Medford Reps Explain Transportation Bill Votes

Two Medford members of the House of Representatives voted against the $500 million transportation funding bill that passed 97-55 Monday evening while one voted in favor.

The one rep to give his approval was Rep. Paul Donato. Donato ultimately felt the bill was the best one the House could pass.

"The truth of the matter is, there was nothing else that could be put forward that could sustain a vote of the House," Donato said, adding that it 

Rep. Carl Sciortino felt much differently with his vote against the proposal.

"It's clearly inadequate to meet the needs of the Commonwealth going forward...[A transportation bill] is a rare opportunity to make generational investments, and the House bill just doesn't cut it," he said.

Rep. Sean Garballey also voted against the bill. A call to his office seeking comment Wednesday was not immediately returned.

To put Sciortino's comments in context, the bill passed Monday by the House was at odds with a more ambitious proposal put forth by Gov. Deval Patrick, who called for $1.9 billion in new revenue to fund transportation and education initiatives in the state. Patrick had said he would veto the $500 million bill.

Donato said he was hopeful the budget to be presented by the legislature Wednesday would provide additional money for transportation, but feels the bill that was passed does provide needed support for transportation.

"There was no appetite for raising the income tax," Donato said.

What the bill doesn't do is provide for expansion. Two reasons for this, as outlined by Donato, were because the federal government hasn't stepped up the the plate for funding of major projects like the Green Line extension.

The other reason is because in the coming weeks, a bond bill for $100 million in roads and bridge work is expected to go before the legislature, according to Donato. 

Donato said part of the transportation bill stipulates that any project that has already started will be completed, meaning the Cradock Bridge project in Medford should not be in jeopardy.

As for the House standing up to a possible Patrick veto should their version pass the Senate and reach his desk, Donato said they would need 105 votes to override his veto.

According to Donato, four House members not present at Monday's vote have pledged their support. That would leave four more needed votes to override a veto, in which case Donato believes they'd get "sufficient support" for an override.