Mass. Lawmakers Override Transportation Veto

Taxes on gasoline and cigarettes are set to increase after Massachusetts lawmakers voted to override Gov. Deval Patrick's veto of a transportation financing bill.

The bill contains a 3 cent per gallon hike in the gas tax, along with a $1 per pack increase in the cigarette tax. Those tax hikes are scheduled to take effect in seven days.

Patrick vetoed the bill after lawmakers rejected his demand to add a provision allowing for an additional gas tax hike if tolls on the western portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike come down as scheduled in 2017.

The House voted 123-33 to override Patrick's veto. The Senate voted 35-5 to override.

Patrick argues that the bill doesn't account for the scheduled loss of toll revenue.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the fate of the tolls is uncertain.

[Associated Press]