Kudos to Senator John Cornyn for agreeing to attend this important grassroots event in Bexar County. We would also like to commend Beth Cubriel of Senator Cornyn’s Austin office. She recently attended the State Republican Executive Committee meeting in Austin hosted by the Republican Party of Texas. Representatives of all Senatorial counties in Texas were present. This is a fabulous outreach to rank-and-file Republicans in South Texas.

Dear Joe:

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the recent article by the San Antonio Toll Party.

Between 2001 and 2003, Texas grew at twice the national average by adding 1.3 million new people. This is the equivalent of putting a new city the size of San Antonio on the state highway map in three short years.

San Antonio and Texas will continue to face unprecedented growth over the next two decades.  As a result, Bexar County’s roads and highways will definitely see more traffic congestion. That means longer commutes for South Texas Residents. We will need more roadways to accommodate this traffic, but expecting to pay for transportation improvements through the traditional way is not realistic.

Relying primarily on the gas tax is not the best long-term approach. In fact, a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated that the Highway Trust Fund could become insolvent as early as 2008, leaving a serious gap in the ability to maintain and improve the nation’s transportation system. To resolve the nation’s transportation financing shortfall (the Chamber estimates a shortfall of $1.1 trillion by 2015), it will require innovative thinking, financing and dynamic leadership.  We need to broaden our thinking, change our mindset and move forward.

The Toll party put forth a few alternatives to toll roads. I hope my responses will help you understand the challenges we face with transportation in the future.

1.  Get our fair share of gas tax revenues back in San Antonio

San Antonio does not get as much transportation funding as it needs. In fact, no region of the state gets as much transportation funding as it needs. To adjust the level of financing for San Antonio would exacerbate the problems in other areas of the state. This is a symptom of, and further evidence of the fact that the traditional method of financing transportation projects is far exceeded by the level of need. To someone who lives and works in San Antonio, the I-35 bypass around Austin may be on the “wish list.” To those who live and work in Austin, it is a real need.  The Transportation Commission must consider all projects statewide and must work with community leaders to prioritize them.

I should note that the San Antonio area has more construction dollars per person going to highway work than either Dallas or Ft. Worth. Additionally, Comal County has more than twice the dollars under construction per person than Bexar County. Our state leadership has advocated that we are one Texas and we are to grow and prosper as one state. 

2.  Put the new ATD sales tax increase to work to matching funds as promised

Our Metropolitan Planning Organization and Bexar County have established that San Antonio will have an $8 billion funding gap between the amount of traditional revenue available and the cost of projects needed to mitigate congestion over the next 25 years. The ATD tax for state and city street projects will amount to about $500 million over that time period. That still leaves a $7.5 billion gap.

3.  Pass through financing

Pass-through financing is an important tool that we encourage communities to consider in order to accelerate projects. Projects can move through the pipeline more quickly because a local governmental entity or a private entity fronts the money rather than waiting for traditional funding from the state. It is a tool to help communities re-prioritize projects. In the long-term, there is little if any new money generated in such proposals and there is no significant impact on the funding gap cited above.

4.  Bond funds

It’s not clear from the previous article what types of bonds the Toll Party recommends. Bond funds have to be paid back. We will issue revenue bonds which are paid back from toll revenue.  If they are suggesting general obligation bonds, those would be paid back from future gas tax collections. General obligation bonds are useful. But if we try to meet all of today’s needs with tomorrow’s revenue we will cripple our ability to improve the transportation system in the future. This situation occurred in New Jersey. See the July 12, 2005 New York Times article entitled “Official Sees New Jersey on Verge of a 'Transportation Meltdown’” for what’s happening there.

5. Cut the documented bureaucratic waste inside TxDOT and the tolling authorities (RMAs)

In 2003 the Texas Legislature sent a clear message to TxDOT with its approval of an omnibus transportation bill (HB 3588): Use this innovative package of tools to accelerate the delivery of transportation infrastructure across the state. This mandate was not accompanied by an increase in the number of employees. The department took this message to heart and managed with great speed and efficiency to equip its employees and the communities they serve to plan for an accelerated program of mobility projects. This undertaking has been achieved with existing resources and staff.

