What's more:Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the law but did not lobby against last year's attempts to repeal the program, said Bill Lewis, public policy liaison for MADD's Texas office.
“We can't point to anything that says that law has caused a decline in alcohol-related fatalities,” Lewis said. “We're not going to go nuts if the Legislature decides they want to repeal it.”
Former state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, who authored the omnibus transportation law that led to the program's approval, concedes that allowing the surcharges was a bad move.
“My feeling right now is we definitely made a mistake — that it's overly punitive,” Krusee said. “I think it's past time to either revise or repeal the program. It is inequitable in its enforcement because it doesn't take into account to a just degree people's incomes and their ability to pay, because the fines, I mean, they're huge.”
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16 comments:
That's pretty stunning. A politician actually admitting he was wrong about some of his overzealous governing.
AFTER he's out of office, of course.
The surcharges are a form of sin tax. If they were punative they would be called "fines" instead of surcharges.
... but you know Perry wouldn't sign a bill with new taxes so thats why its called a surcharge.
Speaking of punitive, if you don't buy Obamacare they will fine you or arrest you. Sixteen thousand new IRS officers are being hired to go after us! The people they will go after are not those who put someone's life in danger by driving drunk.
Now that's an issue to be concerned about.
Good lord. Even the ninnies at MADD are backing down from a poorly-conceived, oppressive law? Now I've heard everything.
My policy is that I do not touch an indigents wallet with a ten foot pole (use community service instead). Texas' "starve 'em to death" policy is one of ripping out hundreds or thousands of dollars and then wondering, "Why are there so many on food stamps"?
duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
(Don Birkholz, POBox 572, Broadus, MT
Dear Grits:
The most culpable politician behind the surcharge legislation is former State Rep Diane DeLisi of Temple. She is the typical smug "let the eat cake" yuppie Republican that looks down their noses at poor people. She was this program's most ardent supporter. She's out of office now after having served on Rick Perry's staff. Diane DeLisi has more responsibility for this legislation than anyone else. I don't expect her to show any remose for the misery this law has caused.
Longhorn74, agreed. And it's worth mentioning that Dianne White Delisi's family has a stake in the Scott and White hospital system, which receives DRP funds - a vested interest not mentioned in the media reports.
And btw, it was actually her daughter who served briefly as Perrys chief of staff.
When it has the possibility of affecting one of their own, they call the law punitive, but no one points to the different state's investigation on the registry and facts that state it does nothing but impede a person's civil rights. Fascinating...
I recently read about the Delisi family involvement, very interesting...
Don't forget, Former state Rep. Mike Krusee stared down the possibility of the surcharge himself. He was arrested for DWI and refused to blow (saving himself from a potential $6,000 surcharge). Of course, his case was dismissed, though. . . .
I learned about this blog after investigating what my son told me about how he lost his license and paid all the fines fees, got it reinstated, then was informed he would have to pay surcharges applyed retroactively for his tickets. He did and then was informed that he would have to pay more surcharges. He did again. By the third time he was required to pay surcharges retroactively he refused, subsequently lost his lisence and now is driving without one as it is a necessity in order to work when you live in the country. So I went to the Dps website and found the minutes to a Public Safety Commission discussing this issue and was mortified at the extortion being practiced by our politicians at the expense of the poor. Thank you Mr. Hensen for addressing this issue and if you can use a paralegal for free help in Fort worth please contact me. I am a member, rronna@rocketmail.com
Meeting minutes I read were dated August 2009. Looked for updates but saw none. rronna
Krussee sure is apologizing for a lot of bills nowadays. I would say he has apologized for most of what he accomplished at this point!
Most Americans will be required to carry health insurance, either through an employer, a government program or by buying their own. Those who refuse will face fines from the IRS.
Can't wait for your post in a few years on this Grits when when our government starts enforcing this surcharge, putting us in jail and taking away our homes.
You gotta laugh at that one. Where are they going to house us:)
Texas has no right to require anyone to have liability vehicle insurance nor does the federal government have the right to tell anyone they must have hc insurance.
Worried about someone uninsured colliding with your vehicle? Take out uninsured motorist coverage.
Rick Perry really screwed up on this one. I hope our new Governor is Bill White. Maybe he can get rid of this unconstitutional law. I used to be be proud to be a Texan- now I just want to get out of this state.
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