) is being done by the movement of heavy oil and gas equipment. These oil and gas companies should be paying to fix some of the damage they are causing, but the very thought of that is anathema to the Republicans in state government. They believe taxes should be paid by working folks -- not by corporations or rich people. And they would rather tear up paved roads (and deny other services) than make the rich and the corporations pay an adequate share of state taxes.

The Republicans claim that Texas is an economic "miracle", but that is far from the truth. It leads the nation in the number and percentage of minimum wage no-benefit jobs, the number and percentage of uninsured people, the number of high school drop-outs, and the lack of adequate services for its citizens -- so corporations and the rich won't have to pay taxes. Texas is really an economic disaster -- and the TxDOT plan to turn paved roads into gravel roads is a perfect metaphor for that.

Is It Art Or Is It Advertising ?

These two sculptures have gone up near Marfa, Texas. One is a life-size image of a Dodge Charger, and the other is a 40-foot tall image of the iconic Playboy bunny. But one citizen has complained to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that the bunny image is advertising (and not art), and therefore should have to abide by the state laws regarding roadside advertising signs (which require a permit from TxDOT). And TxDOT has agreed with the complainer -- ordering the removal of the bunny sculpture within 45 days (since Playboy Enterprises did not apply for and receive a permit for the "advertisement").

Playboy did pay for the sculpture to be made and placed near Marfa (which is known for its art community). But they say the two sculptures are art, not advertising (and therefore don't need any permit). This brings up an interesting question. What is art, and where is the line that divides it from advertising? Some artists, like Andy Warhol, didn't believe there was a difference -- and his reproductions of Campbell's soup cans have been recognized as art. If an image of Warhol's famous painting was put up beside the road, would TxDOT consider it an advertisement?

Does the fact that Playboy Enterprises paid for the sculpture to be made and erected make it an advertisement? Would it be art if Playboy Enterprises didn't pay for it? A case could certainly be made that the sculpture is an iconic symbol in our culture (just like the Campbell's soup can), and could be used to make an artistic statement (such as a statement about sexuality in our society).

I have to disagree with TxDOT. I think both sculptures are art. But then I live in Amarillo, only a couple of miles from Cadillac Ranch (a recognized work of art featuring 10 Cadillacs buried nose-down in the ground). TxDOT has not said that Cadillac Ranch is an advertisement for Cadillacs -- why not? What is the difference between those Cadillacs and the bunny sculpture? Aren't both iconic symbols of our culture? And what about the giant cross erected in the Panhandle? Couldn't that be considered an advertisement for christianity?

What do you think? Is the bunny sculpture art or advertising? What is the difference?

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Here are the images I reference in the above post -- Cadillac Ranch, the Warhol painting, and the huge cross in Texas Panhandle. Art or advertising?

Tx Senate - Incompetent Or Sneaky ?

The Texas Legislature meets only once every two years for a 140-day session. That session ended this last weekend, and once again, it more closely resembled a convention of second-rate clowns than anything else. It reminds us why the people of Texas don't have the stomach or nerve to ask for yearly legislative sessions.

This year the Texas House and Senate adjourned before approving and funding the operations of at least three state agencies -- the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Texas has a system that includes "sunset laws". That means that each state agency must be reviewed every few years and reapproved, or it automatically ceases to exist.

Some may disagree, but I think the state could get by for a couple of years without the Racing Commission and the Department of Insurance. All you have to do is look at insurance rates in Texas to know that the latter department did very little for Texas consumers anyway. But do away with TxDOT? That seems a little extreme, especially considering the condition of Texas' overcrowded and crumbling highway infrastructure.

Although they didn't pass the regulation bill re-approving TxDOT, the Texas House did pass a last-minute resolution that would have allowed the agency to operate for another two years. But that wasn't good enough for the Senate. A majority of the senators then worked themselves up into a lather and decided to teach the House a lesson. They adjourned without approving the resolution.

Even Governor "Good Hair" Perry didn't see the logic in that. He said, "If I could tell you I understood what happened last night, I would be an absolute genius. I thought I was watching an episode of 'Lost' for a moment. I have no idea what they were thinking or why they didn't want to pass the resolutions that would have given a safety net for those agencies."

There are two options as to what happened. The Texas Senate is either incredibly incompetent or very sneaky. The first option cannot be ruled out since the huge majority of the senators are Republicans, but I have a suspicion that the truth lies with the second option.

