Get Ready; We Smell a Veto
Every day we see more signs that the Governor plans to veto HB1892 - Thereby killing the CDA moratorium along with other controls it puts on TxDOT.
Can HB1892 remain veto proof?
It's far from automatic, but yes it can stay veto proof.
Overcoming a veto will require another vote in both houses of the legislature. At least 21 Senators and 100 Representatives must vote to overturn the veto upon the bills reconsideration. Any less in either house and the veto sticks and the bill dies.
Some political insiders are already predicting that the legislature will fold under the Governors' pressure. We give them more credit, but only if citizens like you give them the encouragement and support they need.
All Ayes focus on the Senate.
Sustaining a veto is a simple numbers game. In the Senate those numbers are smaller and the Governor has a four vote head start towards the eleven Nay votes he will need to kill HB1892. We must fight as hard to keep our support as the Governor will fight to tear it down.
Legal opinions are just that, opinions.
Watch for the Governor to claim legal issues require him to veto HB1892. Others say hogwash.
TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration are working overtime to gin up legal objections to the moratorium bill. Here's a preview of their claims.
As you might expect these legal challenges are not widely accepted outside the world of TxDOT. That not withstanding, TxDOT, the FHWA and the Governor hope they can create enough smoke to obscure the real impact of HB1892.
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has already called on the Federal Highway Administration to remove the cloud over this legislation. [letter]Don't get distracted by the legal smoke screen.Bait and switch.A bill on the desk is worth two on the calendar.
There are some indications that Governor Perry may offer his acceptance of the SB1267 moratorium bill in exchange for support being withdrawn from HB1892. Everyone should understand that would not be a compromise, it's a surrender. We need the full range of protections afforded by HB1892 that are missing from SB1267. Moreover it is impossible to take any assurances that SB1267 would ever become law. Let's not fall for this ploy. Let's all just say no and reconfirm our support for HB1892.Will Our Senators and Representatives Continue Standing-Up For the People of Texas? With your help we believe they will.CorridorWatch will be watching and reporting.For More Frequent Updates Visit: CorridorWatch.org
