Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is to meet with state legislative leaders this week to discuss the possibility of a special session to work out his controversial highway toll proposal.
Lamont is disappointed that lawmakers did not take up his proposal during their regular session, which ended June 5. He says that’s why he’s called the Wednesday meeting.
“We’ve got to work with the leaders and get them to the table and see if we can negotiate something that gets our transportation system funded for the future.”
Republicans are against highway tolls. But Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said he will show up for the meeting with Lamont.
“He’s not communicated anything other than he wants to have a meeting. I respect the governor. I respect the chair, and I will show up to the meeting. And I will see what he has to say.”
Republicans say Lamont is not trustworthy because he campaigned on a truck-only toll and now wants to toll all vehicles.
Lamont has made it clear he's not giving up on tolls, but acknowledged he's open to making changes to his proposal. He recently suggested to News 12 Connecticut that tolls might be ramped up over a period of time or "maybe we do tolls not everywhere but somewhere."
Some Democratic legislators, who control the General Assembly, say they're open to changes. Republicans say they're still opposed to the concept.
Lamont has called for no more than 50 tolling gantries on Interstates 84, 91, 95 and Route 15.
