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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER6, 2012CONTACT: ADAM KRAMER, 518-441-5183 (TEDISCO)

NICKWILOCK, 518-878-6568 (MCLAUGHLIN)

THRUWAY: THE GRINCH THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS?

McLAUGHLIN & TEDISCO SLAM THRUWAY AUTHORITYS

CONSIDERATION TO RAISE TOLLS ON CARS

Assemblymen fear Thruway may pull bait and switch at Dec. 17th meeting and use guise of

choosing new Tappan Zee Bridge to sneak in toll hike

Assemblymen Steve McLaughlin (R,C,I-Melrose) and Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville)today called out the New York State Thruway Authoritys (NYSTA) consideration to raise tolls

on passenger vehicles,as reported by The Buffalo News. Since May, the NYSTA has proposedto implement a so-called modest 45 percent toll hike on commercial vehicles, refused to hold apublic hearing about the toll hikes in the Capital Region, rescheduled and cancelled meetingsregularly, did not release agendas for their meetings, and just this week,it was reported that theNYSTA paid $11.2 million in overtime, up from $9.8 million in 2010 with an overall payroll of$188 million. Now, with no details, no plan to cut costs and no mention of a forensic audit, theNYSTA is considering raising tolls on passenger vehicles.

These arrogant, unresponsive bureaucrats just dont get it, said McLaughlin. It doesnot matter who the NYSTA raises tolls on because, ultimately, its the consumer that pays theprice. It would be different if this body of unelected bureaucrats came to the table with options to

cut costs, reduce massive overtime, and conduct a forensic audit. Instead, and as usual, the publicis given no details, no information on their December 17 agenda, and will be affected the mostby any toll increase.

With the highest taxes and worst business climate in the country, its ludicrous andinsulting the NYSTA wants to drive up the cost of doing business by 45 percent. Families acrossthe Capital Region are already stretching their hard earned money, and the NYSTAs proposal toraise tolls is going to make it that much more difficult for families to put food on the table eachnight. The NYSTA must exhaust every possible avenue before raising tolls, and so far, they havemade no effort to that end. Its time for the NYSTA to do the right thing and open their books tothe public and conduct a forensic audit and not pass the costs of their out-of-control agency to

the public.

Not even the Grinch Who Stole Christmas could be this diabolical. This is yet anotherexample of secret government emanating from the Thruway Authority. Once again, we calledand asked for a copy of their agenda for the December 17th meeting and they refused to give it tous. The last time we caught the Thruway Authority with their hands in the cookie jar they twicehad to cancel their meeting. Now I fear that a week before Christmas when people arent paying

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attention, the Thruway Authority may pull a bait and switch and sneak in a massive toll hikewhen they claim they just want to pick a design for the new Tappan Zee Bridge, said Tedisco.

A toll increase of any kind on cars or trucks is unacceptable, especially in this difficulteconomy and when report after report has outlined the rampant incompetence and

mismanagement by the Thruway Authority. The easy thing for the Thruway Authority is raisingtolls on consumers but right thing to do would be for the Thruway to do a forensic audit andtighten its belt and merge into the NYS Department of Transportation as my colleagues and I andthe Governor's own SAGE Commission have recommended.

This also underscores the need to take the power to raise the tolls out of the hands ofthese bureaucrats who are not accountable to voters and require members of the Legislature, whojust went before voters, to approve any toll or fee increase as I have proposed (A.2040), saidTedisco.

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http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02040http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02040