Shortly after 9 p.m., the House voted 88 to 59 in favor of Lamont’s proposed mileage-based “highway use” fee on tractor-trailers, where the weight of the trucks determines the rate paid. Modeled after programs in New York and Oregon, the tax is projected to generate $90 million annually to help shore up the state’s financially troubled transportation fund.

“What are we doing? These truck drivers busted their tails in the last year to support us,” asked Rep. William Buckbee, R-New Milford. He and other Republicans predicted the fee — which Democrats predicted would be about $10 per tractor trailer traveling across the state — would be harmful to in-state trucking companies and ultimately become an additional cost for Connecticut taxpayers.

But proponents said it’s only fair to charge a user fee for the tractor trailers, given the damage they cause to Connecticut’s roads as they deliver goods throughout the Northeast.

“We seem dedicated to giving a free ride to the people of New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” said Rep. Steve Meskers, D-Greenwich.