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Pol. adv. authorized by the Libertarian Party of Texas, P.O. Box 41059, Austin, TX 78704, 1-800-422-1776
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Libertarians Lobby Legislature to Kill
New Taxes and Toll Roads
AUSTIN, TEXAS - July 1, 2009 - By the order of Governor Rick Perry, the Texas Legislature convenes Wednesday July 1st for a Special Session to push three bills that could raise taxes to pay for private foreign-owned monopolies of Texas toll roads.
Libertarians are working together with TURF, Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, to stop what some have dubbed the largest tax increase in Texas history.
On Wednesday morning, Libertarians from across the state will converge at the capitol, and call their state representatives to demand a stop to public-private partnerships funded with Texas tax dollars and pension funds.
"Toll roads cost up to twice as much to build as non-tolled expressways," said LPT Executive Director Robert Butler. "The toll roads aren't a free market privatization plan. You're granting monopoly rights to private operators. The bonds backing these toll roads have clauses that prevent competition and are guaranteed with tax dollars."
In 2007, by a combined vote of 169-5, the Texas Legislature passed a moratorium on private toll contracts, called comprehensive development agreements (or CDAs) that privatize and sell Texas highways to the highest bidder. That moratorium ends August 31, 2009, and CDAs, except for approximately a dozen projects that were exempted, sunset with it. CDAs are the primary financial vehicle used to construct the Trans Texas Corridor.
"I want to cut taxes and spending," declared Libertarian activist Wes Benedict. "They have refused to approve low-cost road improvements claiming they don't have the funds, then propose rail and toll roads which cost up to ten times more than buses and non-tolled roads per passenger mile of added capacity. Light rail and toll roads cost too much and do too little."
Libertarian Party of Texas
Fiscally Conservative, Socially Tolerant
