NBC

Lamont Not Giving Up on Tolls Vote

Gov. Ned Lamont is looking to get a vote on tolls before the end of the legislative session next Wednesday, and not looking to a Special Session like he announced last week.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions Lamont has held with Democratic leaders in the General Assembly told NBC Connecticut that Lamont believes there will be time, once the state budget is finalized, to get his tolls proposal through the General Assembly.

“I certainly hope this is not the case,” said Sen. Len Fasano, (R – North Haven), the top Republican in the Senate.

Last week, Lamont announced with the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate, their intention to hold a Special Session devoted to infrastructure planning and spending.

One source told NBC Connecticut, “with the budget at 98 percent done,” the governor feels there will be momentum, but importantly, the time to pass tolls through both the House and Senate.

Democrats in both chambers discussed the measure behind closed doors Wednesday.

Fasano said if the plan changes to hold a vote on tolls before lawmakers adjourn at midnight next Thursday, then there will be trust issues with the administration.

"You only have your word in this building and your word is your bond,” Fasano said. “That's what you live with in this building and if you break your word, it goes a long way to wreck your relationships in the future so I just hope if he's done this he rethinks this because that would be going back on a promise that he has made to me."

Later Wednesday, Lamont's Communication Director Maribel La Luz told NBC Connecticut, "The Governor met with Leaders last week to state that his immediate focus and priority was to pass a budget that was balanced and on time. Now that we’re close to an agreement the Governor has turned his attention to getting PFML and Transportation across the finish line which he has wanted all along. Once he heard from the minority leader there was no way any Republican would vote to improve our transportation system, he also figured waiting was pointless."

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