SAKONNET TIMES UPDATE ON BUDGET, TOLL-DELAY

Sakonnet Times update on the status of the State Budget, and the toll-delay. There should be a final outcome early next week.


http://www.eastbayri.com/news/government-politics/senate-vote-thursday-night-sends-no-tolls-budget-bill-to-governor/

PROJO: GOVERNOR STILL UNDECIDED ON BUDGET

Projo update on the Budget


http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130627-new-8.2-billion-state-budget-clears-general-assembly.ec

SENATE APPROVES BUDGET WITH TOLL-DELAY BY LARGE MARGIN / GOES TO GOVERNOR

The Senate has approved the Budget, with the toll-delay provision, by an overwhelming margin. It now goes to the Governor, who can either sign it or veto it. Given the huge margins in both House & Senate, it seems likely any veto would be overridden. This improbable outcome is almost a reality.

RI Senate to vote on $8.2B state budget - News, Weather and Classifieds for Southern New England

www.turnto10.com

An $8.2 billion state budget proposal for Rhode Island is heading to a vote in the state Senate.

NBC10 ARTICLE ON STATE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

NBC10 story on the highlights of the State Budget passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives, which includes the Sakonnet Tolls delay until at least February, and the formation of a committee to consider alternatives to tolls. The Senate could approve the Budget today, and send it to the Governor for his signature or veto (if vetoed, the House & Senate could vote to override and pass the Budget without the Governor's approval).

http://www.turnto10.com/story/22698554/details-from-82b-budget-as-passed-by-ri-house

PROJO UPDATE ON STATE BUDGET, SENATE VOTES THURSDAY

With the House of Representatives having overwhelmingly voted to delay Sakonnet River Bridge tolls until next year as part of their approved State Budget, the Senate will vote on this proposal Thursday. The Senate Finance Committee approved it quickly and overwhelmingly, 9-1.



http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2013/06/ri-budget-goes-to-senate-thursday-after-fast-finance-panel-passage.html

HOUSE OF REPS APPROVES STATE BUDGET WITH TOLL-DELAY, NOW MOVES TO SENATE

The House has approved the State Budget, including the Toll-Delay provision. The House's Budget plan now moves to the Senate for approval. If the Senate approves the plan, it will go to the Governor for his signature or veto (which the House & Senate could override).

R.I. House approves $8.2-billion budget on 52-to-20 vote | Breaking News | providencejournal.com

news.providencejournal.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island House of Representatives finalized an $8.2-billion state budget for the year starting July 1 that included a controversial $2.5 million payment toward the state's

HOUSE OF REPS APPROVES TOLL-DELAY PLAN 67-4

The Toll-Delay deal received near-unanimous support in the House, a 67-4 vote to include it in the State Budget. It appears to be a done-deal in the House.  Pending final passage of the State Budget, Sakonnet tolls will be delayed until at least February, with a committee to be formed to consider alternatives to tolls to fund bridge maintenance.

For this delay to take affect, the Senate must now approve the budget put forth by the House, which includes the Toll-Delay plan. The Budget must then either be signed into law by the Governor, or if he vetoes it, the House and Senate will need to vote to override his veto (which seems likely given the 67-4 vote margin). All eyes turn now to the final budget vote in the House (possibly this evening), and the Senate budget vote.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

NBC10 REPORT ON TOLL-DELAY PROPOSAL VOTE

http://www.turnto10.com/story/22697108/ri-house-votes-to-delay-sakonnet-toll

RI TURNPIKE & BRIDGE AUTHORITY: "BUT WE ALREADY BUILT THE TOLL PLAZAS!"

So let me see if I have this straight: the Turnpike & Bridge Authority's position is that our elected officials should reject a responsible way to fund bridge maintenance across the State without destructive tolls because...RITBA rushed to spend millions to install toll equipment, knowing full well that efforts were in the works in the Budget process to eliminate the tolls, and before the result was clear. No wonder they feel the need to bleed the East Bay to fund their operations.
Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130626-late-budget-change-would-postpone-tolls-on-sakonnet-river-bridge-until-at-least-april.ece

TOLL-DELAY DEAL REPORTED AS APPROVED, STATUS STILL UNCERTAIN

There's still some uncertainty & conflicting reports over the status of the toll-delay deal in the House of Reps. The Turnpike & Bridge Authority and RI DOT continue to try to do all they can, contrary to our elected officials, to push tolls on the people of the East Bay. But it appears the House has approved the toll-delay deal as part of the budget. Still looking for definitive confirmation of House approval (when final budget is passed), and info on the likelihood of Senate approval and either approval by the Governor or an override of his veto. More to follow as reliable info becomes available.

