Senate approves bill making major transportation changes

04/27/2007

By LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON  / Associated Press

The Texas Senate passed a bill making major changes to the state's transportation policy on Friday, potentially setting up a showdown with Gov. Rick Perry over the future of private investment in toll roads.

One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of Sen. Tommy Williams' bill is a two-year moratorium on private toll road contracts.

The Senate has already passed a moratorium bill, but it is languishing in the House. The bill approved Friday was already approved by the House. If that chamber accepts the Senate's changes, the bill could end up on Perry's desk next week.

That would give lawmakers plenty of time to override a veto by the governor, who has ardently insisted that Texas needs to continue using public-private partnerships to build toll roads if it wants to keep attracting big companies and jobs.

The bill was approved by a 27-4 vote, with most of the opponents complaining that the Legislature was moving too quickly on such an important piece of legislation.

"We are acting almost like a lynch mob," said Sen. Steve Ogden, a Republican from Bryan. "We are not thinking about the implications of what we're doing."

But Williams, R-The Woodlands, said lawmakers were running out of time to beat a veto. Once the governor receives a bill, he has 10 days to sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

The Legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both chambers, but they must be in session to take that vote. The session ends May 28.

"I think there's a fundamental disagreement between the Legislature and the governor about the future of transportation policy in the state," Williams said. "I'm trying to give us a chance to address those concerns."