In the recent article by the Toll Party, they write that “TxDOT spends $88 more per person than Caltrans (California’s transportation agency) spent on its road system, and remember CA is more populous.”  The fact is that Texas has 268,601 square miles of land to California’s 163,707 square miles. Texas has more space in which to build its highway system and fewer people to pay for it. Meanwhile, Governor Schwarzenegger has repeatedly cited Texas as the model for addressing their transportation woes.

6. Demand proper planning from local and state government so we build freeways with interchanges and have sensible intersections which cause more of our congestion woes than anything else

This is a good suggestion. And while we are doing what we can, we are limited by the financial constraints that we have cited repeatedly. 

Please keep in mind that the men and women who make up the Texas Department of Transportation are dedicated and committed  to moving people and goods safely and efficiently. They live in the communities they serve and they live with the decisions that are made. The toll revenue (that which is above and beyond what is used for operation and debt service) stays in the region in which it is derived, and  that revenue is used to fund more transportation projects. By building transportation projects sooner than what is otherwise possible, we will all benefit.

Thank you.

Hope Andrade
Commissioner
Texas Department of Transportation
 

Speaker: Bobby Eberle, Director of GOPUSA.com

Did you know GOPUSA reaches 500,000 conservatives every day by e-mail?

Date: Jan. 18th (Wednesday)

Time: Networking Reception and Dinner (on your own): 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Program:  7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

Location:  Karam's Mexican Dining Room, 121 N. Zarzamora, San Antonio; (210-433-0111)

Cost: Only $5

Sponsorships:  Silver $10, Gold $20 and Platinum $50

Please R.S.V.P. to Schuylar Crist at skyskyrider@hotmail.com today.

GOPUSA Mission Statement

The mission of GOPUSA is to spread the conservative message throughout America.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

11:30 a.m. Private Reception & Book Signing

12:00 p.m. Lunch

The Arboretum Renaissance Hotel - Austin, Texas

General Tickets are available for $60 per person or $100 per couple. 

Sponsorships Are Available.  Please call 512-804-1106 or email suzanne@bellsnydergroup.com to RSVP. 
 

BREAKING NEWS: Congressman Lamar Smith of South Texas will present the “John Tower Leadership Award” to our inaugural winner on January 25, 2005. We would like to thank Congressman Smith for taking time out of his busy schedule to make this presentation to our first honoree.

We are pleased to announce that the inaugural winner of the “John Tower Leadership Award” will be announced on December 26, 2005. This recognition will be given to a grassroots leader who has made a significant difference in the growth and development of the Republican Party. The event will be free to all of our grassroots friends.

The award is also meant to pay tribute to Senator John Tower for his incredible passion and vision for the Republican Party of Texas.

Click here for the Senator Tower Biography

We’re going to look back on Election Day of 2006 and think, “Governor Perry was re-elected during the tragedy of Hurricane Rita.” Let me explain. The man was a class act during that crisis in contrast to the Governor of Louisiana. The ugly yellow school buses were moving and our seniors in retirement homes were being carefully moved. Let’s face it, we want to know that our leaders are going to do whatever it takes to protect our families in times of need.   

That is what he really did during those tough days. He quietly reminded us that Texans are strong, resilient, and we stick together in times of need. We weren’t shooting, raping or looting gift shops in downtown Houston. Even though he was moving around, he stood there like a giant.  We looked at him and thought, “This will end soon and you will be there for us. I can live with that.” 

Governor Perry also did something else that floored us because it was so courageous. He openly invoked God and prayer when he asked people to “Pray for Texas.” I just know parents and teachers were thinking, “Did he just say that? That statement could only be said by a man who could care less about political correctness.” Again, he stood there and we watched. And yes, we were proud of him.

Yes, I know, people in the media will complain by saying he didn’t “solve” our education-funding problem. They will also gripe about transportation issues or his conservative values. Here is a reality check: the man is tireless in his efforts to make a difference for the citizens of this state. The fact that he puts himself out there is the essence of leadership. It is that drive and passion that sets him apart. 

The volunteers who will work the polls and put up signs for Governor Perry will be there because the man has stood by us and made us feel that Texans are truly special people. We do unique things like welcome the population of a major city with open arms. Texans do big things and we produce. He reminds us of whom we are by staying in the game and fighting for our values.

That is why we predict he will win re-election in 2006.

