The plan to bring back tolls to Connecticut as a means of generating much-needed state revenues appears to have largely died in the state's General Assembly.
The legislature's transportation committee has asked for additional review of the proposal for electronic tolls, a move that would send it out to be studied for at least a year, according to the Hartford Courant.
"We were able to take the border tolls idea out of the fast lane, for now," state Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, told the Courant. "Tolls near the state line would impede commerce, hurt Connecticut tourism and possibly set off a toll war in New England."
Instead, the transportation committee last week raised a bill that again calls for the completion of Route 11 in Salem and to install tolls there, the Courant reports. Money raised from those tolls would repay the expense of completing the long-abandoned highway that abruptly ends in Salem.
The General Assembly last year killed a similar bill for Route 11.
There's one for you, nineteen for me 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don't take it all 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet. Don't ask me what I want it for If you don't want to pay some more 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman Now my advice for those who die Declare the pennies on your eyes 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman And you're working for no one but me.