CONG. CULBERSON CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO METRO’s FINANCES

UH ECONOMICS PROFESSOR SAYS
“Taxpayers have to foot bill”

METRO’s COMMENT WHEN ASKED? “Would not dignify that remark with a response”

Houston, Texas - Houston Congressman John Culberson has asked U.S. Attorney Mike Shelby to launch a Federal Investigation into the recent METRO scandal that has raised questions that METRO is knowingly reporting over $116 million of federal funds that local elected officials as well as the Federal government (Federal Transit Authority
claims they are not slated to receive.

On Thursday, Congressman Culberson commented to KTRK TV that “This has to be more than simple negligence, there is something more at work here …and I have asked the proper Federal Authorities to investigate whether a violation of Federal law has occurred.”

Also yesterday, KTRK TV interviewed University of Houston Economics Professor Steven Craig about METRO’s apparent $116 million shortfall. Craig, who is an unbiased expert in this category commented that the “taxpayers have to foot the bill, there’s no other source”.

After repeated requests for the past three days from the Chairman of Texans For True Mobility, Michael Stevens as well as Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, Harris County Tax Assessor Collector Paul Bettencourt, local media and others, METRO has consistently refused to answer the question of how they can account for the $116 million discrepancy.

DAY I…On Tuesday METRO Chairman Arthur Schechter offered no proof or documentation, instead he dismissed it as a “political ploy”.

DAY II…On Wednesday the question again was asked of METRO by numerous media outlets and again METRO Chairman Arthur Schechter dismissed it as “political garbage” but again offered no documentation.

DAY III… On Thursday a METRO spokesperson told a television station that METRO could not answer the question because their Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was out of town. Later in the day when asked again about the apparent $116 million shortfall, the METRO spokesperson commented that he “would not dignify that remark with a response”.

DAY IV…??? What will METRO say on Friday and will they offer documentation?

Texans For True Mobility plans a Monday press conference.

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