LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy took to the air Friday to blast state Sen. Thomas M. McGee’s proposal to collect up to $8 billion in tolls on more Bay State highways.
WRKO talk show host Jeffrey Kuhner introduced Kennedy, who is in a tough re-election fight against the Lynn Democrat, and told listeners McGee – whom he referred to as Mr. Magoo – wants to load up Massachusetts with tolls on Routes 1, 2 I-93, I-95, and 128.
“Sen. McGee’s toll proposal is such an obvious grab for more of our money,” Kennedy said. “That has to be about as blatant a move as anyone can imagine. If we are trying to be fair to everyone, why not remove tolls on the roads that are already paid for as we were promised during construction? Wouldn’t that be fairer to everybody?”
Under McGee’s proposal, the state would establish a Metropolitan Transportation Network and electronic tolling would be implemented by the end of next year. The senator has agreed with studies that conclude tolling would allow the state to expand public transportation and relieve congestion on the state’s highways.
Kennedy used the segment to say if money is needed to improve the state’s roads and bridges, perhaps the Legislature should trim the state budget to make more money available.
“Did you see any line items suggested where we would cut or eliminate to narrow the gap taxpayers are supposed to pay for this big project,” she said.
Kuhner, who calls himself “Liberalism’s Worst Nightmare,” called McGee a greedy “far left wing extremist” and asked the two-term mayor if Lynn residents felt the same way.
“The people who are thinking for themselves and looking at the issues certainly realize that,” she said. “But there are some who have a loyalty to that family name and will vote for that name regardless of the positions staked out by the person bearing that name.”
McGee declined to comment.
