General Assembly starts 2016 session

HOUSE SPEAKER Nicholas A. Mattiello said he expects to pass some form of truck tolling legislation this legislative session. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO
HOUSE SPEAKER Nicholas A. Mattiello said he expects to pass some form of truck tolling legislation this legislative session. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – The General Assembly opens its 2016 session Tuesday afternoon, the ceremonial starting day to a legislative agenda expected to be dominated by transportation.
The most significant piece of legislation left over from the 2015 session, whether to charge tolls on heavy trucks traveling on Rhode Island highways and use the proceeds to pay for bridge and highway improvements, is expected to dominate discussion this year.
House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello, D-Cranston, and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, who convene their respective chambers to order at 4 p.m. Tuesday, both have said they expect to pass some form of truck tolling legislation this session.
Whether it will include long-term bonding, where the electronic toll gantries are placed and how much will be charged have yet to be determined.
Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, who is preparing her second budget this month, has said her main focus for the legislative session will be continuing to grow the state economy and attract more jobs.
But improvements to the state’s transportation infrastructure loom large in that, and were presented by the governor last year as an investment in what businesses need to succeed.
“Continuing productive discussions with legislative leaders, to take action on improving the condition of roads and bridges” is among her priorities, according to Ashley O’Shea, a Raimondo spokeswoman.
RhodeWorks, as last presented by Raimondo, would provide $500 million for road and bridge repairs, by collecting tolls from large trucks. The state would also apply for $400 million in federal matching funds through the initiative, which advocates say would allow the state to bring its proportion of structurally deficient bridges to less than 10 percent in the next decade.
Opponents, including the Republican Policy Group and the StopTollsRI.com coalition, say the issue is not whether to repair the roads or bridges, but the financing mechanism. The groups planned a rally Tuesday at the Capitol, to promote a “pay as you go” plan that they say will save money and accomplish the same result.
Beyond trucks and tolling, other issues expected to surface in 2016:

  • Reform to the public education system. State representatives have already met to discuss potential legislation, which could include bills addressing the cost of education for special education and English language learners, a bill-of-rights for student loan borrowers and alternatives to out-of-school suspensions.
  • Gun control issues. “Common sense gun safety solutions” are among the goals for Raimondo, according to O’Shea.
  • Driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.

A coalition that advocates for immigrant rights, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice, will try to find assembly sponsors for legislation that would make driver’s licenses available to undocumented immigrants. The group plans an opening day rally Tuesday, according to Mike Araujo, executive director. Although the governor has expressed support, Araujo said this year the group wants the change enacted.
Raimondo supports creating a path for undocumented residents to obtain the licenses, said O’Shea.
“She hoped to get this done in her first year and remains committed to the issue,” O’Shea said. “There are many undocumented Rhode Islanders who work and pay taxes, but don’t have the right to obtain a license, like they do in 12 other states and Washington, D.C. The reality is that they are driving on the roads right now without a license.”

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  1. Tolling is not needed to repair Rhode Island’s bridges and roads. Rhode Island should fund the repair of its bridges and roads by reducing its tax on gasoline and diesel fuel to 20 cents per gallon. Many vehicles that now pass through RI would stop and buy their fuel in RI because RI would have the lowest fuel prices in New England. Many nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut drivers would buy their fuel in RI. Local truck stops and gas stations, located near Interstate highway ramps, would expand and improve their facilities to attract customers. Employment at RI’s fueling stations would increase. The number of gallons of fuel sold in RI each year would more than double which would produce the equivalent of over 40 cents per gallon in fuel taxes based on today’s yearly sales of fuel.