May 2008, York, Maine - Amidst a firestorm of protest among York residents (otherwise known as the group Think Again) aimed at the Maine Turnpike Authority's plan to re-locate the York toll booth, Rep. Hill hinted at a rally recently in York, Maine that she had some new legislation that may serve to give the MTA's Board something to think about, indeed.

Filed with the Reviser's office, at the Maine State Capitol prior to Legislative session ending in April, Hill filed eight (8) separate bills, designed to, but not limited to bring accountability, transparency, fair dealing, protection from eminent domain and quality of life/environment protections to Maine citizens. Some of the legislation seeks to place some checks and balances on which the virtually "unregulated" MTA currently operates.

"Over 1200 residents within the Town of York have signed a petition, asking the MTA to re-consider and review their plan to move the location of the existing toll booth in York and over 3600 Voters in York voted in a non-binding referendum to not relocate the current toll booth location. Town officials form both Wells & Ogunquit also provided letters opposing the relocation. People in the area have been told by the MTA, ‘there is no other alternative, we [MTA] can move the location of the plaza and we really do not need local consent'. Sorry, that doesn't sit well with me and I doubt over a thousand of my constituents can be wrong in their assessment about exploring viable alternatives," cited Rep. Hill on the announcement of her proposed legislation.

 "The MTA was formed by the Maine Legislature in the mid 1940's and for over 50 years, it has run with little or no oversight from anyone or anything, save its own internal organizational policy. I understand the value of separating a quasi-governmental agency from State Government for bonding revenue issues, but when I say no oversight, I mean none! Even excess revenue from MTA's toll operation, promised to the Maine DOT, seems not to occur due to their savvy private bonding structure."

"I'm all for improved infrastructure, better highways for business travel and improved access for our visitors on vacation. But, something is wrong when Maine taxpayers are paying for it twice, once with absent promised revenue to be used for all state roads and then with increased toll fees that are not proportional to distance(s) traveled. My bill(s) are aimed at protecting constituents within my district, but to a large extent, this is about protecting all of Maine's citizens from "an unchecked corporate entity answerable to no one" and protecting a quality of life they have come to expect.

Hill represents District 149, comprised of part Kittery, Ogunquit, part York and part Wells. Each of the MTA's proposed new toll locations are currently located within her legislative district.

Cloture date for submission of new legislation in the 124^th Legislature is January 2009. So, Hill's proposed legislation is in the pipeline early and it is likely to have public hearings before several different Joint Legislative Committees including the Committee on Transportation.