House Republicans: Tax Increases Represent Wrong Track

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading), Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk), ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) issued the following statement in response to the transportation finance proposal offered by Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray:

“While the Speaker and Senate President’s proposal is dramatically smaller than the plan advanced by Governor Patrick, we join our House Republican colleagues in taking issue with the fact that broad-based tax increases are still being proposed as a means to solving the Commonwealth’s transportation financing needs.

By seeking to raise five separate taxes, the Speaker and Senate President have sent a clear indication that they believe they have exhausted all options when it comes to reforming our state’s transportation system. House Republicans don’t believe this to be true – in fact we believe numerous other areas of savings still exist.

Furthermore, with the white smoke having risen from the transportation financing conclave, we reiterate our call for Speaker DeLeo to conduct a public hearing on his proposal. Any piece of legislation that seeks to raise $500 million in new revenue must be put through the rigors of public review.”