2004 Texas Republican Party Platform

 

Resolution Opposing the Trans-Texas Corridor ( one of the Resolutions presented to the Platform Committee ) TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR (HB-3588) WHEREAS, we encourage fiscal responsibility in government; and, WHEREAS, House Bill 3588 encourages government spending and government financial support for private interests; and, WHEREAS, we do not believe in hidden taxes or taxation without representation; and, WHEREAS, House Bill 3588 authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to enter into Comprehensive Development Agreements that once issued cannot be controlled by the taxpayers or their elected officials; and, WHEREAS, we support free enterprise and small business interests; and, WHEREAS, House Bill 3588 authorizes Comprehensive Development Agreements for the Trans-Texas Corridor, through which government concessions grant exclusive rights and privileges not otherwise available to the private sector; and, WHEREAS, we support private property rights; and, WHEREAS, House Bill 3588 authorizes the taking of private land without immediate compensation to the property owner and enables the State to take land by deception though the use of a purchase option scheme; and, WHEREAS, we support private land owner water rights; and, WHEREAS, the Trans-Texas Corridor threatens landowner water rights by allowing circumvention of county ground water districts by facilitating unregulated wells on State land; and, WHEREAS, we are concerned about State and National sovereignty; and, WHEREAS, House Bill 3588 has the effect of encouraging foreign investment and control of government infrastructure and public land thus putting at risk the sovereignty of the State and Nation; and, WHEREAS, we are concerned about rampant government acquisition of private land; and, WHEREAS, the Trans-Texas Corridor represents a vast acquisition of Texas Land by the State without any demonstrated, recognized or legitimate need; and, WHEREAS, the Trans-Texas Corridor represents State land acquisition and control of more than one-half million acres of private land for the purpose of generating State revenue though Comprehensive Development Agreements, tolls, leases, and fees, without any government control, limit or oversight; and, WHEREAS, we are concerned about Homeland Security; and, WHEREAS, the Trans-Texas corridor threatens Homeland Security by concentrating critical State utility and transportation infrastructure into well defined corridors that will become soft targets that cannot be effectively protected from domestic or foreign terrorist attack; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all authorization and powers granted the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction and operation of the Trans-Texas Corridor, especially through House Bill 3588 be rescinded. Respectfully Submitted – David K. Stall, Delegate, Senatorial District 18

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