N. Texas cities can't hop on light-rail bill

Legislature: Bid to let voters decide sales tax to join transit systems fails
By JAKE BATSELL - The Dallas Morning News - Thursday, May 24, 2007

AUSTIN – A last-ditch attempt to add more cities to North Texas' commuter rail network failed to make it through the House on Wednesday.

An amendment authored by Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, would have allowed cities to seek voter permission to raise the local sales tax by a penny to join transit systems. But after an objection Wednesday by Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, the amendment was struck down on a technicality.

House leaders ruled that Mr. Carona's amendment was not germane to the original bill, which would create a light-rail district in South Texas. Mr. Carona argued that both involved transit taxes.

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