What's happening on tolls on Connecticut highways? Has the governor thrown in the towel in his effort to stick yet another tax -- excuse me, fee -- on the citizens of this state? Can it be that the outrage of the citizenry at getting hit with another unnecessary charge by the state has won?
The simple answer seems to be that all we are seeing is a change in tactics, not an admission that the goal of using tolls to raise taxes is dead. We've just gone through a period during which the legislation to impose tolls on essentially every highway across the state has meandered through the Legislature. During that time, there has been intense opposition from the citizens. That opposition has persisted despite major campaigns by public employee unions and construction companies about the "need" for tolls to repair out bridges and roads. Governor Malloy, excuse me Lamont (they're hard to tell apart), tried to buy votes from those in the state legislature getting an avalanche of opposition messages about the tolls. Lamont actually announced that he would make sure that those who vote for tolls will get large campaign contributions. Lamont wasn't trading votes on one program for votes on another. No, he was offering cash for votes. Just when you think Lamont couldn't get any worse, he does something like this which proves you wrong.
Now, however, Lamont has moved on to "deal with the budget" rather than tolls. Some may think that this is Lamont admitting defeat; the public has won and there won't be tolls. Don't believe it. There may not be tolls passed in the next few weeks, but after the budget is finished and other taxes are raised, the governor will come back to the toll issue and start again on getting that cash squeezed out of those who can least afford it.
If you are opposed to the imposition of tolls, you need to keep up the pressure. If you've written previously to your legislator, write again, and again, and again. Keep asking that the legislature mandate that the money collected for gasoline taxes be used (as it is supposed to be used) to pay for highway maintenance and construction. There's more than enough cash raised from that tax to pay for what is needed. Keep telling the legislature that tolls will choke off commerce and jobs in our state. Keep asking the legislature to CUT expenditures. (Okay, I doubt that will work, but hey, you never know. It's worth a try.)
Remember this: eternal vigilance is the price of keeping those damn tolls off our highways.
The simple answer seems to be that all we are seeing is a change in tactics, not an admission that the goal of using tolls to raise taxes is dead. We've just gone through a period during which the legislation to impose tolls on essentially every highway across the state has meandered through the Legislature. During that time, there has been intense opposition from the citizens. That opposition has persisted despite major campaigns by public employee unions and construction companies about the "need" for tolls to repair out bridges and roads. Governor Malloy, excuse me Lamont (they're hard to tell apart), tried to buy votes from those in the state legislature getting an avalanche of opposition messages about the tolls. Lamont actually announced that he would make sure that those who vote for tolls will get large campaign contributions. Lamont wasn't trading votes on one program for votes on another. No, he was offering cash for votes. Just when you think Lamont couldn't get any worse, he does something like this which proves you wrong.
Now, however, Lamont has moved on to "deal with the budget" rather than tolls. Some may think that this is Lamont admitting defeat; the public has won and there won't be tolls. Don't believe it. There may not be tolls passed in the next few weeks, but after the budget is finished and other taxes are raised, the governor will come back to the toll issue and start again on getting that cash squeezed out of those who can least afford it.
If you are opposed to the imposition of tolls, you need to keep up the pressure. If you've written previously to your legislator, write again, and again, and again. Keep asking that the legislature mandate that the money collected for gasoline taxes be used (as it is supposed to be used) to pay for highway maintenance and construction. There's more than enough cash raised from that tax to pay for what is needed. Keep telling the legislature that tolls will choke off commerce and jobs in our state. Keep asking the legislature to CUT expenditures. (Okay, I doubt that will work, but hey, you never know. It's worth a try.)
Remember this: eternal vigilance is the price of keeping those damn tolls off our highways.
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