You see, the Republicans spent a large part of the session trying to pass a voter suppression bill (which they called the Voter ID bill). The Republicans know the political winds are currently blowing against them. They have only two choices -- moderate their views and appeal to a broader range of voters or suppress as many votes as possible. These right-wing nuts chose voter suppression.

The voter suppression bill easily passed the Republican-dominated Senate, but was killed in the House (where there are 76 Repubs and 74 Dems). The only hope to revive the bill is to force the governor to call a "special session" of the legislature. That is why the Senate refused to pass the resolution to keep TxDOT alive for another two years. If they had passed it, there would be no reason for a special session to be called.

So don't be surprised when the governor calls for a special session to save TxDOT. And don't be surprised when a voter suppression bill is added to the special session agenda. That's what this whole mess is about.

Come to think of it, maybe they're sneaky AND incompetent.

TxDOT Apologizes To Senator

Wendy Davis won her seat in the Texas Legislature last November, and is currently serving her first term. A couple of weeks ago, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) finally got around to putting up signs directing the public to her office on West Seventh in Fort Worth. The signs directed citizens to the office of State Rep. Wendy Davis.

The signs looked good, but Ms. Davis is not a state representative -- she's a senator. Yesterday, TxDOT finally got the signs corrected. A spokeswoman from TxDOT apologized to Ms. Davis for the error, and said, "It was purely an accident. We are aware she’s a senator, and we appreciate her service."

Fortunately for TxDOT, Senator Davis has a sense of humor. She said she's just glad she doesn't have two jobs in the legislature. She told Politex blog, "I’ve got my agenda full enough on the Senate side."

A Republican Making Sense ?

I think it's become obvious to anyone who drives that TxDOT has let our Texas roads fall behind where they should be. There are many roads and bridges in bad need of repair, and in some areas, the roads just aren't capable of handling the ever increasing traffic. Both parties know something has to be done -- the question is what.

The governor and most of his Republican cronies thought they had the solution a few years ago. They wanted to turn many roads over to private companies who would build new toll roads or turn existing roads into toll roads. The highlight of this plan was the boondoggle called the Trans-Texas Corridor. The only problem was they forgot to ask Texans what they wanted, and they quickly found out Texans don't want private companies building toll roads.

Our governor would still like to build the private toll roads. He just wants to do it slower and more secretively -- maybe do it in smaller pieces and under the people's radar.

Frankly, this is the most expensive way for Texas motorists (and the most lucrative for his corporate buddies). It would be cheaper for everyone to just raise the gas tax and build free roads, but few legislators in Austin have the political courage to do that (from either party).

However, it looks like at least one legislator is trying to do the right thing, and surprisingly, he is a Republican -- Senator John Carona of Dallas. Carona has just sent a letter to his colleagues in both houses with a proposal that could put Texas on the right path, or at least make a start down that path. His proposal is to:

* index the motor fuel tax so it increases with inflation (this may be the only way to raise the tax until the legislators grow a spine).

* make TxDOT a more efficient agency with fewer employees.

* get TxDOT to raise funds by fully levering its debt capacity.

* minimize toll roads & private partnerships.

* amend Tx Constitution to prevent diversion of transportation funds to other uses.

Now I'm not crazy enough to believe this proposal will solve all our road problems, but it is a hell of a lot better than building private toll roads. It is a start -- a step in the right direction.

TxDOT Lies Are Exposed

For months now, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been trying to tell the citizens of Texas that they have a budget shortfall, and cannot build the highways necessary without turning many of our freeways into toll roads and giving them to private corporations.

They have even spent state money on publicists to try and convince voters of this. Then they said they had a shortfall of funds and put many planned road projects on hold. They blamed the budget shortfall on a lack of expected state and federal funds.

Now the truth comes out. The problem was due to their own internal communications. They admitted they had three different officials estimating funds they would receive, and wound up double-counting several sources. But that only accounted for $1.1 billion.

State Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) said she believes TxDOT has invented the budget crunch as a ploy to put pressure on legislators to allow more building of private toll roads. She points out the legislature gave TxDOT $23 billion in the last session -- $7.5 billion more than the previous legislature. Senators also pointed out that TxDOT has not used billions of dollars in bonds approved by voters.

