$180 Million for Roads and Bridges, $20 Million for Water Quality and Sewer Systems in Separate Bond Package is Highest Bond Priority
MARCH 14, 2007
AUGUSTA – Republican legislators have called for a separate infrastructure bond, totaling $200 million, as their top investment priority. The $200 million bond would be broken down into $180 million for roads and bridges and $20 million for sewer systems and water quality, with significant matches in funding coming from the federal government.
In the recent past, to promote a political agenda, one single bond package was negotiated that included high need infrastructure with pet projects and low priority proposals, holding Maine’s infrastructure hostage. Republicans, determined to avoid a repeat of previous negotiations, are calling for a separate bond package devoted to roads, bridges, water quality and sewer systems be developed first to quickly address urgent safety concerns.
Senate Republican Leader Carol Weston, of Montville, emphasized the importance of developing a substantial infrastructure bond package before other bond proposals. “Legislators, contractors, business owners and citizens are all in agreement that we are in the midst of a public infrastructure crisis,” she said. “288 bridges are facing limited use or closure within 10 years, and we have drinking water systems that are over 100 years old. This is truly frightening information. Republicans will not allow necessary infrastructure bonding to take a back seat to negotiations over a laundry list of secondary bond proposals.”
The Republican’s bonding position also calls for an appropriate amount of funding quickly be made available, for a June ballot, to address the most urgent needs for Maine’s roads, bridges, water quality and sewer systems.
“The safety of our citizens should not be up for negotiation,” stressed Sen. Weston. “Now is the time for swift action from this Legislature. Republicans want Maine’s deteriorating infrastructure repaired, and a separate infrastructure bond, removed from political negotiations over pet projects, is the only way to guarantee it.”
CONTACT:
Chris Cinquemani 287-1507 (o)
Communications Director, Senate Republican Office