The Connecticut State legislature’s Transportation Committee voted this week to advance a bill which would bring the state one step closer to reinstating highway tolls. The vote followed party lines, with 18 Democrats voting in favor, and 13 Republicans voting against.
State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) spoke against the bill, but her argument falls apart when you look at the facts.
Boucher said “People uniformly have an opinion on [tolls],” but that would only be true if you look at the results of a poll which was conducted by Boucher’s office, which only surveyed voters in her district.
An independent Quinnipiac University poll conducted earlier this month, however, shows that 58 percent of Nutmeg State Republicans (and 62 percent of Democrats) support tolls as long as the revenue raised goes toward transportation purposes. Without that provision, 61 percent of voters oppose tolls. But it’s highly unlikely that tolls would be implemented until the State puts a “lockbox” on the Special Transportation Fund.
Boucher also warned Transportation Committee members that voting for tolls could jeopardize their chances of winning future elections.
“There is a risk to anyone in elected office,” said state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, who warned that public sentiment is so strong against tolls that supporters could be swept out of office.
Transportation Committee Chairman Tony Guerrera (D-Rocky Hill) responded
“If we don’t get elected then so be it… Our job is to make tough decisions. At least you can sleep at night and say you did the right thing.”
In reality, however, legislators probably shouldn’t worry too much about their reelection chances. A recent Transportation for America analysis shows that voters overwhelmingly reelect state legislators who vote for increasing transportation revenues. Of the 961 legislators in Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming who voted to increase transportation revenues, 98 percent won their next primary and 90 percent went on to win reelection.
With a majority of Connecticut voters in favor of tolls, and no evidence to suggest any real political risk, perhaps it’s time to stop calling the bill “unpopular” and “controversial.”
An earlier version of this story said the Transportation Committee advanced the “lockbox” measure without the support of Republican legislators who co-sponsored a similar measure in 2014. It has been corrected.
Nationally, Connecticut is #3 burden, in raising transportation revenue. Unfortunately, about half of that revenue gets raided and into the General Fund. This is a very regressive way to fund non-transportation programs. If tolls pass, there needs to be a lock box on all transportation revenues, to get the maximum bonding. The top rate on the state income tax should be raised to make up the lost transportation revenue to the General Fund and to terminate the car tax.
[…] State Senator Toni Boucher — Senator Boucher warned her fellow legislators that voting for tolls could jeopardize their chances of winning future […]
Ricky hill is in the dead center of the state – of course he has no polital risk from tolls – his constituents won’t pay them, they will only receive the benefits.
Wilton is near the NY border and many residents commute or shop in NY. The opposite holds true for NY residents who currently shop in Fairfield county and may not if the tolls are put in place.
For the record, I am a transit advocate, but I am also keenly aware that there is no single solution for commutes and shoppers and cars are often the best solution.
I will vote against any CT politician who supports tolls. And, most if my neighbors feel the same way. There is a high cost for any politician in a border area who supports tolls. And that is a fact.
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