House Transportation Bill: How Did Weston's Representative Vote?

$500 million in new taxes.

That's what the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved in a late-night vote Monday for its plan to make sorely needed improvements in Massachusetts roads, bridges and public transportation.

As reported by the Associated Press, the House approved the bill 97-55 after more than 10 hours of debate. It includes a gas tax hike of 3 cents per gallon and increased tobacco taxes. 

But that House bill is scaled back significantly from Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to bring in $2 billion in new revenue to help fund transportation and education. Among other measures, Patrick's plan calls for a hike in the state income tax. 

So, how did the Rep. Alice Peisch, who represents Weston, vote?

Peisch voted in favor of the House's transportation bill, saying that she felt it was a step in the right direction.

"I think that it is sufficient to address the major deficits that the transportation system has at the moment," Peisch told Patch. She explained that the MBTA has an "unusually high" amount of debt service and has for too many years paid its operating expenses with borrowed funds.

"To vote no would move nothing forward, and I don't think that's an option." Peisch added. 

Last week, Patrick stood by his plan, stating that House's $500 million in new taxes would simply "kick the can down the road" and that he would veto the bill if it came to his desk, according to Boston.com.

With a 97-55 vote, the House is a few votes short of the margin it would need to override a veto from Patrick. 

Peisch said she expects the bill as voted in the House to change at least some before it makes it to the governor's desk.

In fact, the Boston Globe reports that the bill the Senate plans to take up this week would invest about $126 million more on transportation than the House version by 2018.

Peisch said she sees the Transportation bill as one piece of a larger package that would fund transportation initiatives and programs in the coming years, including a possible transportation bond bill and Chapter 90 funding for municipalities.

"While I share the governor's goals, the revenue package that he proposed was very ambitious," Peisch said, noting that she still has some concerns about the state of the economy. "And I just didn't see that there was a vote to get that revenue package through." 

After Monday night's House vote, Patrick has said he's hoping for a compromise between the House's $500 million and his nearly $2 billion plan, according to Boston.com.

Patrick's office has also posted a set of online maps showing the projects that would receive funding through his transportation plan. 

In Weston, the projects include intersection work at Route 30 and Wellesley Street.

What do you think? Would you rather fewer new taxes and tax hikes while tackling the state's massive transportation issues? Or should Massachusetts go all-in on Gov. Patrick's much more expensive plan?