Sens. Carson and Vitelli vote to send transportation infrastructure investments to Maine voters for approval

Sen. Brownie Carson, D-Harpswell, and Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, joined colleagues in the Legislature to send a bond proposal to Maine voters for their approval this November. This proposal includes critical investments in Maine’s roads and bridges. The vote was 32-0 in the Senate and 127-8 in the House of Representatives.

Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers prevented Maine voters from getting a chance to decide on investments in broadband infrastructure, public lands, career and technical education, National Guard facilities, and low-interest loans to curb energy costs and promote efficiency.

“Safe, reliable, and up-to-date transportation infrastructure is vital in the day-to-day lives of every single Mainer,” said Sen. Vitelli. “I’m glad voters will have a chance to make their voice heard on this bond but I am disappointed the voters will not get to weigh in on the equally important broadband infrastructure.”

“Mainers should have the opportunity to vote on these other bonds as well, and it is a real shame that some of my colleagues deprived them of that chance,” said Sen. Carson. “Bonds like the Land for Maine Future bond have a history of strong bipartisan support and of drawing funds from other sources to magnify their impact. Not putting an LMF bond on the ballot is letting down the environment and our future generations.”

The only bond that Maine voters will consider invests $105 million in transportation projects. These funds will support repairs, upgrades and routine maintenance for Maine highways, bridges, culverts and working waterfronts. It will also contribute to good-paying jobs in the construction industry. Several reports indicate that construction workers are standing by and ready to do this work so Mainers can safely go to school, work, and about their daily lives.

The bond will now appear before all Maine voters on the ballot in November.