Assuming that it’s possible for Connecticut to impose tolls on roads constructed, reconstructed or maintained in part with federal dollars, how can the investment required to install toll gantries and cameras be funded before any tolls are actually collected? The answer is simple and straightforward: issue state revenue bonds, to be repaid from the future revenue stream generated by tolls. State revenue bonds issued for a public purpose are tax-exempt. Accordingly, they would likely bear a lower interest rate than any loan granted by a private entity looking for a rate of return that would not only cover the cost of any capital that it borrows, but also provide a profit to the entity.

A “quagmire” describes an extraordinarily distressing situation that all of the options for extraction would probably just make worse. The term aptly describes both falling into quicksand and last November’s election for the 140th Connecticut House of Representatives district in Stratford, where an egregious error by elections officials resulted in 70 votes being cast in the wrong voting district, in an election where the margin of victory (for Democratic incumbent Phil Young) was 14 votes.

The governor’s proposed sugary drink tax can improve overall health and wellbeing. Sugary drinks are the single largest source of added sugar in our diets. Excessive consumption of these drinks can lead to chronic diseases that significantly harm communities. Policies that drive down consumption should be supported.

Budget debates are in full swing in Connecticut. Recently Mark Conrad (CT Mirror, Feb. 15, 2019) presented interesting data to support the idea that Connecticut should cut waste from the Transportation budget rather than institute tolls. He observed that Connecticut administrative costs per mile of road are ten times the national average, and total expenses per mile were three times the national average. This made Connecticut’s the sixth most expensive state highway system in the nation. Conrad’s data came from the Reason Foundation, a libertarian group according to its website. The Foundation’s Report presents a rich data set to analyze.

Legislators on both sides of the aisle say they want to protect municipal open space, support town recreation areas, invest in clean water infrastructure, and combat problematic invasive species … so why aren’t they giving municipalities the chance to generate the resources necessary to succeed? The Connecticut General Assembly Environment Committee has a tremendous leadership […]

I strongly support the efforts of State Reps. Michelle Cook from Torrington and Gary Turco from Newington in co-sponsoring legislation to increase access to dental insurance for young adults 19 – 26.  Their proposed bill (House Bill 5627) would allow families to keep their children or dependents on their dental insurance through the age of 26, which would be similar to current law that allows children to remain on their parents’ medical plan until that same age.