Statement in Response to Governor, Democrats’ Pitch for Tolls

There’s only one plan that allows for immediate, sustainable transportation investment – and it’s not tolls.

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to a pro-tolls press conference hosted by Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Democrat Leaders.

“If we want to get Connecticut moving forward today, if we want to create jobs now, if we want to start transportation projects immediately, tolls are not the solution. The Republican Prioritize Progress transportation funding plan is the only plan that would allow our state to launch a historic level of transportation projects literally today and is guaranteed to maintain that investment over the long term. It would allow for an immediate increase in construction jobs and significant road and rail projects to move forward now. The Republican plan would create certainty and stability for transportation projects and construction jobs immediately and sustain them for decades to come – all without adding any new burdens onto the backs of Connecticut residents.

“The only certainty under the Democrats’ tolls plan is that Connecticut’s transportation fund is going to be broke and Connecticut residents are going to be pickpocketed yet again. Tolls are not even close to a reality until at least five years into the future. In the meantime, the governor is purposely depleting transportation funding, stealing money to use elsewhere in his budget and bankrupting funding available for transportation construction projects.

“After today’s press conference, hosted by Gov. Lamont and Democrat lawmakers, it’s crystal clear that their tolls proposal is nothing but a charade. They have no idea what it will cost CT residents. No idea where tolls will be located. No idea how they are going to support transportation over the next five years. Their tolls proposal is a new tax on CT residents, it will allow the state to borrow even more than we currently do today, and it will force the state to sit by and wait to take action. There’s only one plan that allows for immediate, sustainable transportation investment. It is not tolls. It is Prioritize Progress.”