Budget talks to resume at 2 p.m. Wednesday - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

www.abc6.com

Dee DeQuattro ddequattro@abc6.com After over 10 hours 

CHANNEL 12 ARTICLE ON POSSIBLE TOLL-DELAY DEAL

Channel 12 report on the possible delay-of-tolls deal. Will update as more info becomes available.

Sakonnet Tolls May Be on Hold | WPRI.com

www.wpri.com

BREAKING: The chair of the House Finance Committee announced a new amendment to the state budget that would delay the Sakonnet River Bridge toll plan until a

PATCH ARTICLE ON POSSIBLE DEAL TO DELAY TOLLS

Patch article on the potential deal to delay Sakonnet River Bridge tolls until at least April, and form a committee to spend that time looking at alternatives. This will be a big step towards sanity if it's approved.

http://tiverton.patch.com/articles/sakonnet-toll-collection-on-could-be-postponed-until-april

TOLL DEVELOPMENT AT STATE HOUSE TONIGHT

Sakonnet Times article on SRB tolls developments at the State House today. Will update as more info is available.

Not definite yet, but there may be a big break in the fight to stop the tolls. But even if the tolls are in fact delayed until next April, it just means we have additional time to persuade the General Assembly and Governor of not just the economic destructiveness of these tolls, but the ballot-box consequences of imposing them.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/house-debates-one-year-toll-delay/

STATE REP. DENNIS CANARIO: TOLLS=DEVASTATION

I am being cautiously optimistic that the House leadership is going to keep tolls off of the Sakonnet Bridge. I cannot stress my statement enough... If tolls come to the Sakonnet Bridge, The ENTIRE state will be effected! This will be complete devastation. 

If anyone has not done so yet, please contact your Representative and Senator no matter what part of the state you reside in.

Speaker Fox should personally hear from businesses on how they will be effected (401-222-2486). This is a state wide issue. We cannot afford to further cripple this state.

Lets do the math:
* Loss of state revenue (millions of dollars)
* Loss of business
* Loss of tourism
* Loss of jobs
* Added expense to the average household
* Added hardship to those who cannot afford transponder
* Added expense for school children
* Added expense to state by reimbursing toll fees to state workers
* Added expenses to the state/towns who use the bridge daily
* Added expense to those who seek daily medical care
________________________________________
= Devastation

PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE. THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF THIS STATE DEPENDS ON IT!

By: Dennis Canario

SAKONNET TIMES EDITORIAL AGAINST TOLLS

Link to an excellent editorial on bridge tolls and the hypocrisy of our State government on this issue.

http://www.eastbayri.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-cash-to-spare-toll-deals-river-daty/

EMAIL STATE LEADERS TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-TOLL BRIDGE MAINTENANCE LEGISLATION

There is a bill before the General Assembly that would create a funding source for bridge maintenance across the State that wouldn't require additional tolls. If passed, it will prevent tolls from starting on the Sakonnet River Bridge in early July. The bill is now up for consideration in both the RI Senate and House of Representatives.

Great job by Sen DiPalma, Rep Edwards & our other local elected officials working to stop this. But they need our support to let GA leaders know that SRB tolls will be destructive, that this issue is vital, & that failure to act won't be forgotten by voters, next year and beyond. 

Each & every call & email to GA leaders can make the difference. Please take a minute to make your voice heard. And spread the word. Working together, we can insure that our State officials do the right thing for all the people of RI.

House Speaker Gordon Fox (rep-fox@rilin.state.ri.us)(222-2447)
House Finance Cmte Chair Helio Melo (rep-melo@rilin.state.ri.us)(222-2738)
Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us)(222-6655)

LETTER: TOLLS A POLITICAL PROBLEM REQUIRING A POLITICAL SOLUTION

The facts about planned tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge are undeniable: it’s one of the most destructive, unfair, fiscally irresponsible, and anti-business actions our State government could have concocted. Yet, despite near-universal opposition from area officials, businesses and residents, tolls are looming. Why? What’s become clear is that this is a political problem requiring a political solution.

