Why oppose the gas tax hike? Some say it cuts taxes too much

TRENTON — There are some politicians planning to vote against gas tax when it comes up for a vote this week — but not all have the same reasons.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak said in a statement that in principle, he supports an increase in the gas tax — but not the plan presented by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Gov. Chris Christie late Friday.

"The 23-cent-a-gallon increase coupled with a $600 million tax cut for our wealthiest residents is not the way to do it," wrote Lesniak in a post on his Facebook page.

The gas tax deal also calls for scaling back New Jersey's estate tax — which only affects some of New Jersey's wealthiest residents, about 4 percent of the state — an sets up tax breaks for veterans and the working poor. It also includes a slight break to the state's sales tax, though a smaller one than in an earlier version of the gas tax proposal that seemed near passing this summer.

The Elizabeth resident said he would rather see a gradual phase-in of an increase "so motorists aren't hit with sticker shock and reforms to cut costs."

Lesniak also wants reforms to cut costs of construction and to include citizen oversight of spending of government agencies like the Port Authority and NJ Transit.

Fellow Republican state Se. Jon Bramnick told New Jersey 101.5's Dennis Malloy and Michele Pilenza Monday that he would have liked a gradual increase in the gas tax but is voting in favor of the plan.

"For 14 years under the Democratic majority they didn't do anything about the TTF (Transportation Trust Fund). Then we get into a crisis where they have to close bridges and all of a sudden we gotta do something," he said.

A trio of state legislators voiced their opposition on Monday. State Se. Mike Doherty of Warren County told New Jersey 101.5's Bill Spadea the plan is "another patch job from Trenton. It's not solving any of the underlying problems of our high road construction costs or the lack of affordability in New Jersey."

During Spadea's show on Monday, Monmouth County Republican state Se. Jennifer Beck chided Christie about the "silliness" of reducing the sales tax by 3/8th of a percent and said the plan is more about pension payments.

Beck reinforced her opposition to the plan in a tweet on Monday:

In an email to Spadea and New Jersey 101.5's Deminski & Doyle, Assemblyman Ron Dancer said he was also voting no.

"I voted 'NO' on the gas tax in June and I will be voting NO again on the gas tax. In the New Jersey, the certainty of 'Death and Taxes' takes on a whole new meaning. ... It's "Death by Taxes," the Ocean County Senator wrote.

The Assembly voted on a version of the gas tax deal in June, after Christie struck an agreement with lawmakers. That version never made it to a state Senate vote.

New Jersey Policy Perspective said it is against the plan because of the tax cuts that are part of the package.

"These leaders foolishly paired a big package of tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit well-off New Jerseyans while decimating the state's ability to pay for essential services, promised obligations and other critical investments," wrote NJPP Vice President Jon Whiten.

"When all is said and done, this proposal will blow a hole of over $1 billion in the budget at a time when New Jersey literally can't afford to pay its bills," Whitten said.

Americans for Prosperity posted a letter for supporters to send to legislators, arguing against the increase.

"New Jerseyans like me are tapped out and cannot afford a massive gas tax hike on top of high property taxes, incomes taxes and sales taxes," the letter states. "It’s time for Trenton to be more fiscally responsible with the money generated from the gas tax, and put an end to the union favoritism which drives up the costs of building and maintaining our infrastructure; not ask New Jersey motorists for even more of their hard-earned money."

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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