Gov. Patrick Says Transportation Compromise Lacking

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick has told lawmakers that he cannot accept a compromise transportation funding bill in its current form.

The governor said in a statement Wednesday that the bill fails to address a revenue source that will not be available in the future. While the statement did not specify the source, it was an apparent reference to tolls on the western portion of the Massachusetts turnpike that are scheduled to come down in 2017.

The bill was passed on a 105-47 vote by the House and a 34-6 vote by the Senate.

It calls for about $500 million in new taxes to help pay for upgrades to the state's aging infrastructure and eliminate the MBTA's projected deficit in the fiscal year starting on Monday.

Patrick says he will return the bill to lawmakers with a proposed amendment.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.