The truth is there is NO NEED FOR PRIVATE TOLL ROADS in Texas. The supposed need was just a lie concocted by state Republican leaders and promoted by TxDOT officials. It's just a money-making scheme (probably full of kick-backs) to enrich their corporate buddies.

It is time for new leadership at the top levels of TxDOT. But we need to go even further. We also need to replace the state Republican leadership that put these nuts into those positions. The whole thing stinks of corruption.

We can make a good start on this by electing more Democrats to the state legislature this November.

Texans To Choose New License Plate

Do you like the current license plate the state of Texas is using? If you don't, this week is your chance to vote on changing it. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is letting Texans vote for this week only on what they would like their new license plate to look like.

The new plates will start being issued in 2009. If you'd like to vote, you can do so at http://www.txdot.gov/. There are four choices of new plates and the current plate to choose from. The choices are:

- NEW TEXAS. This red, white and blue plate features a composite of skylines from several Texas cities at the bottom and the word "Texas" in black script at the top.

- TRADITIONAL TEXAS. This plate features blue highlights and a stark, white background with a gold Texas star at the bottom and a bold, red "Texas" in capital letters at the top.

- LONE STAR TEXAS. A white star stands out in the top left corner along with wide brushes of red and blue against a large Texas sky. A low-lying mountain range runs along the bottom.

- NATURAL TEXAS. The plate is covered with wildflowers.

- MY TEXAS. The current plate that is being used.

Hearings To Begin On Trans-Texas Corridor

The public is finally going to get a little bit of say about the massive construction boondoggle the Republicans (and some Democrats) are trying to foist on the citizens of Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will have a series of public hearings soon on the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC).

The TTC is the name given to 4,000 miles of new toll roads that would criss-cross the state. Through imminent domain, it would gobble up over 500,000 acres of prime Texas farm and ranch land. It would also turn over the control of these new toll roads to foreign companies, who would reap the benefits of exorbitant tolls on Texans for at least the next 50 years.

The Republican leadership in Austin have already reached secret agreement with at least one foreign corporation -- a Spanish company called Cintra. This secret contract would not only turn over the road to the Spanish company for 50 years to collect tolls, but if they don't make the windfall profits they expect then the Texas taxpayers must make up the difference. In other words, those windfall profits are guaranteed by our tax dollars.

State leaders would like for Texans to believe that this is the only way for Texas to get new roads. That is a lie. What they don't tell Texans is that raising the gas tax could fund new FREE highways at a much cheaper cost than the tolls that would be charged.

The TTC is a very bad deal for the citizens of Texas. It would be great for foriegn corporations and the politicians on their payroll, but this $200 billion boondoggle would bleed the citizens of Texas dry.

Do you want to turn our highways over to foreign countries? Do you want to have to pay exorbitant tolls to drive across our state? If not, then you must speak out now.

But even more important, you must vote the TTC supporters out in the next election (most of whom are Republicans). Before you vote for a state senator or representative, make sure they don't support the massive TTC scheme to rob the citizens of Texas.

Here are the scheduled public hearings:

1/15 - Texarkana

1/16 - Carthage

1/17 - Lufkin

1/22 - Hempstead

1/23 - Huntsville

1/24 - Rosenburg

1/28 - Bellville

1/29 - Victoria

1/31 - Weslaco

2/5 - Laredo

2/6 - Robstown

TxDOT Running Out Of Money ?

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says it is having "cash flow" problems, and is threatening to delay $900 million of construction projects statewide. They cite rising construction costs and $600 million in federal funds that have been cut.

Frankly, after their recent actions, I'm not at all sure I trust TxDOT anymore. If they are so short of funds, why are they wasting $7 to $9 million dollars on a public relations campaign to sell the idea of toll roads, which they would then turn over to private companies? Wouldn't this money be better spent on our state roads and highways?

We have already seen that they're willing to make secret contracts with private foreign companies to take thousands of acres of prime Texas land and build a huge toll road (the Trans-Texas Corridor boondoggle). Are they telling us the whole truth now?

I don't doubt they don't have the money to build all the roads they would like to build. But I suspect the $900 million construction delay of roads already approved is just a heavy-handed attempt to blackmail Texans into accepting the private toll roads they want.

