Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder today called on Governor Corzine to veto a plan to dramatically increase tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. 

      “Corzine wants to nearly triple the tolls,” said Senator Haines. “Not only is this a tax on drivers who use the toll roads, but it is a tax on every family in New Jersey who will be forced to pay more for bread, milk, clothing and every other product in the stores.” 

      “The Governor’s lack of willingness to veto the DRPA’s 66 percent increase to cross the Delaware, coupled with future toll hikes on the Turnpike and the Parkway places a disproportionate burden on South Jersey residents. For the same reason South Jersey drivers should not have to pay for a soccer stadium in Pennsylvania, why should we have to pay for a rail tunnel in Hudson County?” said Assemblywoman Addiego. 

      “This is only the beginning. We can expect more toll hikes in the future,” said Assemblyman Rudder, of the Assembly Transportation Committee. “What the state needs is a long-term, common-sense plan to solve this problem.” 

      “Solid plans to solve New Jersey’s problems are being ignored, and instead, Corzine wants to load more weight on the shoulders of overburdened taxpayers. The Trenton Democrats need to stop looking for ways to increase revenue and instead focus on ways we can cut spending,” Senator Haines said. 

      “These excessive toll hikes are unconscionable now, at a time when job-loss rates are rising, property taxes are at their highest levels, and the cost of gasoline and energy has middle class families trying to dig out of a hole,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “This increase is unnecessary. People simply can not afford to live in New Jersey anymore.” 

      “We urge the Governor to use his authority to veto this new toll hike scheme that hits South Jersey commuters twice as hard as their North Jersey counterparts,” said Assemblyman Rudder.

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