Democratic candidate for Governor Ned Lamont issued this statement on tolls:
I fully support the Governor and the Legislature in moving forward today to improve our transportation system and by doing so improve Connecticut’s economy.
The funding through electronic tolling will provide infrastructure jobs, improving our traffic problems, and fix our aging roads and bridges.
For too many years, Connecticut residents have been at a major disadvantage as our neighboring states collect tolls and we offer the use of our roads and bridges for free. Tolling brings Connecticut in line with the region and supports the transportation work we must do to keep our state economically competitive.
When I announced my run for governor, I said that on day one, I would push for electronic tolls. Well, it would be great if it gets done today instead.
Statement from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Herbst:
Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst blasted a proposal from Gov. Malloy Wednesday that would dramatically increase the state gasoline tax, bring tolls to Connecticut’s highways and place a new fee on tire purchases.
“This governor has demonstrated a pathological commitment to hiking taxes and fees on struggling Connecticut families and businesses,” Herbst said. “At every juncture his insider allies in Hartford have been eager to comply.
“Rather than consider even the most obvious, necessary and common sense reforms to trim the bloated bureaucracy in Hartford and reduce the unfunded liability burden that is pushing our state into permanent fiscal crisis, this governor has shown he will always put hardworking taxpayers last,” Herbst continued.
“Gov. Malloy’s new proposal to hike the gas tax, already the sixth highest in the nation, force tolls onto our already congested highways and place a fee on the purchase of new tires is an insult to struggling Connecticut residents,” Herbst said. “Thousands of struggling Connecticut taxpayers have tried to remain here, make a living here or retire here despite the near-constant stream of pain caused by this governor’s agenda–and he shows no sign of slowing down in his last year in office,” Herbst said.
“This raises the stakes for 2018 because Connecticut desperately needs a proven reformer and Hartford outsider who will upend the status quo in Hartford and begin dismantling the Malloy agenda on day one,” he said. “Struggling Connecticut families, businesses and retirees need a champion who will fight for them–rather than for the broken culture of entitlement in Hartford.”
From Peter Lumaj, conservative Republican for governor:
“This proposal is a slap in the face to all hard-working men and women in our state.” Lumaj stated. “This Governor, for some reason or another, simply can’t recognize that Connecticut has a spending problem not a revenue problem–adding additional burdens on the backs of taxpayers, struggling businesses and families is not in the best interest of our state. It’s highway robbery!
“Governor Malloy and his insider cronies in Hartford need to realize that this is NOT their money, it is the taxpayer’s money. They cannot come raid our wallets and pocketbooks every time they mismanage the state’s finances. Connecticut’s gas tax is already the sixth highest in the nation, implementing tolls and a tire tax adds insult to injury–how much money does Hartford really need? We need to rein in the cost, size and scope of government–it’s time to cut the fat in Hartford, make the tough decisions to reduce our state’s unfunded liability burden and, for once, give our taxpayers a break.
“Connecticut needs to become competitive again. This proposal is anti-taxpayer, anti-business and anti-family. I don’t support it, the business community doesn’t support it and the people of Connecticut don’t support it. I urge all Connecticut taxpayers to call their legislators and just say no to tolls and taxes.”
Thank you Ned Lamont.
We can go about fixing the problems of the state but first lets get going. Arguing about cut other expenditures, increasing revenues, privatizing roads are fine but lets get stated on fixing the infrastructure today.
Welcome to Connecticut nothing but taxes
Tolls are NOT taxes, they are user fees. Why should CT be the only state in the northeast without this source of revenue to support our road infrastructure?
It’s simple, if you use it, pay for it.
I’d rather see drivers pay for the road upkeep than have the cost put into our state tax burden. With trump’s new 10K cap, I wouldn’t be able to deduct additional tax cost. Let the truckers on the NY to Boston runs pay to maintain the roads they use.
Look at these guys falling all over themselves to get in front of this issue. The state of Connecticut has a deficit because of Dabgerous Dnnell Malloy’s fiscal ineptitude. Now Malloy wants to fit every major highway with EZ Pass. The legislature raised taxes on booze, cigarettes and gasoline among other consumables. No one wants to cut services and benefits.
Colorado has proven that legalized marijuana can be managed. The only real problem is the federal law that prohibits banking the money generated. Jeff Sessions ought to smoke a couple of joints, eat a cheeseburger and fries and chill out. No one ever died from smoking too much weed, a non addictive plant known to cure certain forms of cancer among thousands of medicinal uses.
Malloy and the legislature really light to take two steps back, slap themselves and get over their collective moral hypocrisy about marijuana. Legalize it, regulate it,create an industry that will generate a gajillion times more tax revenue than raising taxes or reinstituting tolls on I-95.
Breaking point, tipping point,
It’s taxes people, get it !
Legalize marijuana.