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Connecticut House Fails To Debate Highway Toll Bill

Elise Amendola
/
AP

Connecticut House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, a Berlin Democrat, is blaming the Republican minority for his failure this week to have the House debate a bill that could lead to the return of tolls on Connecticut's highways.

Aresimowicz says the return of tolls is needed to avoid the state’s Special Transportation Fund running out of money by 2020. But he had to withdraw the bill from debate twice this week – on Wednesday and Thursday – because he could not get any support from the Republican caucus.

“Many of their members I think are great members. But they got to admit what they are doing for the citizens of Connecticut. This is a shell game they are moving the ball every single time to avoid all the tough votes. Come to the table.”

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a Republican from Derby, says her caucus probably has "one vote at most" for tolls.

“Once again we are not going to put our fingerprint on that murder weapon."

The Motor Transport Association of Connecticut estimates tolls could cost the typical family $7,500 over the next 20 years. That would average to about $375 a year.

Speaker Aresimowicz says it’s likely that tolls will now be brought up during budget negotiations following the end of regular session on June 7.

Copyright 2017 WSHU

As WSHU Public Radio’s award-winning senior political reporter, Ebong Udoma draws on his extensive tenure to delve deep into state politics during a major election year. In addition to providing long-form reports and features for WSHU, he regularly contributes spot news to NPR, and has worked at the NPR National News Desk as part of NPR’s diversity initiative.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.