Defending Our Property Rights & Freedom to Travel
ELECTION UPDATE
Anti-tollers win majority of races!
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Whew! Anti-toll candidates won 6 of 11 run-off races!

Pat yourselves on the back! We now have some new allies in the fight against DOUBLE TAX toll roads and property rights abuses.

In the Hill Country (Texas House District 73), pro-toll incumbent Doug Miller got booted, but that hasn't stopped him from immediately getting in bed with the developers who funded his $2 million campaign. The Graham family, who is under threat of eminent domain for private gain from the Johnson Ranch housing development in Bulverde, just found out Doug Miller is listed as an 'expert witness' on behalf of the developer in a case against this Texas family.

READ ABOUT IT HERE.  
(It has a link to a video showing Miller literally kissing a lobbyist with business before his committee!)

Help this Texas family!
If you can help the Grahams by contributing to their legal fees, please contribute here and put a note that it's for the 'Graham legal defense fund'. 

Thankfully, Kyle Biedermann will be an advocate for the people, not their enemy, like Doug Miller was.  
  
RESULTS:  
Railroad Commission -
Wayne Christian

Judges -
None of the Good Guys won

Texas Senate -
Bryan Hughes - SD 1
Dawn Buckingham - SD 24

Texas House -
Cole Hefner - HD 5
Kyle Biedermann - HD 73
Briscoe Cain - HD 128 (Cain won by just 23 votes. The pro-toll incumbent is insisting on a recount even AFTER he conceded the race!)
San Antonio-
I-35 under threat of foreign toll operator!
TxDOT says 'private partner' identified for I-35!
While the press focused on the GOOD NEWS that the Texas Transportation Commission officially voted to take the tolls off both US 281 and I-10 in San Antonio, they didn't tell you what TxDOT's District Engineer said.

He revealed that the I-35 toll project has been identified for a Comprehensive Development Agreement with a private toll operator (ie - public private partnership like Cintra's failed SH 130). Guess what highway is Cintra's biggest competition? Interstate 35. So guess who wants control of I-35 in San Antonio? Cintra.

(Link goes right to Item #6)

Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff also says tolls still an option in San Antonio. Loop 1604 and I-35 still tagged for tolling.

BAD NEWS
The other bad news is that the TxDOT Minute Order still designates both I-10 and 281 as having an HOV lane, not a general purpose lane open to all cars.

Thank you to those who attended the final 281 meeting and flooded TxDOT with comments opposing the HOV lane. It puts us in a good position to stop it by generating controversy which could put a snag in them getting clearance.

So we have our work cut out for us to stop these ill-conceived plans in the Alamo City!
TURF meeting tonight

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TURF Meeting 
Thursday, June 2*       
Chester's Hamburgers
16609 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX
6:00 PM (for those ordering dinner)
6:30 PM (meeting begins) 

This will be our last meeting before our summer break. Get an update on the state party conventions, run-off elections, interim legislative action, high speed rail, and toll projects across Texas. There's also lots brewing on the property rights front.

Don't miss it! Come rain or shine! 
Democratic Convention coming in June
Help us gain more anti-toll supporters

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On the heels of our success with the GOP platform, it's time to focus our attention on the Democrat side of the aisle. The Democratic State Convention is coming to San Antonio June 16-18 at the Alamodome.

We've been invited by Texas Right to Know to have our materials at their booth. Please let Terri know if you'd like to help staff the booth and help us add more anti-toll folks to our ranks in time for the session next year.

Please contact Terri here.

We'll also be helping delegates get a strong anti-toll platform.

****************

CONSTITUTION WORKSHOP
Saturday, June 11
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brave New Books
1904 Guadalupe Street
Suite B (Below Chase Bank)
Austin, TX

For more info and to register, go here.
BE IN THE KNOW

GET THE SCOOP FIRST! SUBSCRIBE TO TERRI'S COLUMNS 

Despite Defeat, Miller executes more damage to property rights
   
........


Will Austin show Uber the door?

 
 
HEADLINES...
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Fight over Texas High Speed Rail heads to Washington
..........
Tolls vs. Trains: Which subsidy is better? 
We say NEITHER!
     Read more... 
.......... 

Study examines true cost of toll roads     
DONATE TODAY
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If you appreciate the work of the volunteers at Texans for Toll-free Highways, won't you please consider donating today? We need the resources to fight for YOU!

What do you get for your money?
1. Toll-free highways - which means lower taxes!
2. Legislative watchdog
3. Legislative Report Card and Voter Guide
We educate the public about what their lawmakers are doing and how to hold them accountable at the ballot box.
4. Help local communities fight toll roads in their backyard. We supply you with information on key public meetings and how to use the legal and political tools we've refined over a decade of advocacy. 

We'd appreciate a donation to support the work TTH 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