HB1892 vs. SB792

Is It Too Late for a Leap of Faith?



The process of making law is seldom straight forward or predictable. First we had HB2772, then SB1929, then HB1892, then SB792. Still we have no moratorium law.


In the last week CorridorWatch has expressed a lot of concern about SB792 and continued our push for HB1892. Today that position shifts.


Our concern has been that SB792 would fly through the House and get nothing more than a rubber stamp in the process. Now it has become clear that will not happen. In fact, this morning the Austin American Statesman reported that, "By one estimate, there could be several dozen suggested amendments."


Thursday SB792 will arrive on the floor of the House, a place where it will certainly evolve into a different bill. We believe that it can emerge as a significantly stronger and better bill with an opportunity to become law.


CorridorWatch co-founder David Stall is at the Capitol today actively involved in the discussions of SB792. Stall reports that SB792 will not pass in the House without some very significant amendments. Those amendments will either make SB792 a better bill than HB1892 or will add enough baggage to kill it.


Stall also predicts that SB792 is unlikely to arrive on the Governor's desk in time to avoid a certain veto of HB1892. If SB792 fails to live up to our expectations a veto override could put HB1892 back in play.


CorridorWatch is confident that Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, author of the original moratorium bill, together and with support of other House members will amend SB792 in such a manner that it will merit our full support.


When HB1892 started it didn't give us a moratorium until Rep. Lois Kolkhorst added it as an amendment on the House floor. If history repeats, amendments will again transform a questionable bill into a good bill.


Bottom line, we don't care what number is on the bill as long as the end result is a bill that passes into law, a law that gives us a real and enforceable two-year moratorium on Trans Texas Corridor 35. That leverage can help stop TTC-35, TTC-69 and all future TTC projects in their current form.


Time is running out.


It's time to take a leap of faith.


Please, support your Representative, whatever the bill number.