Connecticut GOP Offers Plan To Fund Transportation Overhaul
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Republican legislators are proposing a 30-year, $37.4 billion plan to pay for a proposed overhaul of Connecticut's transportation system without resurrecting tolls.
The plan was unveiled Tuesday, about a week before Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will present his two-year budget and transportation initiative.
Both Senate and House Republicans propose dedicating a set amount of bonds to be used solely for transportation projects, starting with $441.5 million in fiscal year 2016. That would complement the approximate $600 million in bonding already spent annually for transportation.
Connecticut GOP Offers Plan To Fund Transportation Overhaul
Some Democratic lawmakers contend tolls are needed to raise revenues. But Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said "tolls don't work."
Fasano said the plan begins with eliminating pork-barrel spending.
"What we're changing is the priority of what we bond, and we're getting rid of stuff that, gee, we would all love to do -- and they're great projects -- but right now, we need to focus on what's important to the state as a priority and that's transportation."
Malloy spokesman Devon Puglia criticized the GOP plan for not prioritizing projects. He also said the proposed funding levels would likely finance the status quo.
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