Read a bit ago about how we, the taxpayer, are helping PRIVATE CORPORATIONS Burlington Northern and Union Pacific buy some new locomotives. How? Through the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). As I was reading this, I was reminded of the Kip Averitt bill he recently filed that has been presented in all the papers I saw as a bill to get rid of carbon-monoxide belching cars. Who could be against clearing the road out of all the polluters, ie, you and me, that haven't managed to meet air-quality deadlines (It's pretty ironic that Averitt is sponsoring this, since as we all know, he just LOVES those coal-fired plants! But I digress.) Anyway, I got to wondering whether there might be anything in that bill that would be helping out TERP to give out MORE corporate welfare. Why, yes.

Under Averitt's Senate Bill 12, the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) and the Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance Program (LIRAP) will be significantly augmented, providing the potency the programs need to help the state meet the rapidly approaching air quality deadlines set by the Environmental Protection Agency.