New Jersey Senate president has new transportation plan

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey's Senate president has a new plan to raise the gasoline tax to fund transportation projects.

Democrat Steve Sweeney met with Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday.

Christie spokesman Brian Murray and Sweeney spokesman Richard McGrath say a proposal was provided and is under review. But no one is saying what tax cuts would accompany the additional 23-cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax.

Earlier this month, Sweeney slammed the brakes on a late-night deal brokered between Christie and Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to gradually return the sales tax from seven to six percent.

Christie responded by ordering a weeklong suspension of nonessential road construction projects.

New Jersey currently has the second lowest gas tax in the nation. The increase would raise it to the top five or six.

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