Friday, October 17, 2008

Patrick Proposes Keeping Tourists Out

Yeah, great idea, guv!!

Is the only thing these guys can ever think of is RAISING TAXES?!!

"Patrick mentions interest in border tolls; His office says it's not on his agenda" by Noah Bierman, Globe Staff | October 17, 2008

Governor Deval Patrick raised the specter of tolling more highways yesterday. Sort of.

On a morning radio show he said "there's some interest in looking at border tolls coming in from New Hampshire and from Rhode Island."

Not New York, Vermont or Connecticut? They are on our borders, too? Or do you just not consider us part of the state? Sure act like it.

Later, his communications director said that interest was not coming from inside the governor's office. "That is not part of our current agenda, nor has it ever been part of our agenda," said Joe Landolfi, who added that Patrick was referring to suggestions made by others.

Translation: OOOPS!! Guv let the CAT out of the BAG!!!

Patrick made his comments on Tom Finneran's radio show on WRKO while discussing a plan his administration is working on to eliminate the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. Details are expected at the end of the year.

"What I'd like to come out of this restructure is the elimination of many of the tolls on the turnpike, not all," Patrick said. "Border tolls, for example, might be kept at the New York line and coming in from Connecticut."

Oh, I stand corrected!!!!

North-south tolls on Interstate 93 have been widely discussed, and roundly dismissed, by the Patrick administration over the past year. To toll Rhode Island commuters, Interstate 95 would have to be added to the mix. The idea is most popular with residents and politicians who live along the Massachusetts Turnpike and feel they are paying more than their fair share of Big Dig construction costs. --more--"

Can you charge STATE TOLLS on a FEDERAL road?

If so, yeah, I am for it!!

Also see: The Big Pit