As Uncle Bob notes in the comments to this post, US Rep. John Culberson is stopping at nothing to impose his will on the city of Houston.
Culberson, a fierce rail opponent, used his position on the House transportation appropriations subcommittee to insert in July a provision -- applicable to no other city -- that no federal rail funds may be given for "any segment of a light rail system in Houston that has not been specifically approved by a majority of the participating voters." The 2004 transportation appropriations bill has passed the House and is awaiting Senate action.Culberson's release of the [Federal Transit Administration] letter prompted the Metropolitan Transit Authority's board of directors to call a special meeting Wednesday to consider amending the ballot language.
The letter from William Sears, chief FTA counsel, throws Metro's election into chaos because changing the ballot language within 45 days of an election might run afoul of the Texas Election Code. And if the language isn't changed, Houston would see no more light rail in the near future if the FTA denies federal funding needed to build the lines.
Culberson asked Sears on Sept. 4 for the opinion on Metro's ballot language, which the board adopted Aug. 18 and tweaked Aug. 28.
In the letter to Culberson dated Sept. 10, Sears responded that "because the ballot does not identify the segments at issue, section 163 [of the pending bill] would prohibit FTA funding of the design, construction, or maintenance of any segments pursued under the authority of that vote."
This week's controversy follows a track familiar to Metro, which was banned from receiving federal funds for the Main Street light rail line three years ago. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, objected because there was no vote on that line. Metro then built the $324 million project, opening Jan. 1, using its budget.
Culberson's 11th-hour maneuver puts the Metro board in a difficult position. State law requires an election, including a description of the measure, to be filed within 45 days of Election Day. For the Nov. 4 election, that deadline is Saturday. But Metro can't convene today or Saturday because another provision of state law requires 72 hours notice to hold a public meeting.
The timing of Culberson's release of the FTA letter is not likely a coincidence. He has battled Metro intensely, arguing the transit plan does nothing to reduce traffic congestion or improve mobility for his west Houston constituents. Almost all of Metro's rail expansion would be built inside Loop 610.
Go ahead, Chuck, tell us how you really feel.
I wish I were surprised. I'm not, I'm just mad. And I suspect I'll be madder when I hear the crickets chirping from most of the local Republican rail-haters, who ought to be condemning this maneuver on principle.
Posted by: Ginger on September 19, 2003 4:46 PMWell, being an Austin resident, all I can say is "Wow. The State has decided to expand and pick on a different city besides Austin." I don't follow state politics all that closely (at least, not until redistricting), so I'm probably spouting off all uninformed. But I do know that Texas has had it in for Austin for a couple decades now.
Posted by: Eric on September 19, 2003 4:54 PMWell, being an Austin resident, all I can say is "Wow. The State has decided to expand and pick on a different city besides Austin." I don't follow state politics all that closely (at least, not until redistricting), so I'm probably spouting off all uninformed. But I do know that Texas has had it in for Austin for a couple decades now.
Posted by: Eric on September 19, 2003 4:54 PMOops. Sorry 'bout that.
Posted by: Eric on September 19, 2003 4:54 PMHave you read his website? He says that he's been to ANWR in alaska and that there is no wildlife there that its all lies propigated by the environmental extremists. I read other things on his site that make him sound like a complete moron. So what kills me is that when I went to vote (before I moved inner loop this summer). I noticed that he had NO democratic challenger. Now I know its probably a safe R district but please there should at least be someone else to vote for besides this moron. . .
F'n infuriating. His office phone number is (202) 225-2571, Houston office (713) 682-8828. I don't know if they work weekends, but I intend to find out.
This is really outrageous. A few things about my experiences with Culberson:
1)he is a strong supporter of a flag burning amendment
2)at a town hall meeting I attended after Congress voted on preemptive force against Iraq, Culberson said, "The evidence that the Bush administration gave was very compelling. Unfortunately, I can't reveal any of this information, but let me say I trust the president, and I think you should too. " (my paraphrase).
3)Culberson fought for an amendment advocating the exclusion of France and Germany from contracts to rebuild Iraq.
I call Culberson often, and I have to say, I feel like I am talking to a brick wall. He wins with a like 90% vote every two years. Why does he have to change?
Posted by: Robert Nagle on September 20, 2003 5:24 PMUnfortunately, he was my congresscreature up until recently when I moved to Richmond (now even more unfortunately, Tom DeLay is my congresscreature).
I wrote a handful of letters to him in the run-up charade before Bush did what he intended to all along and attacked Iraq because he felt it would win him votes and help Dick Cheney get some Halliburton brownie points. The gist of the letters was that no one was seriously contemplating what we were getting ourselves into.
He always sent letters of reply, and always along the lines of President Bush is a magnificent chief executive and I'd trust him with my wife's bare bottom, so whatever he says, I do without question.
In my opinion he's intelligent, calculating, and interested only in his own advancement. All the conservatives in my former voting district cum all over themselves to vote for him because no one else is running and anyway they'd be damned if they'd vote for some unpatriotic commie Democrat. Just my 4 cents.
Posted by: UncleBob on September 25, 2003 7:53 AMWhat must be done to get rid of this man?
Posted by: W.F. Snakes on August 13, 2006 11:21 PM