Governor Perry Vetoes Several Bills to Protect His Trans Texas Corridor

Citizens of Texas are the Big Losers as Governor Perry Acts to Protect His Own Special Interests

House Bill 2006

There isn't anything more important in a free society than the right of its citizens to own and hold land as private property. When government erodes that right it attacks a fundamental freedom of its citizens. 

With HB2006 the Texas Legislature sought to protect the state's citizens from potential abuse of eminent domain (the government's power to forcibly take private land) by ensuring limited use and just compensation.

Governor Perry objects to pesky proceedings that might slow down his massive highway construction projects like the TTC and compensate land owners for their losses and damages. Once again citizens are short changed by the very government that should be protecting them.

HB2006 is described by the Texas Public Policy Foundation as, "one of the most significant landowner rights initiatives in more than a decade." TPPF's Bill Peacock said, "Unfortunately, this veto exposes property owners from Freeport to El Paso to the very real threat of eminent domain."

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Jon Means says, "Governor Perry has sent the message loud and clear that he does not support private property rights."

The Texas Farm Bureau who supported Perry's re-election so that they could maintain their "seat at the table" have found themselves pushed aside. TFB President Kenneth Dierschke complained that taking private property has become too easy and says, "Obviously, there are many powerful interests that prefer it stay that way."

By vetoing HB2006 the Governor makes sure TxDOT can run roughshod over landowners who have the misfortune of being in the path of the TTC.

Senate Bill 718

This bill didn't create much of a control over the TTC, but any limitation on the TTC certainly draws the ire of Governor Perry.

By vetoing SB718 he has released TxDOT from making any effort to consider upgrading the state's existing highway system before they establish a completely new TTC route across the state.

Most laughable is the Governor's assertion that SB718 would conflict with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations by presupposing a route for the TTC. Apparently he doesn't know that in virtually every NEPA environmental review for a highway upgrading an existing facility is one of the alternatives considered. Of course that's not the case with any of the TTC segments studied to date. Why? Because TxDOT has presupposed a new route will be required. Now that is in conflict with NEPA regulations Governor. (We'll be seeing you in court about that too!)

House Bill 3647

HB3647 would have required the Attorney General to conduct a study to determine if the authority of the state may be restricted, nullified, superseded, preempted or otherwise affected by, among other things, any compact or agreement between the state and a foreign governmental entity or international body.

Specifically the AG was directed to consider the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), World Trade Organization (WTO), General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), United Nations (UN), and North American SuperCorridor Coalition (NASCO).