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Texas Reverses National Toll-Road Trend
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TOLL-ROAD TAKEOVER—TexPIRG, along with advocates from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, has used research and public opposition to stall plans to turn over control of public roads. |
TexPIRG, along with PIRGs in two other states, released reports highlighting the problems associated with irresponsible privatization of toll roads—and all three states saw subsequent victories. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas governors each partially retreated from their plans to relinquish toll revenue and control of transportation policy to private companies.
The actions of the governors represent a reversal of a national trend exemplified in Chicago and Indiana, where officials accepted large short-term revenue from toll operating companies at the expense of public ownership of their roads.
Our recent position paper, “Six Public Interest Principles for Considering Private Toll Roads,” established TexPIRG as the authority on toll road privatization in what is sure to be a continuing battle. Recently, the Texas Legislature passed a two-year moratorium on privatizing many road projects for the Trans-Texas Corridor.
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States Snuff Out
Secondhand Smoke
A TexPIRG-backed measure to ban public smoking in pubs, bars and taverns in Houston went into effect over Labor Day weekend. Texas’ largest city going smoke-free will hopefully provide the tipping point for momentum to make the state smoke-free in 2009. Similar strategies have been successful in other states, such as Maryland, where a smoking ban in Baltimore recently led to a statewide ban.
Oregon and Illinois, thanks in part to the work of OSPIRG and Illinois PIRG, respectively, will also join the 35 states with some kind of smoking ban. Illinois passed their ban through the Legislature on May 1, and Oregon did the same on June 18. With city-wide initiatives achieving success in Texas, TexPIRG is preparing for a renewed fight for a statewide ban in the next legislative session.
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Small Steps Forward For Texas Homeowners
In the past legislative session, TexPIRG supported measures to reform the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), the agency charged with settling disputes between homeowners and builders. Though the successful bill was not as strong as TexPIRG had desired, it does represent a strong first step in our efforts to reform the agency. The TRCC now has greater regulatory authority and can levy much stiffer penalties for builders found in the wrong. The commission itself, however, continues to be dominated by representatives of the building industry, and Texas home- buyers still have no right to appeal to regular courts of law.
TexPIRG also fought off an attempt to delay the TRCC’s first review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, currently slated for 2009. The Sunset review process gives Texans an opportunity to voice concerns about the performance and effectiveness of government agencies like the TRCC. TexPIRG has already begun to lay the groundwork for the TRCC’s review in 2009.
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Texas’ Payday Lenders
Elude Reforms
Texas’ payday lenders and their powerful lobby managed to fend off a series of measures aimed at reining in predatory lending practices this past legislative session. Even a bill designed to shield military personnel and their families from predatory lending failed to make it through the Legislature.
Other states, however, have successfully battled the lenders, both inside and out of their legislatures. Oregon’s state government passed a bill that capped payday lending interest rates—and within weeks the payday lenders had closed shop and moved on. TexPIRG is actively pursuing such a strategy while preparing for future sessions.
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