Lawmakers in the House and Senate today each approved Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's plan to spend $68.9 million on road improvements across the state. The bonding project, which will be spread over 20 years, is expected to create work for 1,050 people.
In the Senate, debate was swift: the discussion took less than four minutes before the 32-0 vote.
"This is a huge opportunity to put people to work,'' said Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia. "I am hoping that the department of transportation...looks favorably on Connecticut contractors...so our Connecticut workers will get jobs.''
Sen. Andrew Roraback, a Republican from Goshen, noted that the long winter has taken a toll on the state's roads. The road repaving and reconstruction project will "allow our fillings to remain in our mouths,'' he joked.
In the House of Representatives, there was more opposition. The measure ultimately passed on a vote of 121 to 22 but several lawmakers voiced concerns.