State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-87) hosted a Pre-Session “People, Pizza and Policies” legislative forum on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Northeast Volunteer Fire Department, Company #4, located at 366 Washington Avenue in North Haven.
The event was scheduled to give residents an opportunity to speak with Rep. Yaccarino about issues affecting the district, bill proposal ideas, and other topics pertaining to state or local government as the start of the 2020 Legislative Session is set to begin on February 5, 2020.
A proposal put forth by the governor and legislative Democrats calls for trucks-only tolls at 12 locations on state highways. With 50 residents in attendance, most of the conversation centered around tolls and particularly, individuals present expressed their strong opposition to tolls on the grounds that they did not trust that truck-only tolls would not soon become tolls on everyone.
The proposal was released on Monday, January 27, 2020 as a 32-page working draft bill and the legislature’s transportation committee is set to hold a public hearing on the bill on Friday, January 31, 2020 at 1 p.m. in Hartford. It is estimated that tolls would raise $180 million annually.
“My constituents have loudly expressed their concerns about tolls, and I have heard them. I will continue to work to resist tolls,” said Rep. Yaccarino. “We have the money to fund this state’s transportation infrastructure by cutting reckless spending, streamlining government, and making sure that transportation dollars are spent on only transportation-related projects instead of being raided and diverted elsewhere. I look forward to hearing from the rest of Connecticut residents and businesses during the public hearing on Friday.”
Rep. Yaccarino can be reached by phone at 1(800) 842-1423 or email at Dave.Yaccarino@housegop.ct.gov for more information.