Shays and Rowland Bicker Over Train Seats
By Brian Dolan
WASHINGTON— Gov. John Rowland and Connecticut House Speaker Moira Lyons have rejected a proposal by Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4 th, to increase the state gasoline tax to pay for 20 new rail cars for the Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line.
According to Shays, they have suggested that instead of focusing on the rail line, he turn his attention to getting more federal highway money for the state.
Rowland and Lyons decided Monday that the state should issue $25 million in bonds, which, pooled with the $35 million the state already set aside, would be enough to begin purchasing the new rail cars.
Under their plan, the state legislature would authorize the director of the Connecticut Department of Transportation to begin purchasing the rail cars immediately. Otherwise, the state would have to wait 18 months to buy them.
Last winter, the Connecticut Department of Transportation had to remove 35 percent of the New Haven Line’s rail cars from service because they broke down.
“The cold weather did not cause these cars to break down,” Shays said in a statement last week. “The age of the rail cars and lack of adequate maintenance facilities did.”
Shays proposed then that the state issue bonds to purchase 20 new rail cars and begin building a new maintenance facility, with the bonds paid back through a hike in the gasoline tax.
“When Connecticut reduced the gas tax from $0.39 to $0.25 [per gallon] between 1997 and 2000, the state gave up more than $500 million in revenue that would have gone directly to transportation,” Shays said.
Rowland and Lyons, however, told Shays Tuesday that they were seeking other ways to pay back the bonds.
“The governor and speaker reject the need to raise taxes on the people of Connecticut,” said Lyons’ spokesman, Todd Murphy. “There is no need to raise taxes any more in Connecticut because they are already too high—some of the highest in the country. The representatives of the legislature, the governor and all the people of Connecticut who use this metro system everyday are against a raise in the gas tax.”
Murphy said the state legislature is seeking ways to pay back the bonds that would result in a “win-win situation” for Connecticut residents. But Shays said an increase in the gasoline tax is the best solution.
“A gas tax is not something my constituents want to have, but they don’t want their roads, bridges or railroads falling apart either,” Shays said in an interview Tuesday. “This is a conflict of interest but they need rail cars so we need to take action. I’m willing to take action and willing to raise the gas tax.
“The governor was saying I shouldn’t get involved with this issue, but it’s a huge issue that affects my district,” Shays said. “We have a huge issue with transportation in the state of Connecticut, but if the state wants to raise money somehow instead of raising taxes, that’s their problem.”
Shays said the current political scandal involving Rowland has affected his working relationship with the governor. Rowland accepted gifts for his Litchfield cottage from friends, employees and a state contractor and later lied about it. A special state House committee is investigating his conduct to determine if he has committed any impeachable offenses.
“It could be better—I mean these are awkward times,” Shays said. “I asked him to resign, but I think John and I can be professional.”
Murphy said Shays should focus on increasing Connecticut’s share of federal highway money. If the pending $318 billion highway spending bill passes, Connecticut would get the smallest increase in highway funds of any state.
“We are happy with any involvement Shays has in the [rail car] process,” Murphy said. “But it would be really helpful for us if he was working on getting highway funding. We need a bigger slice of that pie.”
