Texas lawmakers poised to review transportation ad campaign

AUSTIN (AP)– House Speaker Tom Craddick has asked lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation's multimillion-dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor.

Mr. Craddick, R-Midland, included a review of the Keep Texas Moving campaign on a list of topics that the House State Affairs Committee will study leading up to the 2009 legislative session.

Some lawmakers and anti-toll activists have condemned spending state highway funds – estimated at $7 million to $9 million – on a public relations campaign.
"While it may be appropriate, at times, for government agencies to educate citizens through public service announcements, I maintain that government should not ever spend the money raised from taxpayers to lobby the public," said Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, who asked for a review of advertising spending by state agencies.

Transportation officials have defended the Keep Texas Moving campaign as a response to lawmakers' demands for the agency to improve its communication with the public.

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