Defending Our Property Rights & Freedom to Travel
VOTE 'YES' on PROP 7 TODAY!
Prop 7 boosts road funding for NON-TOLL roads ONLY
The word Vote on a red ballot box for collecting votes and ballots in a democratic election to choose a new president, governor, representative, senator, congressman or other official or
We're being bombarded with mailers and commercials about Prop 7. Some of those pushing the amendment come from names many grassroots voters distrust, like Karen Rove, Karl Rove's wife. But be not dismayed!

We're here to tell you Prop 7 is a good amendment you can vote for!

Prop 7 is a road funding solution to greatly reduce, if not eliminate, toll roads in Texas. We the PEOPLE pushed for this amendment. Many ask why can't they just do this with a state law? Why is a constitutional amendment necessary? Frankly, because budget writers cannot be trusted to follow the law. Transportation is taken for granted and our road taxes are often raided for non-road uses. We've seen lawmakers habitually divert road funds not allowed by the Texas Constitution with no consequences. So state leaders as well as the grassroots know that short of protecting these funds through a constitutional amendment, it's highly likely all these new road funds being dedicated to the highway fund would not make it to the right place.

Without Prop 7, you'll see more toll roads
In San Antonio, local officials have made the 281 project non-toll contingent upon passage of Prop 7. If it doesn't pass, 281 may be reverted back to a toll road. The same is true for I-10. Other areas of the state have identified similar road projects for Prop 7 funds, including I-35 in Austin. If Prop 7 doesn't pass, I-35 will be tolled!

Spread the word!
Vote 'Yes' on Prop 7

Election Day: November 3
Polls open until 7:00 PM!

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ELECTION 2016 
WAYNE SMITH: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 
If it's one thing voters can't handle, it's politicians who stand to financially gain from their positions of power. One pro-toll State Rep. from Houston, Wayne Smith, is among them. Check out why his opponent is raising Cain!
 
 
Property rights ALERT!
Attend these important public meetings Nov. 19
train_highway.jpg November 19 is shaping up to be a very important date in Texas.

Property rights are under threat at every front, and there are two very important meetings that you need to be aware of and try to attend.

ATTENTION ELLIS COUNTY RESIDENTS
First, in Ellis County, their Sub Regional Planning Commission (dubbed 391 commission) is holding a meeting regarding the NEGATIVE impacts of the high speed rail plan from Houston the Dallas. The meeting is open to the public and you're encouraged to attend. This PRIVATE, FOREIGN company has the power of eminent domain for its PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT high speed rail through the heart of rural Texas. Both TxDOT and Texas Central Railway (TCR) company representatives will be in attendance.

The Sub Regional Planning Commission is a Texas State Agency recently established in Ellis County. It will be conducting an official public meeting where county commissioners and experts will be expressing concerns through a question and answer session.

Considering the time frame of 90 minutes, there may not be enough time for the public to question TxDOT and the TCR officials directly. Therefore, they will incorporate your questions into the Q&A.

Submit your questions to Marty Hiles by email Tx-CC@att.net.

HIGH SPEED RAIL MEETING
Sub Regional Planning Commission
Thursday, November 19, 2015
2:00 PM
Ennis National Bank Event Center
116 W. Ennis Ave.
Ennis, Texas 75119

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A macro zoom on a faucet driping water. Project created using 3d app. ATTENTION TEXAS HILL COUNTRY RESIDENTS
Another massive housing development, 4S Ranch, is coming to Bulverde, Texas. The size of Johnson Ranch is dwarfed by 4S Ranch, and it, too, wants the state version of the EPA, known as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), to allow them to dump hundreds of thousands of gallons of treated sewage onto its neighbors' properties, which will flow into Lewis Creek and eventually affect our drinking water.

There's a reason why many septic systems have signs nearby that say 'Non-potable Water. DO NOT DRINK!' It's because it isn't safe to drink, even when it's treated.

Anyone who cares about property rights under threat from developers, anyone who cares about the continued degradation of the drinking water in the Hill Country, and anyone worried about further flooding from over-development of the Hill Country, needs to attend the TCEQ public hearing on November 19!

TCEQ Public Meeting
4S Ranch Permit for Wastewater Treatment Plant
Thursday, November 19, 2015
7:00 PM
EMS Building
353 Rodeo Drive
Spring Branch, TX

TCEQ and other officials will answer the public's questions on the proposed wastewater treatment plant. To our knowledge, TCEQ has
NEVER denied a developer's permit to dump treated sewage onto other property owner's land. The public must attend and
SPEAK OUT to prevent this land grabbing and further potential flood problems in Bulverde.
Next TURF Meeting

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Join us for our next
TURF Gathering 
Wednesday, November 18   
Chester's Hamburgers
16609 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX
6:00 PM (for those ordering dinner)
6:30 PM (meeting begins) 

To make accommodations for you to attend the important public meetings November 19 (see above), we're moving our next TURF meeting to Wednesday, Nov. 18. We'll have all the latest news on the outcome of today's election as well as the status of toll projects and transportation issues across Texas and the nation.  

Don't miss it! It's our last meeting of 2015! 
Obama's rule change means more gas taxes for non-road uses
Submit public comments on the rule change TODAY
Take action road sign If you're like me, you're LIVID when officials divert our road taxes to non-road purposes. We finally ended all but the constitutionally mandated diversions of our state gasoline tax this session (the 25% that goes to public schools remains), but now with the Obama Administration's proposed rule change, more of our federal gas tax money can go to non-road uses like rail, transit, and hike and bike trails!

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URGENT ACTION ITEM
Submit comments opposing the rule change here.
(Comments accepted thru December 7)

Tell the Federal Highway Administration to:
"Keep our road taxes for ROADS, not rail, transit, or other non-road uses."

Help us spread the word!

BE IN THE KNOW... 

GET THE SCOOP FIRST! SUBSCRIBE TO TERRI'S COLUMNS 

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Rep. Wayne Smith has conflicts of interest voters need to know about
Smith record on tolls causing opponent to raise Cain

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Michael Morris: The man behind the largest toll network California-izing Texas

  READ MORE HERE. 
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HEADLINES...
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Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announces interim studies on transportation  
Includes investigation of RMA waste, TxDOT's plan to eliminate toll roads, and block Mobility Funds from going to toll roads  
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Drug cartels using empty SH 130 toll road to traffic meth into Texas
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New poll claims Texans like toll roads because usage is up 
Well, yeah, because the number of toll roads keeps increasing and the amount of freeway choices is shrinking.  
  Read More... 
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DONATE TODAY
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With the 84th legislative session now over, our work continues educating the public about what their lawmakers did and how to hold them accountable at the ballot box. We'll also continue to help local communities fight toll roads in their backyard using the legal and political tools we've refined over a decade of advocacy. We provide vital materials like a Legislative Report Card and Voter Guide, all of which takes resources.

We'd appreciate a donation to support the work TURF does on behalf of taxpayers.

With HUNDREDS of toll projects planned in Texas, EVERYONE will be effected by these NEW taxes!

Or send in a check to:
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (or TURF)
PO Box 29254
San Antonio, TX 78229-0254
"I...place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared... Taxation follows that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression."
--Thomas Jefferson,
Letter to William Plumer, 1816
© 2015 Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom