Don't mess with Midland -- or Odessa
Stop the presses! The House just sided with House Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland and kept in the budget a rider that would allow state universities such as UT-Permian Basin in Odessa to tap motor fuels tax money for campus parking lots and roads.
Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, proposed to kill rider language allowing $10 million from the Highway Fund to be used to build "access roads and parking lots for new facilities on public state university campuses." Members tabled Mr. Gallego's amendment by a mostly party-line vote of 96-50.
On Wednesday, Mr. Gallego said Mr. Craddick had asked budget writers for the language so the folks back home can get road and parking improvements for UT-Permian Basin's new performing arts center.
Late Thursday, Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee confirmed, "He discussed funding for UTPB and other state universities that had an issue with road access."
Ms. DeLee said a 1967 attorney general's opinion allowed Highway Fund money to be used for parking lots and driveways at state mental hospitals, tuberculosis hospitals and special schools for the mentally retarded.
"We think it's an appropriate use of funds," Ms. DeLee said.
Countered Mr. Gallego, "It's a legal use. ... I simply question whether it's the best use." He said Texas would be less tempted by toll roads if it told universities, "Find your own money for the parking lot."