Tolls, Taxes, Texas *With Update*

It just ain't right. Dad gummit, we already paid for 1604 and 281. We put up with all the crapola while they were being built, we even put up with the fact that in some places they are poorly designed (the exit from 1604 gettin' on 10 was designed not only by the lowest bidder, but the drunkest). But now ol' Rick Goodhair and his tool Frank Corte want to dig up those very same roads, and turn 'em toll roads 'cuz TXDOT can't spend it's money wisely. And the big, dirty secret about all this is that the highway construction lobby needs a steady stream of revenue now that the U.S.interstate highway system is finally completed. So their friends TXDOT, Rick Goodhair and Frank Corte are tryin' their darndest to help 'em out. With our money.

Well, anyway, candidates from both political parties received a questionaire from the Texas Toll Party, a truly bi-partisan group trying to stop this highway robbery. They requested that each candidate send in his or her questionaire by 6:00 P. M. onJanuary 5th. Below is Larry Stallings' completed questionaire:



RULES:
A) THE CANDIDATE himself/herself MUST FILL OUT THIS
QUESTIONNAIRE.
B) The entire Questionnaire must be sent back with all
questions answered.
C) This complete Questionnaire (questions and answers)
must be submitted via email to terri@satollparty.com
by Jan 5th, 2006 at 6:00pm.

Candidate Name: Larry Stallings
Office you are seeking:HD 122
Candidate Cell Phone XXX-XXX-XXXX:
Candidate email: XXXXXXXXX@yahoo.com

1) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
to require local economic impact studies, cost benefit
studies and other viability studies for all toll roads
and other transportation plans, including but not
limited to the Texas Trans Texas Corridor, rail, HOV,
and HOT lanes to ensure accountability?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


2) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
to allow the public to vote whether ANY local existing
route (public freeway) will be shifted to a tollway or
not?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


3) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
to keep tolls off ALL existing public highways.

Yes, and I will file such legislation


4) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
to close the Trans Texas Corridor/Eminent Domain
loophole created in the last session.

Yes, and I will file such legislation


5) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
to prevent control of our roads, rail and utilities
from being handed over to private or/and foreign
interests?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


6) Will you support legislation and actively campaign
for a requirement of nonelected RMA board members to
disclose ALL real estate and business holdings?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


7) Currently a Travis County RMA board member (Johanna
Zmud) was reappointed by Travis County Commissioners
even though her board membership and company contract
with TxDOT violates provisions in the Transportation
Code.

Will you support legislation and actively campaign to
keep nonelected RMA board members from serving when
they can profit, have conflicts of interests, or have
a potential for self enrichment?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


8) Will you support and actively campaign to allow
each local region to have the choice to vote to have
the option to add their own local gas tax to replace
the inefficient freeway tolls?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


9) Texans would like to get the most for every
transportation tax dollar. (GAO Report - 2003
Comparison of States' Highway Construction Costs : A
comprehensive study of 25 states revealed a median
cost per lane mile as $1.6 million. TxDOT 130, Just
East of Austin cost per lane mile is $7.6 million. The
first 3 miles of freeway tolls on HWY 281 in San
Antonio will cost $27.6 million per lane mile.

Will you support and actively campaign for a full
review of TXDOT and its operations to explore ways to
make transportation planning, design and construction
more efficient, more accountable and more cost
effective - to open up and clean up the "good old boy"
bidding process of TxDOT?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


10) Initiative and referendum make government more
responsive to its citizens, neutralize the power of
the special interests and stimulate public involvement
in state issues. Every demographic group in Texas
wants Initiative and Referendum. A recent survey
showed 74% of Texans want I & R.
(http://www.initiativefortexas.org/whowants.htm) Texas
is one of only three western states in which the
Legislature still denies citizens the right of
initiative.

Will you support, actively campaign for and co-sponsor
a constitutional amendment providing Texans with
rights of Initiative and Referendum?

Yes, and I will file such legislation


11) Will you have your comprehensive positions on
Double Tax Freeway Tolls and the Trans Texas Corridor
posted in an easy to find "issues" area on your
website by January 6th, 2006?

Yes

12) Will you incorporate your positions on Double Tax
Freeway Tolls and the Trans Texas Corridor in your
statewide speeches?

Yes

13) Who filled out this questionnaire?

Larry Stallings
2826 Redland Creek
San Antonio, Texas 78259
210-XXX-XXXX

Now, all y'all livin' along 281 and/or 1604, I ask you one question: who do you really want representin' you in the Legislature of the great state of Texas? Frank Corte? Or Larry Stallings?

*Update*

According to the E-N, the 281 Toll Road is On Hold. Check out
Kuff for some more dish. Also, visit The Muckraker for a report of Gov. Goodhair flipping the bird to local S. A. toll road protestors. Good stuff.