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Independent Texans are universally opposed to Gov. Rick Perry's plans to put the massive 4,000 mile, 1,200 foot wide toll road network and utility corridor through the heart of Texas simply to allow more goods (primarily Chinese) to be imported in to the US through Mexican ports. The Governor and his insider political friends in Austin and Washington, have cynically and, probably illegally, manipulated our political process to literally run over rural Texas and its people, many of whom are just hearing about this massive project. Many of these good folk are heading to federal hearings being held as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, to find out whether they're one of the unlucky tens of thousands who stand to lose up to over 1 million acres of prime Texas farm and ranchland. The "Tran-Texas Catastrophe", as former Republican Comptroller and and independent candidate, Carole Keeton Strayhorn called it in her 2006 bid for Governor, is universally opposed by all political parties in Texas, and has become a lightening bolt for the emergence of the Texas independent political movement. 1.3 million Texans voted independent in 2006, a full 31,000 votes ahead of the Democratic nominee, but we split our votes between two candidates, allowing Rick Perry to be reelected with only 39% of the vote.
Our day -- Texas Independent's Day -- is coming, as the extraordinary 2008 presidential race unfolds and Texans have a chance to weigh in. Help us reach out across the state and to make our voices heard!
Below is a letter we urge you to send to your Congressman and our two US Senators (Cornyn and Hutchison), which lays out the problems with the Corridor, as we see it at Independent Texans. (If you are politically independent in Texas, please sign in at our web site so we can keep in touch.)
If you do not know who your current Congressman is (no easy feat, given the redistricting mess also created
by Gov. Rick Perry and company, which not only disenfranchised some Democrats, but ALL Texas independents!),
Click Here: Find Your US Rep.
Note: We do suggest that everyone contact Senators Cornyn and Hutchison, but that you only contact your own Congressman.
Also Note: Congressman Ron Paul has recently introduced a bill which would cut off funding for the TTC. We applaud the Congressman's efforts, and we ask his assistance now in calling for federal hearings.
You may send the letter below now to:
US Senator John Cornyn through his web site at:
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison through her web site at:
http://www.senate.gov/~hutchison/contact.html
To Find all the Congressional Web sites -- after you've found who your Congressman is, go here:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
Dear Senator (or Congressman) _______________________:
I ask for your assistance in calling for a Congressional investigation regarding
the actions of Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Transportation Commission to push for
the Trans-Texas Corridor in the face of massive opposition from ordinary Texans.
I believe the following points deserve further inquiry:
1. The Governor's claim that Texans voted for the Trans-Texas Corridor, when it
was never placed on the ballot, nor that there were ever meaningful public
hearings asking Texans whether we wanted the Corridor.
2. A deceptive lobbying effort leading to the passage of a transportation omnibus
bill (HB 3588) in 2003, implementing the Corridor.
3. Shifting billions in highway dollars to intimidate county and state officials
who have questioned these projects.
4. An illegal lobbying by TxDOT of the federal government to allow federal
highways to be converted to toll roads.
5. The misuse of public funds for the purpose of "selling" these projects to the
public.
6. The withholding of public documents -- specifically, a signed contract with
CINTRA, a Spanish-based toll road consortium, which appears to have favored
status to build the Corridor.
7. CINTRA lobbyist, Dan Shelley's, employment with the Governor's office.
8. Interference by the Federal Highway Administration appointees with ties to
CINTRA.
9. The refusal of officials to state the key purpose of the TTC - that it is
primarily a trade route to move more imports (primarily Chinese) from Mexican
ports in to the US.
10. The refusal to address the very real threat of this project to homeland
security and the sovereignty of the United States.
Further, the Governor has chosen to ignore his own Business Council and nationally
recognized transportation experts who suggest that, if Texas needs additional funds
for roads, they should simply index the gas tax and consider a modest gas tax
increase.
Last, Texans, of all political persuasions, believe that in order to justify the
largest taking of private property in the history of the US that this project
demands, Texans should have the right to vote on it. We have been afforded no such
thing. Will you join our call for a Congressional investigation to help guarantee
protections for the rights of the people of Texas? We do not need to hear from your
office the refrain that this is just a "state issue". We know this is untrue. We need
your action now.
I await your response.
Sincerely,
Signature
Printed Name
Address (include City and Zip)
Email & Phone:
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