While all these private toll roads would create windfall profits for the corporate buddies of our Republican state leadership, it would be a very bad deal for ordinary Texans. Our state has a proud history of having one of the best FREE road systems in the nation. But since they came to power, the Republicans have been far more interested in cutting taxes for the rich and filling corporate bank accounts than in keeping our road system up-to-date.

Now they not only want to build new toll roads for private companies, they also want to turn many of our freeways into toll roads and give them away to private corporations. The whole fiendish plot is insane!

If more funds are needed, then the gas tax should be raised. At present, the state gas tax is 20 cents. While it would not be pleasant, a raise in the gas tax would actually be cheaper on Texas drivers than the many proposed toll roads. But they don't want Texans to know that, because then they couldn't give our roads to their corporate buddies.

Don't let TxDOT and their Republican masters blackmail you into accepting private toll roads. Vote these people out of office as soon as possible. Elect people who will replace TxDOT leaders and keep our roads open to all Texans.

Lawsuit Filed Against TxDOT

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has run into more opposition in it's bid to build new toll roads and turn existing freeways into toll roads, and then give them to private corporations. Thank goodness! This effort by state Republican leadership would be bad for all Texans, except for the filthy rich and the corporate bosses.

Yesterday, Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) filed suit against TxDOT in a Travis County civil court. The lawsuit asks for a Temporary Restraining Order to stop TxDOT from lobbying Congress to allow toll roads and to stop TxDOT from spending public money to advertise for privatized toll roads, including the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC).

TURF believes that TxDOT is breaking Texas law by using public money to advertise a political position and to lobby Congress to support their position on turning our freeways into private toll roads. They have already asked Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle to investigate TxDOT's illegal activities.

TURF founder Terri Hall says, "Between TxDOT's PR campaign, report to Congress asking that all limitations on tolling be lifted including buying back existing interstates, and chairman Ric Williamson's recent trip to D.C. lobbying for the same, it's clear they've not only crossed the line into illegal lobbying, but they leaped over it. The citizens of Texas are fed up with TxDOT's blatant disregard for the public's disdain of toll roads and their infinite attempts to cram toll roads down our throats using TAXPAYER MONEY to do it! It's high time someone puts a stop to it!"

I hope TURF succeeds in their lawsuit. It's bad enough they want to build new toll roads and put tolls on our freeways and turn them all over to private corporations. It's utterly asinine to spend public money to advertise it and lobby Congress.

We have got to vote these Republican corporate lackeys out of office in 2008. Vote to keep corporate hands off our roads and out of our wallets.

Krusee Disingenuous About TxDOT Spending

We learned last week that TxDOT is spending about $20,000 on a public relations effort to defend building new toll roads and the Trans- Texas Corridor (TTC). They are sending several people to public relations training, so they will be better able to defend Perry's unpopular effort to turn Texas roads over to his corporate buddies.

Several TxDOT division directors, engineers from Beaumont and Amarillo, Executive Director Steve Simmons and Perry aide Kris Heckmann will be receiving the public relations training. They will then go forth to try and convince the people of Texas that the TTC and other tolls roads should be built and turned over to private companies.

My question is why are the people of Texas having to pay for this training. Why don't the private corporations, who are the only ones who will benefit from this silly idea, pay for the training?

Evidently, this same question has occurred to some state legislators. Several of them complained last week about TxDOT spending state funds on public relations efforts -- about $7 to $9 million dollars in state funds.

Now Rep. Mike Krusee (pictured above), House Transportation Committee chairman and Perry apologist, has joined the fray to defend TxDOT. He said, "I think TxDOT's doing exactly what the legislature asked them to do, and legislators who now cry foul are being hypocritical. They were the ones that beat TxDOT over the head in public hearings for not explaining this."

Can Krusee really be this stupid? Yes, several legislators (but not enough) did berate TxDOT for not being able to defend Perry's ridiculous program to rob the people of Texas and fatten corporate coffers. They berated them because it's simply a very bad idea. Not a one of them said they thought TxDOT should spend millions on public relations, and then train TxDOT employees to be better liars to the media.

Perry and his TxDOT underlings say new toll roads are needed because TxDOT doesn't have the money needed to build new Texas roads. But if TxDOT is already short of funds, why are they wasting millions on public relations? If their program made sense, they wouldn't need a PR campaign to sell it to Texans.

Texans are opposed to the TTC and other new toll roads because it is a bad idea. Spending millions on public relations will not make it a better idea. It's silly to spend millions to put lipstick on this pig!

