Denying Delisi
State Senator Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, says he plans to vote no on confirming the Governor's pick to head the Texas Transportation Commission. On Wednesday, the Guvnah (that's how they say it in SC, anyway) announced he would put in his former campaign manager and chief of staff, Deidre Delisi, as chairman of the TXDOT governing body. Hegar says he thinks that idea was a "squandered opportunity":
"I had high hopes that Governor Rick Perry would use the vacancy created by the untimely passing of former Transportation Chair Ric Williamson as an opportunity to appoint someone to lead the commission who would work to change the status quo, reach out to lawmakers, and work cooperatively with the legislature to address the concerns of the citizens we represent.
I view Ms. Delisi's appointment as a squandered opportunity. It appears that rather than choose someone to head the commission who will reach out to lawmakers and work cooperatively with legislators, the governor instead has chosen a political "yes man" with little or no practical experience involving transportation issues other than carrying out the Governor's myopic vision that relies solely on building more toll roads and selling our highway infrastructure to the highest bidder, usually a foreign owned company."
The Senate Nominations committee (on which Hegar sits) must confirm gubernatorial appointments, but it won't meet to do this until next session, so in the meantime, Delisi will assume her new role. Hegar said in his email to the press that neither the Governor nor Delisi had contacted him or other members of the committee to discuss the appointment.
Delisi's Done Deal
As expected, Governor Rick Perry has tapped his former chief-of-staff, Deidre Delisi, to chair the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees TXDOT. She replaces Ric Williamson, who had planned to step down before dying recently of a heart attack.
Delisi was picked for the commission along with William Meadows of Fort Worth. Their terms expire Feb.1, 2013. Perry's statement:
"Texas faces serious challenges in providing a transportation infrastructure that will sustain our state's rapid pace of population and trade growth," said Gov. Perry. "Both Deirdre and Bill have the integrity and expertise to ensure that these needs are met efficiently and responsibly. I am confident their contribution to the commission will maintain the momentum of the late Commissioner Ric Williamson's pioneering vision, and secure comprehensive transportation solutions that will reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and keep our state's doors open to economic growth and success."
Perry: Washington Still Doesn't Get it
Governor Rick Perry is responding to a proposal in Washington to raise the federal gax tax by sixty cents per gallon over five years, to pay for the rising cost of infrastructure. Here's a snippet:
Their recommendations prove the notion that the further someone gets from the actual location of a challenge, the less they know about it or how to solve it. Raising taxes is a surefire way to stifle growth, and limiting states’ freedom to innovate will only make it worse. The federal commission further shows a weak grasp of economic theory by encouraging states to not only accept their proposed massive federal tax increases, but to follow suit and simultaneously raise our own gas taxes at an even higher rate!
Texas already sends a hefty share of gas tax dollars to Washington and we get less in return than we should. Among U.S. states, Texas is the second largest donor to the federal Highway Trust Fund and ranks 50th in rate-of-return for our federal gas tax dollar. For every dollar we send to Washington, only 8 cents in federal transit program funds and 70 cents in federal highway program funds make it back to Texas.
It’s tough to get comfortable with sending even more of Texans’ hard-earned dollars to Washington, D.C., knowing they’ll only be earmarked, redistributed to other states and locked into programs that won’t do much to relieve crowding on our roads. This is big government at its worst.
Read the whole thing by
downloading it here.
Transportation Commissioner Dies
Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner and former state lawmaker Ric Williamson died suddenly of a heart attack last night. He was 55. Here's what the big three had to say:
Perry:
“Anita and I are heartbroken at this sudden loss of a confidant, trusted advisor and close personal friend of ours for more than 20 years. Ric’s passion to serve his beloved State of Texas was unmatched and his determination to help our state meets its future challenges was unparalleled. He will be missed beyond words. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Williamson family during this very difficult time.”
Dewhurst:
"Ric Williamson loved Texas and gave two decades of his life in the Legislature, and most recently as Chairman of the Texas Department of Transportation, to make Texas an even better place to live. My thoughts and prayers are with the Williamson family at this difficult time. Texas will miss him."
Craddick:
"Nadine and I were very sorry to hear about Commissioner Ric Williamson's death. He dedicated his life to public service, and I have fond memories of the time we served in the Legislature together. We wish his wife, Mary Ann, and his family peace and comfort during this difficult time."
Funeral services are pending.
Additional coverage, so far:
Associated Press
Star-Telegram
Toll Way. The Chinese Way
HANGZHOU, CHINA - Yesterday we were traveling from the Chinese city of Hangzhou to the historic town of Wuzhen, and during the ninety minute ride we had to stop at three toll booths. I asked the tour guide what was up with that, and he said there's some statistic about how 70% of the tolled roads in the world are in China. He said it's essentially a tax for people who are affluent enough to own cars and drive.
We may have a Trans Texas Corridor in the works, but China has the Super-Mega-Jumbo-Trans-China-Corridor. They have us beat in the toll road department, that's for sure.
For Whom the Toll Tolls
Big, big BIG CAMPO meeting tonight. The board is expected to approve a $1.5 billion dollar plan to toll pieces of five roadways in Central Texas.
My colleague Kevin Peters will be covering both the pro-toll rally at 3:30, and the anti-toll rally at 5:00pm, and we'll get that video up for you as soon as the five o'clock newscast gets going.
I'll be taking a broader look at the five-road plan, and the debate over whether this is akin to double taxation.
