Jordan: Toll Hike Mess Highlights Why Bill Is Needed

Statement from Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R,I,C-Jackson)

November 13, 2012

“The Thruway Authority is an unaccountable government agency with little regard for taxpayers. Its meetings, which many suspected were scheduled to approve the proposed 45 percent toll increase on trucks, have been scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled and cancelled yet again without a public agenda. Even Comptroller DiNapoli agrees that the toll hike would hurt businesses, kill jobs and further stretch family budgets due to increased costs on consumer goods. This is not how government should work.

“It’s clear to me that the legislation that I have introduced is needed for these situations. My bill would ensure that policy decisions made by a state regulatory agency that would have fiscal impacts larger than $5 million statewide are only put in place after legislative approval. This reform would stop unilateral actions like egregious toll hikes by public authorities and restore accountability.”

Editor’s Note: Click here for a copy of Assemblyman Jordan’s Legislation A.5687.

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