TxDOT Might Allow Electronic Billboards

This is not good news. It seems that TxDOT officials are considering allowing new electronic advertising on billboards along our freeways. They say they would not allow the new billboards on rural roads, and that cities would have to approve any new billboards within their city limits.

They claim the billboards would be safe, because they would allow it to change only every 8 seconds, and the change must be complete within 2 seconds. They said they would not allow any constantly moving pictures.

I have my doubts as to whether a billboard that changes every 8 seconds would be safe. There are enough bad drivers on our roads already, and I suspect that this would be a distraction for many. Do we really need to take the chance on making our roads even less safe than they already are?

Of course, I understand how it might be hard for TxDOT to say no to the signs. They've put up enough of the big black monstrosities themselves. And the Republicans running our state government don't seem to have the ability to say no to any kind of business venture, no matter how bad an idea it is.

But even if the new billboards are safe, do we really want a bunch of huge new signs cluttering our roadways? I thought we had settled this back in 1965 with the Highway Beautification Act. Didn't that act limit the number of billboards allowed on our roadsides? This is just a bad idea. It would make our cities and freeways (and tollways) much uglier places. It is a failing of our modern society that we feel the need to slap an advertisement on any blank space.

It's simply wrong that only weeks after Lady Bird Johnson's death, the Republicans want to start cluttering up our landscape again.

Tx-DOT Lied About Trans-Texas Corridor

Critics of the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) have been telling Texans for months that the TTC is a bad deal for Texas. Now we learn from a state audit report released last friday, that these critics were telling us the truth.

State auditors examined the contract with Cintra-Zachary, and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) actions regarding the Trans-Texas Corridor. What they found is not good. The auditors said that TxDOT had underplayed the costs of building the TTC and overplayed the benefits of the TTC to Texas. They also chided TxDOT for refusing to release parts of the contract with Cintra-Zachary in a timely manner.

It seems that the contract guarantees the Spanish company a 12% profit margin and gives Cintra-Zachary control of the TTC for the next 50 years. If the foreign company does not make its 12% profit, then the state of Texas would be responsible for making up the difference. Considering the exorbitant rates it would cost for motorists and truckers to drive on the TTC (up to 45 cents a mile), it is reasonable to believe that few would be able to afford the drive, thus causing Texas taxpayers to make up the difference.

Auditors also addressed the supposed benefits to be derived from the building of the TTC. Texans have been told that the Spanish company would be paying the state of Texas around $3 billion for the right to build this boondoggle. Now we learn from the auditors that if interest rates and inflation are higher than expected, these expenses would be deducted from the $3 billion, perhaps reducing it to NOTHING!

So, TxDOT and TTC supporters want us to let a foreign company build the TTC and own it for at least 50 years. They want Texans to guarantee them a 12% profit for those 50 years. And for all this, Texas will probably receive absolutely nothing. The people who came up with this idea are either complete idiots, or they have been paid off.

Senator Kirk Watson said, "Texas cannot rush into a project that will help define our future when there are so many uncertainties about the present. We must step back, demand answers, and (ensure) the public is protected before the work proceeds on the Trans-Texas Corridor."

I would go further. The TTC is a bad deal for Texas. It should not be built at all.

State Pays 31 Cents To Collect 25 Cents In Tolls

The Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT] looks silly again today, but considering their actions over the last couple of years, they're probably used to that now.

Last month, they started collecting tolls on the new toll road just north of the DFW metroplex -- Texas 121. The new toll road does not have collection booths. If you don't have a toll tag, the system just takes a picture of your license plate and then mails you a bill. I guess this might work out for people who drive a good distance, but what about those who drive only a short distance on the toll road?

Recently, 72-year old Don Ferguson received his bill from TxDOT for using the toll road -- it was a bill for 25 cents. The problem with this is that it cost the state 30.8 cents to mail the bill, and Mr. Ferguson is not the only person this has happened to. Several people have complained of receiving a 25 cent bill in a metered envelope costing 30.8 cents to mail, including TxDOT spokesman Mark Ball. When these people pay their fee, the state of Texas will have lost nearly 6 cents on each transaction.

Just think, what if most drivers on Texas 121 go only a short distance? Could the state actually lose more in postage than it collects in fees? Even worse, is this the level of competence we can expect on other toll roads being planned?