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Follow TURFContact: Terri Hall, Regional Director, San Antonio Toll Party (210) 275-0640
Organizer: Hank Gilbert, Former candidate for TX Ag Commissioner (903) 871-2424
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TxDOT guilty of cooking the books Enron style
Citizens call for investigation of TxDOT
CITIZEN PROTEST & RALLY –
“Don’t Tag Texas” TODAY!
Austin, TX, Friday, March 2, 2007 – During a Senate Hearing on Transportation Policy and Toll Roads yesterday, the State Auditor revealed that the Texas Department of Transportation miscoded invoices to read “engineering” when the money had actually been spent on Public Relations. Angry citizens are calling on the Attorney General to investigate this corrupt agency.
“If a corporate CEO had done this to their shareholders, they’d be in JAIL!” declared a shocked Terri Hall, Director of the San Antonio Toll Party and a newly formed statewide non-profit group defending and educating citizens from the current toll policy called TURF (http://www.TexasTURF.org). Citizens gasped when the Auditor’s office revealed this information at yesterday’s hearing.
A record 800 witnesses heard this testimony at Senator John Carona’s hearing yesterday, and citizens may get his ear on this to launch an Attorney General investigation.
“Heads need to roll,” stated Hall. “This gives us that much more to accomplish at today’s protest march and rally” where citizens work to shape public policy.
“That ought to be refreshing, citizen-driven public policy!” said Hall.
For more details on testimony at yesterday's hearing: http://satollparty.com/post/?p=552.
PRESS ADVISORY
WHAT: Don’t Tag Texas Protest March & Rally
WHO: Musical Performance by Jimmie Vaughan along with Grassroots citizens, farmers, ranchers, Teamsters, taxpayer watchdogs groups, Corridor Watch, San Antonio Toll Party, Texas Eagle Forum, and the gamut of freedom loving Texans across the state.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Penny Langford-Freeman, District Director for Congressman Ron PaulState Representative Nathan Macias, Gina Parker of the Texas Eagle ForumDavid Stall of Corridor Watch. or Terri Hall of San Antonio Toll Party.com (and Founder of a new statewide grassroots group called Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom or T.U.R.F.: www.TexasTURF.org)Judith McGeary, Executive Director, Farm and Ranch Freedom AllianceA host of elected representatives
WHEN: Friday, March 2, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Protest March down Congress Ave begins: 2:00 PM [staging area: First (Cesar Chavez) & Red River at 1:30 PM]Rally begins 2:30 PM
WHERE: Protest March – Congress Avenue (from 1st & Red River) Rally – South Capitol steps
In light of the stunning admission that increasing the gas tax and tolls are NOT NEEDED for future transportation projects as purported in a Texas Transportation Institute report called “Shaping the Competitive Advantage of Texas Metropolitan Regions: The role of Transportation, Housing & Aesthetics,” citizens and legislators alike are asking the Legislature to enact REAL reforms.
“Our Legislature cannot ignore the TRUTH and FACTS this report reveals and we believe they’ll finally take action to rein in TxDOT who is out of control and fixated on tolls. When they’ve purposely inflated their figures to push an agenda to benefit private corporations using monopolies rather than the taxpaying public, it’s time for the citizens’ voices to be heeded,” Hall contends.
Hall adds, “Given that there’s now a national coalition (“Americans for a Strong National Highway Network” see more here: http://satollparty.com/post/?p=523) fighting to keep our politicians from selling off America to the highest bidder, it’s fair to say the public awareness of this new shift to tolling is only increasing and that if we haven’t yet, we’re hitting critical mass. Politicians know they cannot afford to be on the WRONG side of this issue and expect to keep their job.”