Tolls

The top Republican leaders in the New Jersey Legislature call on Governor Jon Corzine to say now whether he will ask for more toll hikes to pay for cost overruns on the trans-Hudson rail tunnel project.

Cost overruns of more than billion dollars have Republicans exploring a potential lawsuit to block the use of highway tolls for construction of a rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande said today that despite the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s insistence on raising tolls, the state’s transportation needs could be funded from existing state revenues and called on the Governor to reject the Authority’s latest plan.

Congressional Candidate Alan Bateman (NJ-12) today announced that he will be unveiling a new and comprehensive plan to reduce transportation and energy costs for New Jerseyans. The plan will be made public at a campaign press conference with Senator Joseph Kyrillos (NJ-13) on Tuesday September 23th at 2:00 p.m. in the Commuter Parking Lot adjacent to Garden State Parkway Exit 109, Woodland Drive, Lincroft.

WISNIEWSKI: OLS CALLS SENATE GOP TOLL GAMBIT ILLEGAL
Nonpartisan Legal Analysis Shoots Down Concept of Legislative Veto;
Assemblyman Urges 'Honest Talk' On Transportation Future, Not Political Rhetoric

(SAYREVILLE) - Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee chairman John Wisniewski today called upon his Republican colleagues to stop politicizing New Jersey's transportation future and engage in honest talk about the dire need for safer roads and bridges.

United Republican Caucus Will Introduce Legislative Veto Resolution

Senate Republican Leader Thomas H. Kean (R-Essex/Union/Somerset/Morris) and Senate Republican Budget Officer Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon/Warren) announced that the 17 members of the Senate Republican Conference will seek a rare legislative veto of the proposed Turnpike and Parkway toll increases. A legislative veto is the proper procedure to use when the Executive Branch tries to impose rules or regulations that do not follow the clear intent of a law.

Senator Kean urges Governor Corzine to accept the challenge of defending his toll hike plan in person and not just leave Turnpike officials to face the public's wrath.

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.

Senator Philip Haines, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, sent a letter (attached below) today to the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority asking why they were forced to issue short-term bonds to avoid defaulting on current debt. The letter is attached.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today said that Republicans are united in opposition to tolls on Interstates 78 and 80.