Time To Clear Air On Corzine Gas Guzzler Purchases

January 5, 2009

Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Tom Kean (R-21)

Senator Calls on Corzine to Reverse Inconsistent Stance

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) called upon the Corzine Administration to reverse their incomprehensible stance on State vehicle purchases and support Republican legislation to promote fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicle use by both the private and public sectors.

Despite the issuance of a global warming response report that mandates increased fuel efficiency standards, media reports indicate that the Corzine administration will be accepting bids to buy SUVs with fuel economy that “barely escapes the single digits.”

“An administration that has no problem piling environmental mandates on a business community that is already reeling from six years of relentless Democrat tax and fee increases should start practicing what it preaches,” said Kean. “This administration insisted on special higher taxes on the purchase of SUVs in order to protect the environment, but when it comes to their own purchases, they think those vehicles are just fine.”

Kean called on the administration to support Republican-sponsored bills that would require the State to phase-in the purchase of only fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrid electric vehicles (S-2153), and provide a tax reductions for the purchase of such vehicles by the private sector (S-291 and S-292).

“Moving our legislation would serve three important policy goals,” continued Kean, who owns of a 30 mile-per-gallon Ford Escape hybrid SUV. “First, we would be promoting vehicle purchases that help us meet our greenhouse gas emissions goals. Second, we would be providing an economic lifeline to American auto manufacturers as they struggle to remain in business. Third, we would be sending a positive message to our business community that the bureaucrats can live under the same rules that it is all too willing to impose on them.”