COURAGE is not a 3 letter word. Courage; a willingness to discover & examine the facts; and then take bold action offer the ANTIDOTE for APATHY. COURAGE underlies SEN. STEVE OGDEN's moves to take responsibility for co-authoring & selling Rep. MIKE KRUSEE's HB 3588 (TTC & 'universal' Tolling) to the Senate. That gave legs to the Trans-Texas Corridors & assumption that every roadway needed to be tolled using Proposition 15 to usher in a privatization feeding frenzy unequaled anywhere in the USA. OGDEN has stated there are powerful forces determined to dim the spotlight & mute the voices to keep the elected officials & public from realizing the magnitude of the policy to coverup & protect the appointees, bureaucrats, & elected "enablers" who likely stand to benefit from the excesses involved or escape scrutiny for inaction. TX State Auditors revealed that one California law firm (Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliot), hired by Williamson, has been paid some $30 million so far to implement PERRY's insidious transportation policies. Transportation Commission CHAIRMAN WILLIAMSON (PERRY's annointed enforcer) defended the payout stating, “They’re a unique firm”. I guess! Until now those ordinary citizens who have done the hard research that our elected have not, have been called "kooks" by the governor & his TxDOT goliath and dismissed as being "misinformed". They wish. The blinders & earplugs are beginning to be cast off in Austin. Urban, suburban, and rural voices are sounding together. COURAGE is the key but dogged determination and hard work are essential. That work has begun with the HEARINGS in the SENATE Transportation Cmte. chaired by courageous SENATOR JOHN CARONA with the active participation of many committee members as MARCH roared in. 'Apathyzers & cop outs' need not apply. Citizens & elected officials who remember that it is for "we the people" and "in GOD we trust" & for the public trust.. take heart! I am one; WE are MANY. Courage becomes us ALL. 

Posted by martha in waller county on March 5, 2007 back from the battlefront at the CAPITOL...