Mass. Governor Vetoes Transportation Bill

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has vetoed a transportation funding bill, saying the state Legislature did not fulfill his request to offset a loss of tolls from the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Associated Press reported.

Leaders in both chambers of the Legislature said they are confident they have enough votes to override Patrick’s veto, which he issued Friday, AP reported.

The bill would bring in $500 million in new annual tax revenue, billions of dollars over the next decade and end the practice of borrowing money to pay state transportation workers.

Patrick said he wanted to institute an automatic fuel tax increase to offset the planned removal of tolls on the western portion of the Mass Pike. Tolls are set to end west of Interstate 95 in 2017.

“I believe this is an issue to be dealt with now, not put off to another day,” he said.

Before the veto, the measure passed the House 121-31 and the Senate 29-9. If legislators pass the bill again with the same margins, it would override the veto, AP reported.