"Many lawmakers believe [TxDOT] has all but ignored their frustrations over toll roads and the highly controversial Trans-Texas Corridor."
Houghton: Sunset not yet for Texas Transportation Commission
"The legislative process will work, we'll go through the process, and in May we'll see what we end up with." -- Ted Houghton, member of the Texas Transportation Commission.
12/19/08
by Sito Negron
Newspaper Tree (El Paso, TX)
Copyright 2008
Ted Houghton, one of five members of the Texas Transportation Commission, said following Tuesday's news that the state's Sunset Commission voted 7-5 to abolish the body that there is a long legislative session to go before anything is decided.
Houghton, whose term is up in February, said he thinks the commission in its present form "benefits the state of Texas and it benefits El Paso. That's (neither) here nor there. That's their assessment. The legislative process will work, we'll go through the process, and in May we'll see what we end up with."
Houghton, of El Paso, said "it's the governor's prerogative" as to whether to reappoint him. "I enjoy it but if he wants to move on that's fine with me too."
When asked important it is to El Paso to have a commissioner, he said, "I think you get a seat at the table. When you have a seat at the table it benefits the community instead of not having a seat at the table."
The Sunset Commission recommended replacing the TTC with one commissioner who reports to the legislature, the Dallas Morning News reported this week. [link]
The newspaper reported that "The single new commissioner would be appointed by the governor but subject to approval by the Senate every two years. Most important, he or she would answer to a new legislative oversight committee that would be granted sweeping powers to transform the transportation department, including reducing its nearly 15,000-member staff and streamlining the building of highways.
"Even among those voting no, sentiment was clearly in favor of making big changes at an agency many lawmakers believe has all but ignored their frustrations over toll roads and the highly controversial Trans-Texas Corridor."
© 2008 Newspaper Tree: www.newspapertree.com
To search TTC News Archives clickHERE
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog clickHERE
"The legislative process will work, we'll go through the process, and in May we'll see what we end up with." -- Ted Houghton, member of the Texas Transportation Commission.
12/19/08
by Sito Negron
Newspaper Tree (El Paso, TX)
Copyright 2008
Ted Houghton, one of five members of the Texas Transportation Commission, said following Tuesday's news that the state's Sunset Commission voted 7-5 to abolish the body that there is a long legislative session to go before anything is decided.
Houghton, whose term is up in February, said he thinks the commission in its present form "benefits the state of Texas and it benefits El Paso. That's (neither) here nor there. That's their assessment. The legislative process will work, we'll go through the process, and in May we'll see what we end up with."
Houghton, of El Paso, said "it's the governor's prerogative" as to whether to reappoint him. "I enjoy it but if he wants to move on that's fine with me too."
When asked important it is to El Paso to have a commissioner, he said, "I think you get a seat at the table. When you have a seat at the table it benefits the community instead of not having a seat at the table."
The Sunset Commission recommended replacing the TTC with one commissioner who reports to the legislature, the Dallas Morning News reported this week. [link]
The newspaper reported that "The single new commissioner would be appointed by the governor but subject to approval by the Senate every two years. Most important, he or she would answer to a new legislative oversight committee that would be granted sweeping powers to transform the transportation department, including reducing its nearly 15,000-member staff and streamlining the building of highways.
"Even among those voting no, sentiment was clearly in favor of making big changes at an agency many lawmakers believe has all but ignored their frustrations over toll roads and the highly controversial Trans-Texas Corridor."
© 2008 Newspaper Tree: www.newspapertree.com
To search TTC News Archives click
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, December 19, 2008
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