Transportation Secretary James A. Aloisi Jr. responded to addressed the panel of state legislators at the first of four state hearings a Springfield hearing on increasing the gas tax. (Michele McDonald/Globe Staff)
Proposed gas tax – Western Mass
Proposed gas tax hike faces heated opposition in Western Mass.
Unfair burden for region, many at hearing contend
By Noah Bierman Globe Staff / March 5, 2009
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Deval Patrick urged a crowd of Western Massachusetts residents yesterday to put aside “regional grievances” in considering a gas tax hike as he faced an increasingly skeptical Legislature.
At the first of three scheduled legislative hearings on the transportation overhaul, the House and Senate transportation committee leaders said they would not support a full 19-cent increase in the state gas tax.
“Let me be clear, there isn’t going to be a gas tax increase as high as 19 cents,” said Representative Joseph F. Wagner, a Chicopee Democrat who leads the House on transportation issues.
Wagner had not previously taken such a firm stance, though he also predicted last night that the Legislature would eventually reach consensus with Patrick. Wagner said in an interview that he spoke out against the 19 cents after canvassing fellow House members and not seeing the support. He did not provide an alternate number, but said he expected the final bill to rely on a combination of sources to meet the state’s estimated $20 billion in transportation needs over the next 20 years. A 19-cent hike would raise the state’s gas tax to 42.5 cents a gallon.
The hundreds of people gathered in the Springfield Technical Community College auditorium applauded loudly at statements alluding to an unfair burden that Western Massachusetts would bear with a higher gas tax. Some residents spoke in favor of raising the gas tax to fix the state’s transportation problems, but the opposition was particularly critical that money would go toward avoiding fare hikes on the MBTA and paying off Big Dig debt.
Patrick and his transportation secretary, James A. Aloisi Jr., have been touring the state in hopes of building support for their plan. The regional flavor of Patrick’s comments, and the nod to the tough economic times, underscore the challenges of winning over disparate areas in support of a plan that raises taxes.
“What do we do, go out and buy Priuses?” asked Jeff Koscis, an area resident who testified in front of the joint transportation committee. A Prius is a hybrid car made by Toyota. “Those cost money. We can’t catch a break from you people.”
Patrick emphasized that each region would get back most of what they put into the tax in the form of road and bridge construction. He acknowledged the Big Dig debt is an obstacle in the state’s ability to invest elsewhere.
He also pointed out that some projects benefit Western Massachusetts more than Greater Boston, including expansion of a universal broadband project and help with the Springfield government’s finance plan.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
