Statement re: Transportation Committee Vote Advancing Tolls Bills
March 20, 2019Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and Senator Henri Martin (R-Bristol), ranking member of the Transportation Committee, released the following statement in response to today’s Transportation Committee votes advancing legislation to establish tolls in Connecticut. All Republican lawmakers voted against the toll proposals. The three bills will now move to the full General Assembly where they will require approval by both the Senate and House of Representatives before they can become law.
“All three toll bills approved today have one thing in common, they allow lawmakers to completely abandon their responsibility to taxpayers and shift the blame to someone else. Those who voted in favor of these bills today do not have the courage to own up to the fact that their actions will be responsible for tolls across the state and massive new taxes on every resident. This is a total abrogation of responsibility that puts the fate of taxpayers in the hands of a select few. In typical fashion, Democrat lawmakers are punting. Instead of developing legislation to give lawmakers a direct hand in deciding where tolls will be and what they will cost, ensuring taxpayers have someone in the room looking out for them, they would rather give someone else carte blanche and never look back on how their decisions will hurt their constituents.
“Tolls are a tax – and a regressive one at that. Approving tolls seals the fate of our transportation system by allowing the governor to bankrupt our Special Transportation Fund and put all new infrastructure projects on hold for at least the next five years. When toll revenue eventually starts to come in, it will have an immediate negative impact on the middle class and individuals with low and fixed incomes.
“Today’s vote is disappointing, but there is still time for the public to speak out and urge their lawmakers to vote against this tax when it comes before the full General Assembly. The public has the power to make a difference. Please make your voices heard.”