Albany - Saying it's not enough for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to  talk about stopping the proposed 10 percent Thruway toll hike, Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) Friday challenged him and Governor Eliot Spitzer to pass the Assembly Republican Conference's legislation requiring the Legislature's approval for any change in Thruway tolls.

The 2005 approved Thruway toll hike for cash customers is slated to take effect on January 6, 2008.  The recently proposed 10 percent hike - five percent of which would take effect in 2009 and five percent occurring in 2010, respectively - is slated to receive final determination by the State Thruway Authority later this spring.

Tedisco's legislation would amend Section 354 of the State's Public Authority Law to require legislative approval of any increased fees, rental or charges for the use of the Thruway.  The initiative also stipulates that any shortfalls in revenue resulting from a denied proposal would be made up through the state's general fund.  The bill was last referred to the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.  Senator Hugh Farley (R,C-Schenectady) has recently indicated he will introduce a companion bill for Tedisco's legislation in the Senate when the Legislature reconvenes.