The Advocate quoted Lyons saying, "At some point, we're going to have to raise a lot of money, and people won't be happy about it. I hope you're part of a group who will carry that message that we need to do this."

Lyons also chastised them for not giving her the political capital she needed to oppose the 7-cent gas tax cut championed by Governor Rowland last year. She dryly called the cut "not a particularly good idea," noting it will cost Connecticut $1 billion in transportation funds over the next ten years (MTR #268). "I can get you a lot of money," she said, "But it doesn't matter if you're not making phone calls."

The Southwest Area Commerce and Industry Association has been an active player in Connecticut's transportation politics. The regional business council was a member of the Coastal Corridor Coalition that successfully championed legislation mandating congestion reduction goals in the I-95 southwest corridor (MTR #134). Association president Chris Bruehl, who is also a member of the Governor's interim Transportation Strategy Board, told the Advocate that he accepted the Speaker's challenge and would sound the message "loud and clear."