Texas State Railroad Update

[SHANEA]

SAVE   TEXAS   PARKS
 
Your efforts to keep the Texas State Railroad as part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and thus belonging to the people of Texas, have been enormous.  We have made much progress!  The following is an informational update AND a request to continue our efforts to have this park properly funded by the Texas Legislature.
 
There has been legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate to have the TSRR funded through this biennium with $7.8 million (TPWD requested $11.8 million).
 
In the House, Rep. Chuck Hopson (D-Dist. 11) introduced a RIDER for the funding of the TSRR in Article 11 (a catch-all after specific appropriations) which has been voted out of the Appropriations Committee and will be addressed by the House this week.  So, we could have the House side of the funding for the TSRR by the end of the week.  Those who need to be contacted include your Representative from your District first, then the Speaker of the House Tom Cradduck,  Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum,  Rep. Chuck Hopson, all other members of the Appropriations Committee and then all members of the House of Representatives.
 
In the Senate, Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Dist. 3) introduced a RIDER for funding of the TSRR (a companion to the House Rider); but the Nichols-Senate Rider has an attachment which states if state funding does not occur then the funds would go to the Rail Authority and the private operator.  WE CAN NOT SUPPORT THE NICHOLS-SENATE RIDER.  This is still being considered by the Senate Finance Committee and could be voted out to the Senate.  We all need to contact Sen. Nichols to ask him to separate the funding by the state and the funding for the Rail Authority so they can be considered separately. This is only fair.  It must be either state funding or a private operator.  And State funding should be considered first.  A sample letter attached can be used.
 
Also, bills have been introduced to transfer the Texas State Railroad to a created Rail Authority which would then contract with a private operator.  The bills are in the House, HB3113, and in the Senate, SB1659.  Of course, we oppose these bills.  If State funding for the TSRR occurs with these RIDERS, these bills would be unnecessary.
 
I know this is a tall order to contact these legislators.  Most important is to contact your Legislators first, your House of Representative Member.  ASK THEM TO VOTE FOR THE RIDER SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR THE TEXAS STATE RAILROAD STATE PARK in the appropriate budget.
 
The easiest way to find the contact information of any legislator is to google their name, go to their site, and go to contact us. You can go to our website, savetexasparks.com , to find your contact information. Or click on the legislator below.
 
There are five ways to contact, and all are important.  I use them all.  First, and most important is a personal, eye to eye meeting.  Next is a phone call.  Then email is effective.  Next to the best way is a custom, personal letter that is faxed first, and then mailed.  From a constituent is most effective; however, those who are over the Chambers and Chairmen of Committees will respond to an effective contact.
 
I know this is lengthy, but it is very important.  I have other causes we need to support, but I will inform you in another mailing.  I will attach a sample letter to your legislators and list the committees below.  
 
Each of your contacts is important.  Without your input the Texas State Railroad could be lost to the people of Texas forever.  This is the way our democracy works and your contribution is vital.  Speak to be heard or be silent and .......accept what happens.
 
Michael Banks, DDS
Save Texas Parks
606 Brookside Drive, Jacksonville, Texas   75766
903-586-1551

[Picacho]

Thanks for the information.  The Texas State Railroad is a state treasure and I recommend a visit to the park and a ride on the train.  Let's all get together and save it.  

Texas State Railroad

SAVE THE TEXAS STATE RAILROAD

Friends of TSRR and Friends of the Neches River have won a GREAT VICTORY!  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Dept. has designated a part of the Neches River as a National Wildlife Refuge, thereby blocking the efforts of Dallas to build a reservoir on the river.  A very vocal, active grassroots effort has resulted in this victory for the people of Anderson and Cherokee Counties.  This means that the railroad tracks between Rusk and Palestine will not be under water.  It also means that the area will benefit economically from the refuge, and the free-flowing Neches River and it's wildlife habitat will be there for all future generations to learn from and to enjoy.

[SHANEA]

The Texas State Railroad is a state treasure and I recommend a visit to the park and a ride on the train.

There are many treasures in Texas that seriously need funding for repair and upkeep.

[SHANEA]

I just received this from Michael Banks who is heading up this.  I believe he is a dentist in Jacksonville.  "Michael Banks" <mdbanksdds@gmail.com>

SAVE   TEXAS   PARKS
 
Time has come for possibly the only public discussion for the consideration of the transfer of the Texas State Railroad to a rail authority and thus a private operator.
 
Public hearings have been scheduled for Senate Bill 1659 authored by Sen. Robert Nichols and House Bill 3113 authored by Rep. Byron Cook.  Both bills are identical and are related to the transfer of the Texas State Railroad to, and the creation of, the Texas State Railroad Authority.
 
SB 1659 is assigned to the Senate Natural Resources Committee (members below).  The committee will meet to hold public hearings on this and other bills at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 in Room E1.012 (Hearing Room), State Capitol, Austin, Texas.
 
HB 3113 is assigned to the House Culture, Recreation, & Tourism Committee (members below).  The committee will meet to hold public hearings on this and other bills at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 in Room E2.014, State Capitol, Austin, Texas.
 
IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE TEXAS STATE RAILROAD TRANSFERRED FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS  TO A PRIVATE OPERATOR, HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
 
1. Bombard the committee members below with emails, phone calls, and faxes.  Simply say, "I do not want the Texas State Railroad transferred away from the state to a rail authority who would give it to a private operator."  OR  "I want the state of Texas to keep the Texas State Railroad and properly fund it."
 