Join Governor Rick Perry at these South Texas
locations on Jan 11, 2006 for his re-election
announcements.

San Antonio - 12:30pm                   
Reyes Industries, 1554 Cantrell Drive, San Antonio TX
 
Corpus Christi- 3:00pm                      
Corpus Christi Medical Center, Doctor's Regional
Hospital
Conference Center (use Fort Worth Street entrance)
3315 South Alameda

Brownville-  5:00pm                      
Valley Baptist Medical Center, Stillman Lobby
1040 West Jefferson Street

Yes, she is spunky and full of energy when she speaks, but she has lost the special connection and the bond she had with grassroots Republicans. It vanished last year like warm pizza at a high school party. Why? We think rank-and-file Republicans admire leaders who voice concerns about issues, but it drives them crazy when they have to demolish fellow Republicans every other day in press releases. It does not appeal to our way of doing business. 

Her campaign has had flat tires for many months. On a certain level, it is a sad sight.
 

Texas Hospital Association Endorses Susan Combs for State Comptroller

AUSTIN – The Texas Hospital Association’s state political action committee, HOSPAC, has endorsed Republican Susan Combs for state comptroller. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents approximately 85 percent of the state’s hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 320,000 health care professionals statewide. The HOSPAC board makes endorsements based on a candidate’s position on health care issues and input from local hospital representatives.

“Susan Combs understands the tremendous positive impact that hospitals and health care have on the state’s economy,” said Joe A. DaSilva, CHE, CAE, senior vice president of advocacy and public policy for THA and secretary/treasurer of HOSPAC. “In addition to being major employers, hospitals provide important services which are essential to attracting and retaining businesses in local communities,” DaSilva added. “Hospitals believe that as comptroller, Susan Combs will work with them to develop innovative concepts and economic opportunities for the state, as well as business, to make health insurance more accessible and affordable in an effort to address the state’s growing uninsured population.”

Prior to her 1998 election as Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Susan Combs served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, where she authored legislation on tort reform. As the first woman ever elected Commissioner of Agriculture, Combs worked to promote better nutrition in Texas schools and to enhance rural economic development. She has expressed a strong interest in children’s welfare and education issues.

Combs graduated from Vassar College and worked in international advertising in New York, in the financial markets on Wall Street, and for the federal government. She then returned to Texas to complete a law degree at the University of Texas School of Law, and went on to serve as an assistant district attorney in Dallas. She is seeking her first term as comptroller, and currently is unopposed in the primary and general elections.

Founded in 1930, THA is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans.

Tom Craddick, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives And Dee Momone At The Republican Party of Texas Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony several months ago.

Our perspective: Speaker Craddick will need loyal soldiers in the upcoming special session that will focus on education funding. South Texas Republicans has had an opportunity to meet with Speaker Craddick over the past two months and, let there be no doubt, he is determined not to impose massive new taxes on hard working Texan families and small business owners. In our opinion, the voters of the district 118 need to send the Speaker a state representative who will be a team player in every sense of the word. That is critical for all of us.
 

Join Steve Salyer, candidate for 118th State Representative, at his first fundraiser on December 29. The event location will be the Plaza Club in the Frost Tower Building, 100 W. Houston, Suite 2100 in San Antonio, Texas (210-227-4191). Sponsorship levels will be announced next week.

You are also invited to our upcoming campaign fundraisers in 2006:  

January 17th, 2006- Small Business Owners for Steve Salyer  Gretalia Coffee House and Deli, 2211 N.W. Military Hwy, Suite 131, San Antonio  (210-342-7500)

February 5th, 2006- Women for Steve Salyer  (Please contact Sally Salyer for event details at votesalyer@aol.com)


February 21st, 2006- Medical Professionals for Steve Salyer  Cha-Cha’s Restaurant (Medical Center), 2026 Babcock, San Antonio

February 28th, 2006- South Bexar for Steve Salyer  (This event will be on Southwest Military, close to South Park Mall.  Location to be confirmed soon.)

Special Grassroots Meeting: March 3rd, 2006  72 Hour Launch Party for Grassroots Supporters
 

Creating Something New

They have been archived for those of you who may have missed our recent issues. We are slowly growing our web page features. We encourage you to visit our web page for easy access to elected officials. Our service is free and open to the public.