Mass. House Passes Transportation Bill

The Massachusetts House approved a transportation finance bill late Monday that would raise the state’s gas tax by 3 cents a gallon and calls for $500 million in new taxes, the Associated Press reported.

The bill passed by a vote of 97-55 after more than 10 hours of debate, but the vote was just short of the two-thirds needed to override a promised veto by Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick (D), AP reported.

Patrick has argued the plan would not generate enough revenue to meet the state’s transportation needs and has proposed $1.9 billion in new taxes, including a hike in the income tax, AP said.

Democratic leaders said the bill would end the practice of borrowing money to pay salaries of state transportation employees, and make an added $100 million available to cities and towns for local road projects, according to AP.