State Transportation Woes Not a Surprise

Caused by Democrats’ Pattern of Ignoring Transportation Funding Problems and Dismissing Republican Solutions

Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement regarding Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s comments today about the state’s transportation funding shortfalls and the governor’s calls for new taxes and burdens on commuters.

“Governor Malloy continues to act as if the state’s transportation funding problems came out of nowhere. But this is not a surprise. Over the last four years alone Gov. Malloy and legislative Democrats took $164 million from the state’s special transportation fund to balance their budgets. Gov. Malloy then authorized a transportation spending plan he knew couldn’t be supported by the fund. His plan spent more than the STF had with no way to pay for it, purposefully plunging the special transportation fund further into deficit. Now, Gov. Malloy and Democrats are trying to use the problem they created to force the legislature to approve new taxes and more burdens on commuters. That has been their game plan all along. That’s why Republicans developed the Prioritize Progress transportation funding plan years ago, but Gov. Malloy and Democrat lawmakers ignored our proposal. Prioritize Progress would have stabilized the STF and relieved the burden on STF bonding obligations, but that would require eliminating Gov. Malloy’s ability to put political giveaways on the state’s credit card. Gov. Malloy’s goal was never to find a solution, especially not one offered by Republicans. His goal was to damage our state to bolster his argument for more taxes. He has implemented irresponsible fiscal policies throughout state government for years. That’s why social services are in danger, why our economy and job growth is struggling, and why our transportation fund is depleted today. Gov. Malloy has failed our state again and again, ignored legitimate solutions, and created a situation that is hurting quality of life for people across our state. And Democrats have done nothing but sit back, ignore our warnings, and allowed this to happen for years.”