Republicans Have a Better Plan Than Toll Increases or Gas Tax Hikes
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, a representative of the people of District 21, said Governor Corzine should not be pressuring the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to raise the cost of living for the people of New Jersey:
“New Jersey residents have no patience left for schemes that make our state even more unaffordable. It is a mystery to me why Governor Corzine is so determined to further squeeze people who already pay the highest taxes, fees and tolls in America when he can avoid it with a small change in spending priorities.
“There is no contest. New Jersey collects far more per mile from commuters, travelers and truckers than any other state. If legislators spent every penny already collected for transportation on bridges, rail roads and highways, there would be no need to raise any tax or toll. Instead, too much money is diverted to projects for the politically powerful few at the expense of what’s best for the majority of the state.
“The public made it clear when they soundly rejected Governor Corzine’s 800% toll increase proposal just a few short months ago that they did not want toll increases during a time of economic uncertainty. Pressuring the Turnpike Authority to do what the governor couldn’t do legislatively should not be an acceptable political strategy.
“In addition, after nearly tripling tolls, the governor still will have done nothing to finance the vast majority of transportation projects in the state.
“Republicans have a plan that reallocates just 1.5 percent of a $33 billion budget and uses it to finance transportation projects well into 2014. We again urge the governor to take a look at our suggestions for trimming increases in non-vital spending so that urgent transportation projects will be funded. Overburdened working and middle class taxpayers have heard enough excuses. It’s time the governor stood up for them.”
To see the Republican plan, click on “A Common Sense Plan for an Affordable New Jersey” on www.senatenj.com.
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September 8, 2008 - Reminder From Senator Tom Kean: Republicans Have a No-Toll, No-Tax Transportation Plan
September 4, 2008 - Kean and DeCroce: Corzine Needs to Say If He Will Hike Tolls for Tunnel Cost Overruns
November 12, 2008
