Correcting the Record on the GOP Transportation Plan

February 26, 2019

The following Letter to the Editor appeared in the Hartford Courant

The Hartford Courant was wrong to dismiss a Republican transportation plan [Feb. 24, Editorial, “Proceed carefully on tolls, but proceed”].

The Courant claims the Republican transportation funding plan would “leave little bonding for anything else.”

The reality is the Republican “Prioritize Progress” proposal would leave $1.3 billion annually in bonding for the state’s needs outside of transportation.

It would allow for the state to continue funding core investment needs, including but not limited to school construction, clean water grants, UConn and housing programs.

What it would do is cut back on borrowing for non-necessities.

It would free up approximately $700 million in discretionary bonding annually and redirect those funds to transportation infrastructure projects.

Using that investment to leverage federal reimbursements would allow for a historic investment in transportation without tolls or new taxes.

Bonding is an appropriate tool for capital improvements that have a significant return on investment for our state, such as transportation.

Bonding for wants and political handouts, like statues and corporate welfare, is the problem that should be eliminated, which Prioritize Progress would do.

We need to reduce the amount the state borrows.

We also must prioritize investments.

If transportation is going to be a priority for our state, let’s make it one.

But let’s do it without taking any more from taxpayers.

Our families have already paid enough.

 

Len Fasano, North Haven

The writer the Senate Republican Leader. He represents the 34th Senate district, including Durham, East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford.