Page 28 - Big State News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The fast track. >> reporter: if you think traffic is fast in texas now, just wait. legislation is working its way through the texas state house to allow future highways to have speed limits up to 85 miles per hour. texas already has more than 500 miles of rural interstate that allow 80 miles an hour. none of those are any other existing roads would change. the 85-mile-per-hour limit would only apply to new construction on roads engineered for that speed and only at the texas transportation commission approves. backers say it's just another tool in the toolbox. >> we have lots of ground to cove...

The fast track. >> reporter: if you think traffic is fast in texas now, just wait. legislation is working its way through the texas state house to allow future highways to have speed limits up to 85 miles per hour. texas already has more than 500 miles of rural interstate that allow 80 miles an hour. none of those are any other existing roads would change. the 85-mile-per-hour limit would only apply to new construction on roads engineered for that speed and only at the texas transportation commission approves. backers say it's just another tool in the toolbox. >> we have lots of ground to cove...

The highways there, that would make the lone star state roadways the fattess in america. not everybody is happy with this idea. not everybody has a lead foot and like evening it. kris gutierrez joins us live. >> reporter: most people don't realize across the country that down here in texas we already have 500 miles of interstate where motorists can drive 80 miles an hour. this new legislation does not affect any existing roads it only impacts future highways, projects and freeways. if passed state law would call for a green light from the texas transportation commission as well as favorable en...

Lawmakers in texas allowing a speed limit of 85 miles an hour. haven't we always heard 55 saves lives? why are they increasing it? >> reporter: we should point out first down here in texas we have 500 miles of interstate where motorists can legally drive 80 miles an hour. but this new legislation would not affect existing roads or freeways. we are talking about freeways and interstates built after june of this year. if passed it would call for favorable engineering studies and we could see 85-mile-per-hour speed limits in some ai areas. >> we are a big, big state. so as we try to move goods an...

>> i actually criticized president george w. bush for increasing government at a more rapid rate than any president since lyndon johnson. i was on the record, i criticized him. i criticized governor schwarzenegger for doing the same in the state of california. so i've got a bit of credibility on this issue. i stood up to my own party leadership. and i think that's what the tea party is focused on. and one of the reasons why this move by carly fiorina, this battlefield conversion to conservative is not so believable. because as chief economic adviser to john mccain in 2008, she backed john mcca...