Vote NO to Constitutional Amendment No. 1

Submitted by Thomas L. Korkmas

Constitutional Amendment No. 1, The constitutional amendment creating the Texas rail relocation and improvement fund and authorizing grants of money and issuance of obligations for financing the relocation, rehabilitation, and expansion of rail facilities.

This Amendment goes far beyond what the above ballot wording indicates. The text of H.J.R. No. 54 (Amendment No. 1) specifically mentions "financing the relocation and improvement of privately and publicly owned passenger and freight rail facilities…" The text goes on to mention four specific purposes: relieving congestion on public highways; enhancing public safety; improving air quality; or expanding economic opportunity.

It is important to note that there are no publicly owned railroads in the State of Texas except those operated by regional transportation authorities, so the question becomes: Why is there nothing prohibiting these funds from being spent to relocate, or add, the miles of railroad track necessary to facilitate the Trans-Texas Corridor, a hundreds of millions dollar project.
Nor is there anything in Amendment 1 that prohibits state funds from being used to expand, relocate or improve any of the Houston METRO, Dallas DART rail lines or future regional transportation districts. Are we being asked to pay for infrastructure improvements and maintenance to make other funds available to make up the deficits of the transportation districts? In fact, It is entirely permissible to use these funds to finance a privately owned scenic railroad or a future railroad taking patrons from a city to an island casino.

While it might be nice to eliminate rail lines running through the downtown areas, there is nothing specific in H.J.R. No. 54 stating such purpose. Please read this for yourself by going to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ and looking at the full text BEFORE you vote.

Trans-Texas Corridor...YES or NO?

Post Your Thoughts and Comments!


-NO! The Trans-Texas Corridor is not just one corridor but numerous corridors that bisect the state cutting off many smaller towns and cities and benefiting the industrial midwest and northeast. It will significantly diminish the tax base of many counties and its primary benefit to Texas residents is that it will keep many large trucks off of our highways.

posted by Anonymous

$ - Money for great deals!

I have seen some great deals: someone's buying at less than half of what it is worth, and fixing it up to sell it for twice what they will have in it. It's hard to believe those people dont have money chasing them, no matter what their credit. Tell me about the lenders you know who can help us close deals!

Jack Jacobson
SWE Homes