"We could put 50 Texans on the moon cheaper. And I've got a list."

Fly me to the moon . . .

11/18/04

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2004

The toll road opponents who gathered in Austin last weekend for a "summit" spent much of the day sharing statistics, strategies and rhetorical approaches to arguing the issue.

But for people who have spent most of the past year fighting the battle with keyboards and modems, the event also served as reinforcement that they have comrades in arms.

In part, that took the form of an unstated contest for best cheap shot at toll roads and toll advocates. Summit organizer David Stall of Fayette County, who along with wife Linda particularly dislikes Gov. Rick Perry's 4,000-mile Trans -Texas Corridor plan, probably earned that prize.

Stall took note of the plan's estimated $184 billion price tag.

"We could put 50 Texans on the moon cheaper," Stall said. "And I've got a list."

After the laughter died down, Stall topped himself: "Or we could take a hundred there one-way."

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