By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-838868.mp3
Austin, TX – The state Republican Party has launched an effort to kill legislation that would allow North Texas to raise local money for roads or rail systems. KERA's Shelley Kofler has more on create efforts to keep it alive.
Thursday morning the Republican Party's executive committee sent out an email alert. It urged Texans to call lawmakers and tell them they oppose legislation that would give local voters the option of raising their own taxes or fees. The money would then stay in that region to build roads or rail lines.
The Republican author of the bill said his own party doesn't understand the legislation. Dallas Senator John Carona says people working against the bill are doing so for political gain.
Carona: I was sent down here to try to lead on issues and solve problems and unfortunately sometimes in the effort to solve problems politics gets in the way
When Carona first introduced the bill it allowed counties in North Texas -and two other regions- to give voters a choice of six options for raising local money. One of the goals in North Texas is to build more than 200-miles of rail lines that would connect the region.
In the House the bill was radically changed and the only funding option left was - a 10-cent a gallon gas tax. Thursday, as it looked like the measure would sink, Carona got creative and added it to the transportation sunset bill.
Carona: I've found its good to find insurance where ever you can and the insurance with this is to plant that bill in as many legislative vehicles as possible
In addition to the gas tax local voters could now raise money by agreeing to small increases in vehicle registration or drivers license fees.
Republican Vicki Truitt of Keller, the House sponsor, says the opposition comes from an association with the T-word.
Truitt: There are people who don't like any kind of a tax and I don't particularly like taxes or fees either. But the fact of the matter is it takes money to build roads.
To keep alive the opportunity to raise that money Truitt and Carona will now have to convince their own Republican party as well as a majority of lawmakers.