2. Come to the committee hearings.  You can sign in against the bills and observe and not have to say a word, or you may speak against the bills, or you may hold one of our signs, or you can just be there in opposition and observe the democratic process at work.
 
You may join up with our delegation at the Capitol Rotunda at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 10, 2007.  I will be holding a white sign with red lettering that says "KEEP  TSRR".  We will then coordinate our locations, since we have two meetings to attend, basically at the same time.  My cell phone is 903-372-1987.

I know this is short notice, but that is the way they operate. There is very little transparency or sunshine here, if you know what I mean!  "Darkness does not like the LIGHT"  - from my pastor, Dr. Bruce Webb, today, Easter Sunday, 2007.
 
Michael D. Banks, DDS
President, Save Texas Parks     903-586-1551
"Michael Banks" <mdbanksdds@gmail.com>
 
 All state representatives have an email address that is of the same formula:  Firstname.Lastname@house.state.tx.us ; all state senators have an email address that is of the same formula:  Firstname.Lastname@senate.state.tx.us  -- but all also have email connections from their websites.
 
Senate Committee on Natural Resources
                              Phone:                   Fax:
Sen. Kip Averitt        512-463-0122         512-475-3729
Sen. Craig Estes      512-463-0130         512-463-8874
Sen. Kim Brimer       512-463-0110         512-475-3745
Sen. Bob Deuell       512-463-0102         512-463-7202
Sen. Robert Ducan   512-463-0128         512-463-2424
Sen. Kevin Eltife       512-463-0101        
Sen. Glenn Hegar     512-463-0118         512-475-3736
Sen. Juan Hinojosa   512-463-0120         512-463-0229
Sen. Mike Jackson    512-463-0111        512-475-3727
Sen. Kel Seliger        512-463-0131        512-475-3733
Sen. Carlos Uresti     512-463-0119        512-463-1017
 
House Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
 
Rep. Harvey Hilderebran  512-463-0536   512-463-1449
Rep. Edmund Kuempel    512-463-0602    512-480-0391
Rep. Dawnna Dukes        512-463-0506    512-463-7864
Rep. Mark Homer            512-463-0605    512-463-0575
Rep. Donna Howard        512-463-0631    512-463-0901
Rep. Mike O'Day             512-463-0707    800-878-6826
Rep. Larry Phillips           512-463-0297    512-463-1561

[SHANEA]

 SAVE   TEXAS   PARKS
Here are some talking points for your letters.  Get after it!

Thanks,
Michael

Dear Editor:
 
The Texas State Railroad is a state park which operates steam engine trains between the East Texas towns of Rusk, in Cherokee County and Palestine, in Anderson County.  Last year over 70,000 riders rode the train which has been operated by the state for 31 years.
 
The future of the Texas State Railroad must really be a political hot potato, because it is difficult to get some politicians to commit to either side. On one side, the Operating Agency group from Rusk and Palestine is for privatization.  On the other side is our group of Save Texas Parks, who represent those local folks and the people of the state of Texas, and are for continued state funding and operation of the railroad.
 
Public hearings have been scheduled for Senate Bill 1659 authored by Sen. Robert Nichols and House Bill 3113 authored by Rep. Byron Cook.  Both bills are identical and are related to the transfer of the Texas State Railroad to, and the creation of, the Texas State Railroad Authority.  This would lead to privatization of the Texas State Railroad.
 
The privatization bills definitely do not represent the interest of the people of Texas; they give away the people's asset of $130,000,000 to an out-of-state company in eight years, along with $12,000,000, now.  The TSRR could be operated by the state, with improvements, for $7.8 million; with after revenue, a net cost of only $3.4 million over two years.  The legislature, our elected officials, does crazy things.
 
The fees to ride the train will double or triple with the private operator, making it difficult for the common Texan to afford the family recreational experience now furnished by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  There will be no more "kids ride free".  It will no longer be a state park.
 
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will NOT make a static display out of the TSRR; the legislature may, but not the Department.
 
Executive Director Robert Cook told me last week, the Department loves the Texas State Railroad and wants to operate it as a state park.  And they have asked for the funds the way they ask for all park funds through their Legislative Appropriations Request.  If the TSRR is not funded, it is because our local elected officials do not have enough swing to get the funding done.  But they could have enough swing to give the Railroad away.  It just does not make sense.  My State Representative, Chuck Hopson, does have the legislation to fund the Railroad and does support state operation as a first option.
 
The operation of the Texas State Railroad is critical to our local economy.  It puts close to $20,000,000 into our local system every two years.  With the state, it is a sure thing.  With the out-of-state operator under contract, it is a risk; they have failed before.
 
The only public hearings for input before this is decided could be this next Tuesday (April 10) in Austin.  It is imperative you contact your local elected officials by email, phone, fax or in person to express your opinion.  Your local newspaper will inform you of your elected officials' contact information.
 
This is the way our democratic system works.  If we do not vote and speak up, then we must accepts the results.
 
Michael  D. Banks, DDS
President, Save Texas Parks
606 Brookside Drive
Jacksonville, Texas
903-586-1551

[SHANEA]

SAVE   TEXAS   PARKS
 
This is a simple and effective task.
 
The Legislative Budget Board is chaired by the Lt.Gov and the Speaker.  This committee controls most of the budget decisions of the legislature.
 
Send these staff members of the LBB an email note:
 
"I urge you to keep and fund the Texas State Railroad"
 
 
Tina.Beck@lbb.state.tx.us
 
 
John Barton <John.Barton@lbb.state.tx.us>