State Senator Steve Baddour gave a tepid response to the gas tax talk coming out of the Governor’s Office, telling the Eagle Tribune that the “gas tax isn’t going anywhere right now”. From the Tribune:

Baddour said the Senate is focused on reform and a gas tax hike isn’t going anywhere right now. Baddour also said he doesn’t think the people of Massachusetts are ready to have the state tracking their every move.

He seemed to reject the idea of embedding a chip in each auto that could serve as a permanent transponder and allow “open road tolling”, saying that it was the first step in imposing a “vehicle miles tax” that would have the government assessing us for auto usage. I am not sure that the Governor is being well served by these transportation trial balloons. And I do not believe he is going to be able to legislatively move a major bill on transportation while House Chair Joe Wagoner and Senator Baddour keep getting caught by suprise. Trial Balloons should not hit the legislative leadership in the head.