Somerville Reps Split on Transportation Financing Vote

Two of Somerville's state representatives voted against a $500 transportation financing bill Monday; one voted for it.

Rep. Carl Sciortino, who also represents parts of Medford, explained why he voted against the bill, saying, "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.

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.

Somerville Rep. Timothy Toomey, who also represents parts of Cambridge, voted in favor of the House bill. In a written statement he said, "The bill passed by the House [Monday] will provide the commonwealth and our transportation system with $500 million in new revenue and prevent devastating MBTA fare increases that would have gone into effect this July."

Toomey's statement continued, "I agree with those who feel that this bill does not go far enough to address statewide transportation needs, but I could not justify voting no with the threat of fare increases and service cuts looming over the commuters, families, and seniors of Somerville and Cambridge."

"I will continue to advocate for additional revenues that will adequately address the commonwealth’s infrastructure needs and cement funding for the Green Line Extension," he said.

Rep. Denise Provost, like Sciortino, voted against the bill. She had not returned a phone call at the time of this posting, but before Monday's vote she told Somerville Patch she was conflicted about the bill.

"It's the only funding proposal before us. And it is insufficient. It is inadequate," she had said, adding, "It's hardly even a bird in the hand; it's a feather in the hand, but it is revenue."

Somerville's nay votes contribute to governor's veto threat

In the end, the bill passed with a vote of 97 to 55, but that number was eight short of the 105 votes needed to override a veto.

The state Senate was expected to take up the bill Thursday, according to WBUR.

According to WBUR, Patrick said he was still hoping to strike a deal with the legislature. "I think there’s a way to get to a number that is in the middle between where I started and where the House is in their vote and at that level to do something important and long term and do lasting good in transportation and in education," he said.

In a soundbite played on the radio station, Patrick said of the bill passed by the House, "I am not going to ask the people of the commonwealth to pay more and get less."

Having enough votes to sustain a veto "gives the governor a little bit of leverage." Sciortino said.

The representative said he hopes legislative leaders in the House and Senate will "go back to the table to work with the governor."

Uncertainty with MBTA's budget

Uncertainty about the outcome of transportation financing has left the MBTA's budget in the lurch.

According to WBUR, the MBTA's board will consider a budget Wednesday that assumes the state will close the transportation authority's $118 million operating deficit for the upcoming fiscal year—even though that assumption could end up wrong.

If the state legislature and governor can't reach an agreement, the T may be forced to close it's deficit by, among other things, diverting funds from preventative maintenance and implementing service cuts or fare increases, the radio station reported.

The outcome of the transportation financing debate has implications for the Green Line Extension.