Fortune smiled on me again Dec. 17, affording me a second opportunity to question Gov. Ned Lamont one-on-one. To be more accurate, the sit-down was Rob Blanchard, Lamont’s deputy communications director, clumsily handing him the phone while our good governor conducted business cruising Connecticut in the back of his limousine. Interviewing high profile leaders while they might be multitasking, and a bit distracted, can be the best avenue towards honesty.

There is an irrefutable sense of frustration from Lamont that Connecticut's transportation saga is consuming his administration. He did well to deflect his anguish during my 20-minute tolling interrogation — using some clever humor — but assuredly this issue weighs heavy on him and he wants it resolved.

My intention was to cover a wider spectrum of topics. The last time we spoke much of the discussion was toll related. My listeners had other ideas, however, forwarding an avalanche of emails and social media posts demanding answers to dozens of toll-related questions.

The overwhelming consensus question my radio faithful wanted answered: When was the governor going to face the electorate and hold town halls across the state with respect to tolls? The governor’s answer was, "Yea let's do it, we'll do it early in the new year. You got it."

Question number two focused on the number of tolls in the newest trucks-only plan. I asked if there was any chance of another reduction in gantries from 12 to something smaller? Lamont replied, "You have to pay your bills in life, what we tried to do is structure something that at least gives us revenue to fix the Gold Star Bridge, speed up Shoreline East and keep our Special Transportation Fund solvent. Obviously, I was not a fan of raiding the rainy day fund and I think I have a plan that fits transportation without raiding that fund."

My follow up: Knowing that the Rhode Island tolls-on-trucks approach faces litigation for being illegal and unconstitutional, wouldn't it be prudent to wait until that legal challenge is resolved. Why would Connecticut walk right into a lawsuit? The governor’s counter, "I say two things Lee; the Special Transportation Fund is going insolvent so we have to fix it and bring our roads and bridges to a state of good repair, the Trump DOT is focused on that; and everybody is suing this state!

“I just ended the hospital lawsuit, which was pending for years. Our education system in Hartford, in addition to the DCF, is under suit. The tribes and MGM are threatening to sue each other. People just love to run to the lawyers in this state. I met with the Teamsters union and they are supportive of the plan. If you worry about litigation everywhere you go, you're not going to do anything in state government."

I moved to a more general question about the potential for an outside audit firm looking deeply at the Department of Transportation. Lamont responded, "We have good management over there. We recently changed the management and the DOT has oversight, since it’s private contractors that bid on contracts.”

Lamont had recently suggested that truck operators wouldn't necessarily pass along the cost of the tolls to consumers. When I asked him why any company would simply absorb the toll cost, he backed off, conceding that I was "probably right, and it was going to be a little more costly."

My final question focused on the money raised by the potential gantries. Would that money only be available for the projects the tolls stood in front of? Lamont's answer, "That's right, that money, by law is contracted to pay off the historically low interest loans from the federal government.”

“All the toll revenue,” Lamont said, “Will go to pay off the bond” and that “every dime raised from electronic tolling gantries will go to pay off the loans.”

My take: This governor needs to face the electorate and answer questions in town hall settings. He should wait and see what happens in Rhode Island with the current trucking lawsuit before he pushes the truck-tolling agenda forward.

Connecticut throws millions away on studies and quasi-state agencies. We should hold the DOT accountable for its absurdly high cost of doing business. An audit is essential.

Finally, as we watch this all unfold, remember to follow the money. Forget about New York City’s 3-card Monte players, politicians are the most skilled at the art of diversion.

Let's see how much cachet and influence Lamont has in swaying a fearful left-leaning legislature — hungry to maintain power — into welcoming tolls in 2020.

Here’s hoping you had a merry toll-less Christmas. It might be the last.

Lee Elci is the morning host for 94.9 News Now radio, a station that provides "Stimulating Talk" with a conservative bent.