Carona Hints That Delisi May Face Tough Confirmation Battle To Transportation Post

May 1, 2008

by Vince Leibowitz

It should come as no surprise that Governor Rick Perry’s newest appointments to the Texas Transportation Commission are pro-tollers, and that fur is already flying over the two appointments:

The GOP governor’s support of private investment in public tollways as a key avenue for needed infrastructure is echoed by former aide Deirdre Delisi of Austin and a second appointee announced Wednesday, Bill Meadows of Fort Worth.

Both appointees see private investment as an important part of the picture, though not all of it, and said they want to work with lawmakers. The Legislature has sought to curb such projects, alarmed the state would go too far in ceding control of Texas’ infrastructure.

In other words, these two see no problem with sweet-heart deals like the CINTRA/Zachary partnership to build the early phases of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Senate confirms either or both nominees next January. State Sen. John Carona is already hinting that Delisi may not get a positive nod from the Senate:

He [Carona] said Delisi is intelligent and that he would “make every effort to have a successful relationship with her,” but whether he votes to confirm her when the Legislature next meets in 2009 “will depend on her conduct and her performance between now and January.”

“Both Republicans and Democrats have described her in the past as being difficult to work with and not particularly cordial,” Carona said. Asked about his past critical comments of her possible appointment, he said, “I think that she is a political hack. I’ve said that before. It would be probably senseless for me to deny it.”

Delisi brushed aside the slap: “My response is that I’m looking forward to working with all members of the Legislature, just as I’m looking forward to working with the local officials, to solve our transportation problems.”

Toll roads and private leases to fund transportation “are certainly one of the tools that are available to local officials and the state,” Delisi said. “It is part of the solution; it’s probably not the only solution.”

I guess we’ll see what happens next January.