6/18/04-House and Senate lawmakers met June 17 in Concord to override Gov. Craig Benson’s veto of the state’s 10-year highway improvement plan.
Benson criticized legislators for spending too much money because the federal government is likely to give the state less than the plan anticipates.
He also said lawmakers should have tried grant anticipation revenue vehicles, or GARVEE bonds, which borrow money in anticipation of future highway funds that would be used to pay them off.
Rep. Edwin Smith, R-Hinsdale, acknowledged there would not be enough revenue for all the projects, saying they probably would take 14 years to complete. But everyone involved in crafting the bill – HB2004 – agreed that it made more sense to extend deadlines rather than remove projects that have been on the list for years, he said.
Benson repeated his opposition on the day of the override.
The House voted 312-31 to override the veto. The Senate vote was 23-1.
Among the projects the plan authorizes are upgrades to the Spaulding Turnpike, the widening of Interstate 93 and the Conway Bypass project.
One thing pulled from the bill was a $3.5 million project to remove southbound toll booths from I-95, where Benson launched a one-way toll experiment last year after getting stuck in traffic.