We’re told the tolls are necessary to fund maintenance of the new bridge, which costs $2 million/year. But RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority plans to collect $20 million/year in tolls; 90% will go to fund RITBA operations that have nothing to do with the bridge. There are several responsible proposals in the General Assembly to fund maintenance without tolls, as in the rest of RI. Beyond using East Bay residents as a piggybank to fund RITBA, there is no logical rationale for these tolls, but there is tremendous downside for the East Bay and the State.

Anyone needing to cross the bridge daily will be “taxed” $500/year, including businesses and their employees (when both spouses cross daily, it’s a $1000 family tax). An area reliant on out-of-state customers and tourists will lose much of that revenue as many refuse the absurd $10.50 cost of a round-trip. Already-congested roads in Bristol County will get worse as drivers use the Mt. Hope Bridge to avoid tolls. The State will lose a major source of revenue when Newport Grand patrons go elsewhere. And the State’s anti-business image, which State leaders want to reverse, will be reinforced.

Either our State leaders don’t understand the consequences of these tolls, or aren’t concerned with the East Bay. They have an opportunity now to do the right thing and support budget bills that would rescind the tolls. If they fail to do so, it’s up to us as voters to elect new leaders. This issue is important enough to create many single-issue voters.

 “Voters Against Sakonnet Tolls” (VAST) is a non-partisan, grassroots effort, uniting RI voters in pledging to vote only for candidates who actively oppose these tolls. This issue crosses all political views and parties. Voting in a unified way, we can be a deciding factor in statewide races, especially low-turnout primaries. To get involved, visit www.sakonnettolls.blogspot.com or search “Voters Against Sakonnet Tolls”on Facebook. And spread the word; there is strength in numbers.

East Bay voters have long memories, and this issue isn’t going away. Politicians considering a statewide candidacy at some point will be held accountable for how they acted in our time of need. State government should be responsive to the people, and working on a responsible way to fund infrastructure without destructive tolls, not making things worse.

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI

OVERVIEW OF "VAST"

Voters Against Sakonnet Tolls (VAST) is a non-partisan, grassroots effort to unite voters in the East Bay (and across Rhode Island) in voting only for candidates who actively oppose the plan to impose destructive tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. The goal is to either persuade the current State leaders to reverse this irresponsible toll plan, or work to elect new leaders who will. This is a political problem, and it requires a political solution.

VAST is focused on this single issue, and is open to all who want to join the effort, regardless of political party or views on other issues. The aim is to inform voters about the position on Sakonnet River Bridge tolls of the various candidates, especially for statewide offices, and encourage as many as possible to vote on this single issue until the threat of tolls is eliminated.

To join this effort, join the VAST Facebook page (search Voters Against Sakonnet Tolls), or follow this blog. Comments are welcome on both, but please be respectful and stay to this single topic. There are many issues that divide us. This is one issue where we can and should all work together to get the proper result: no tolls on the  Sakonnet River Bridge.

There are currently several bills before the General Assembly that would fund bridge maintenance without tolls. All are encouraged to call, email, or write to leaders at the General Assembly, and the Governor, to make clear that this issue will not go away, and will drive many votes in 2014 and beyond. We hope that our State leaders will do the right thing and end this toll threat to our community. If not, and legal challenges do not succeed in stopping the tolls, State leaders need to know there will be electoral consequences in 2014 and beyond.

VAST has no formal membership, and will not raise or spend money. The sole purpose is to provide a simple means for people who oppose the Sakonnet tolls, in the East Bay and beyond, to share information and unite in using our votes to stop this monumental example of bad government, being done despite the unanimous opposition of local officials and near-unanimous opposition of local businesses and residents.

We have the right to challenge our leaders, in a firm but civil way, to explain why they've saddled us with these tolls, with all the destructive consequences to so many. Bridge maintenance can be easily funded without them, as it is across the State. And we should ask how they can claim to be trying to change RI's anti-business reputation while imposing this most anti-business toll plan. Elected officials have a right to vote as they see fit. We, the voters they represent, have the power, through our united vote, to either change the minds of those elected officials who've imposed this toll on all of us, or to bring in new leaders who will do the right thing.

Brian Medeiros
VAST Coordinator