MINUTES
SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Monday, April 27, 1998
9:30 am
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on
Economic Development was held on Monday, April 27, 1998 in the
Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman None
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:40 am. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Chairman Sibley recognized Representative David Swinford, who
made a statement on behalf of his constituency expressing
concerns regarding the rail situation in Texas. The Chairman
then welcomed Senator Carlos Truan, Chairman of the Senate
International Relations, Trade and Technology Committee, who
also presented a statement regarding the Texas rail situation.
Following Senator Truan's statement, Chairman Sibley called
the first invited witness, Charles R. Mathews, Chairman, Texas
Railroad Commission, to present his testimony and respond to
members' questions.
The Chairman then called the first panel to present their
perspectives on the current rail situation in Texas and to
respond to Committee members' questions. The panelists were:
Robert F. Starzel, Union Pacific Railroad
Roger Hord, Greater Houston Partnership
Gaylord Hughey, Texas Railway Alliance for Competitive
Services
Larry Roberts, Redland Stone Products Co.
Mark Rose, Lower Colorado River Authority
George Williamson, Port of Houston Authority
Chairman Sibley then called the second panel to present their
testimony. These panelists were:
Sam Arrington, United Transportation Union
Professor Leigh Boske, LBJ School of Public Affairs
Joe Bateman, Union Pacific Railroad
Peter Rickershauser, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
Larry D. Fields, The Texas & Mexican Railroad
Following the second panelists' testimony and response to
members' questions, the Chairman advised that public testimony
would begin. All witnesses, including the panel members, are
listed in the order of appearance.
Jay Tumlinson, representing Texas Farm Bureau, Milam
Grain Co., Cameron, Texas
Andy Riffe, representing himself, Stratford, Texas
Michael Fleming, representing Harris County, Houston,
Texas
Adonn Slone, representing Lumberman's Association of
Texas, Santa Fe, Texas
Paul Broussard, representing Paul L. Broussard &
Associates, Inc., Houston, Texas
Hector Farais, representing the Mayor of Laredo, and the
Texas Mexican Border
International Trade Association, Laredo, Texas
John Helsley, representing Gulfrail Corp., Granbury,
Texas
Robert Eckels, County Judge - Harris County, Houston,
Texas
Jim Woodrick, representing Texas Chemical Council,
Austin, Texas
Bill Huff, representing Dow Chemical, Freeport, Texas
Mike Spahis, representing Fina, Dallas, Texas
Pete Peltier, representing Peltier Brothers Construction,
Houston, Texas
Jim Ward, representing himself and Pete Peltier, Spring,
Texas
William Loocke, representing himself, Wharton, Texas
The following persons registered to testify but were unable to
remain at the hearing until called:
Ed Corbin, representing Harlingen Chamber of Commerce,
Harlingen, Texas -
submitted written testimony
Richard Shiefelben, representing the Port of Houston,
Houston, Texas
Harvey Clemons, Jr. representing Houston Habitat for
Humanity, Houston, Texas
The following persons registered but did not wish to testify:
Ronald B. White, representing Rural Rail Districts, Gulf
Rail Corp., Dallas, Texas
James C. Harvey, representing Rural Search, Gulf Rail
Corp., Dallas, Texas
Raymond Holmes, representing Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, Mineola, Texas
Ronald E. Ryder, representing Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Railway, Fort Worth, Texas
Dennis A. Kearns, representing Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Railway, Austin, Texas
There being no further business, at 3:35 pm Chairman Sibley
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered.
__________________________
Senator David Sibley, Chairman
__________________________
Barbara Henderson, Clerk