Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. says that comments by a senior Democratic legislator, Raymond Lesniak, suggesting that Gov. Jon Corzine’s toll hike plan is dead, means the state should look for a budget that doesn’t rely on revenues from toll increases. 
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“Prominent Democrat Senators have now pronounced as DOA in the Senate any gas tax increase, any toll increases for debt, and now the Governor's ill advised and quite likely unconstitutional PBC. It's clear that the members of his own party are now following of the lead of republicans in the legislature in rejecting the Governor's vision,” Kean said in a statement released today.

“Republican Senators are ready to move forward forging a State budget that cuts spending without taking more from the pockets of working families. During his state of the state message, the Governor spoke of matching expenses to recurring revenues,” Kean said.  “The Governor’s actions must match his rhetoric.  He must seek real substantive cuts across the board.”