PROVIDENCE, R.I.- Lt. Governor Daniel J. McKee issued the following statement Tuesday on the RhodeWorks road-and-bridge repair proposal:
"As House and Senate committees prepare to consider RhodeWorks, I want to reiterate my support for the plan and urge lawmakers to advance it. As the Governor and House and Senate leadership have said, Rhode Island's bridges are the worst in the nation and we must take action to fix them.
The revised tolling plan is the right approach to fixing a difficult problem that too many previous administrations have been content to avoid. I do not support proposals that put 100 percent of repair costs on the backs of Rhode Island taxpayers and give out-of-state companies a free pass to use our roads. I am tired of seeing Rhode Island businesses pay tolls in other states for the upkeep of those states' infrastructure, while out-of-state trucks using Rhode Island roadways don't do the same for the wear they cause here.
I have been listening closely to the concerns of businesses in our state, and have said I support the possibility of responsible relief measures to help Rhode Island companies offset the cost of the tolls. While it is imperative that we address our infrastructure needs, we must remain mindful of the obstacles many of our businesses are already facing, and continue our work to make Rhode Island a friendly place to do business."
Media Contact: Erika Niedowski, erika.niedowski@ltgov.ri.gov, 401-222-1445