Sen. Boucher: Stop CT’s $300,000 Investment in Mileage Tax Study

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and Senator ToniBoucher (R-Wilton), the ranking member of the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee, are calling on the state Department of Transportation, Governor Malloy and Democrat lawmakers to join Republicans and put a stop to the state’s $300,000 investment in studying and implementing a pilot program for a ‘Mileage Tax’ to tax motorists for every mile they drive.

"I will be fighting hard against this proposal and will reinforce our position that Connecticut should adopt the Republican alternative Transportation bonding plan that calls for no new taxes and a stop to raids on the transportation fund that are currently used to pay other bills," Sen. Toni Boucher said in a statement.

On August 30, Connecticut was awarded a federal grant to launch a pilot mileage tax program so long as the state invests a matching $300,000. Connecticut was among a group of Northeastern states to receive the grant after an application was filed by the state of Delaware on behalf of the I-95 Corridor Collation Members.

“Democrat legislators continue to say that there won’t be a mileage tax, at the same time they continue to back the pilot program by not going into special session to put an end to it once and for all," Boucher said.

The mileage tax they say won’t happen just received its funding. This is another money grabbing idea that Democrat leaders continue to push upon the residents of this state. People need to voice their objections or break out their wallets,” said Senator Fasano.

“We’ve heard many Democrats deny that they plan to implement a mileage tax. But if that’s true, then why is the state investing $300,000 in taxpayer funds to study it?” SenatorBoucher said.

“Now that Connecticut has received the federal grant to launch this program, state leaders need to work to immediately stop the state from investing even a penny into this bad idea. Republican lawmakers have demanded a special session so that we can block this tax with a vote in the legislature, but Democrats have refused to do so. Instead they have only offered rhetoric," Boucher said.

"If Democrats truly oppose the idea as well, then why won’t they work with Republicans to put a stop to our state wasting money on this new tax? The governor’s insistence on launching the mileage tax pilot and the Democrats’ refusal to take action to stop it makes me think they have every intention of advancing this bad idea after November. The legislature has the power to stop it now, so why won’t Democrat lawmakers act?”

Photo: Office of Sen. Toni Boucher