Bolinsky Slams Deceptive Transportation ‘Lockbox’ Proposal

HARTFORD- At Tuesday’s Special Session of the legislature, State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown) expressed his disappointment that a so-called Transportation ‘lockbox’ proposal debated in the House of Representatives really was not much of a lockbox at all.

For three years, Rep. Bolinsky has been proposing and advocating for the concept of a fully protected transportation funding lockbox, along with many fellow Republican colleagues in the General Assembly.  His proposals have always centered around safeguarding state transportation infrastructure construction funds. In recent years, Governor Malloy and majority lawmakers in the legislature have been raiding these funds, instead of using for what they were budgeted to achieve. By moving the money into general budget accounts, they’ve been able to use these “dedicated dollars” for everything but transportation investment and the future mobility of our state.

Bolinsky said, “The concept of protecting our transportation infrastructure investment is more than just good thinking, it is solid, forward-thinking policy.  In this state, where our infrastructure is outdated because we’ve spent years mitigating budget deficits by pilfering Special Transportation Fund construction dollars, the Governor and his legislative cronies have turned this fund into their personal piggy bank. Using these funds to plug holes in a budget that’s in a long-term state of deficit because of their own bad budget policy, this is like allowing these guys to drive down our state roads with license to stop at every home and business, robbing Peter to pay Paul.  What kind of lockbox comes with no bottom and enough holes in it that it can be repurposed to plug non-transportation holes?  When will the shell-games end?

“I voted “NAY” to this lie.  Every single taxpayer and voter in Connecticut needs to know that the enabling legislation intended to create this abomination came with a $35-million sweep of Special Transportation Fund dollars!  Yes!  Their unsuccessful attempt to paint this misrepresentation as a ‘lockbox’ was actually written to start off misappropriating Special Transportation Funds.  As I said on the floor of the House, the Governor and his budget-writers took a great idea, stole its name and then shot it full of irresponsible holes, leaving us with a “colander”, incapable of holding water – or dollars.”

By current law, the Special Transportation Fund pays for state highway and public transportation projects. It is supported by a number of revenue streams, including the motor fuels tax, motor carrier road tax, petroleum products gross earnings tax, certain motor vehicle receipts and fees (e.g., driver’s license fees), and surcharges on motor vehicle-related fines and penalties.

For example, Connecticut currently levies a 25-cents-per-gallon retail tax on gasoline, and the entire $511 million it raises currently is spent within the Special Transportation Fund.

With the resolution receiving only 100 votes short of the ¾ of the House of Representatives required to be on the 2016 ballot, it now is referred to the 2017 session of the legislature. If it passes in that session by a majority of each house, it will appear on the 2018 general election ballot. If a majority of those voting in the general election approves the amendment, it will become part of the state constitution.

The ballot designation to be used when the amendment is presented at the general election is “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to ensure (1) that all moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for transportation purposes, including the payment of debts of the state incurred for transportation purposes, and (2) that sources of funds deposited in the Special Transportation Fund be deposited in said fund so long as such sources are authorized by statute to be collected or received by the state?”