Texans For Kay

San Marcos, TX – Speaking to the Texas Farm Bureau’s 2010 Leadership Conference, Kay Bailey Hutchison expressed concern for landowners and the future of the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) following Governor Perry’s defense of his proposed 600,000 acre land grab in the second Republican Primary debate.

“As you know, we had a debate last Friday. For those of you who did have a chance to see it, the Governor made a pretty bold statement. He said that the Trans-Texas Corridor was not a mistake,” said Hutchison. “Today, I have a message for the Governor. It was a mistake to propose taking nearly 600,000 acres of our land. It was a mistake to try to run over our private property rights. It was a mistake to waste $131 million in taxpayer money on roads that were never built.”

Hutchison pointed out the culture of corruption that has become prevalent in Austin and offered a plan to clean up government and give it back to Texans and killing the Trans-Texas Corridor once-and-for-all.

“The Governor says the TTC is dead. But the TTC mentality of tolls, taxes and back-room deals that put lobbyists and campaign contributors first and Texans second, still exists to this day. The TTC is still on the books, the Governor stands behind the toll road only mentality and the only way to ensure that your voice is heard in the Governor’s Office is to hire a Perry insider or make a campaign contribution,” continued Hutchison, whose campaign for governor has been endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau.

Hutchison also addressed the issue of eminent domain reform, touting her plan to protect our land from the creeping expansion of eminent domain and from being taken for private profit. Among her first acts as Governor will be to issue an “emergency declaration” so the Legislature may consider these measures in the first 60 days of the session.

“The most frightening thing about Governor Perry’s enthusiasm for the Trans Texas Corridor is his steadfast refusal to reform eminent domain," agreed Kenneth Dierschke, President of the Texas Farm Bureau.  "The half million acre taking for the TTC could have been devastating for Texas property owners. It still might. Governor Perry’s TTC plan, putting a foreign owned company in charge of Texas roads, demonstrates a lack of judgment and leadership. A safely reelected Governor Perry could well revive the TTC because all of the statutes authorizing it are still on the books. The only way to truly kill it is to elect Kay Bailey Hutchison as governor and repeal those statues under her leadership. We trust Kay to get this done."