Texas House passes TTC funding moratorium

April 13, 2007

The Cornerpost, Texas Farm Bureau

The Texas House has passed a two-year moratorium on the funding agreements used to finance the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC).

State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham sponsored an amendment which halts the method of funding for the controversial highway project. A total of 134 members of the House voted in support of Kolkhorst’s amendment. The proposal places a two-year moratorium on the use of comprehensive development agreements, which allows for private and public entities to cooperate in funding transportation projects.

Texas Farm Bureau policy supports stopping the massive highway plan altogether, but the moratorium is an important step. It halts further development of the plan while giving the Legislature additional time to study the ramifications.

"This does not accomplish our policy goal of killing TTC once and for all, and that goal remains unchanged," said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke.

"It does give state officials a chance to reconsider one of the biggest mistakes our state has made in quite a long time," he said.

Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville introduced legislation identical to Kolkhorst’s amendment in the Senate and 27 co-sponsors signed on in support.

Dierschke said TFB members should continue contacts with elected officials, especially members of the Senate, to oppose the TTC.

"The TTC can’t be fixed, because it means the permanent loss of thousands of farm and ranch acres. It must be stopped," he said. "The moratorium is a grace period that allows all of us to think about what’s best for Texas."