New Jersey Gas Tax Legislation Remains In Limbo
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- New Jersey is no closer to replenishing its transportation trust fund, with Governor Chris Christie saying the latest Democratic proposal is dead on arrival.
Legislative leaders agreed on a package that raises the gas tax without cutting the sales tax, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"I'm not doing it," Christie said.
Christie said a 1 percent cut in the sales tax would save residents $1.6 billion.
"I'm not going to raise a tax like the gas tax that everybody pays. Unless I'm going to cut a tax that everybody pays too," he said.
Democrats want to reduce the estate tax, but Christie insists the sales tax is better.
"That's just for the rich," he said.
Democrats in the Assembly and Senate had been confident that they'd have the votes needed to override Christie's veto, WCBS 880's Mike Smeltz reported. However, State Senator Paul Sarlo, co-sponsor of the bill, said they are a few votes short of the 27 needed to beat the veto.
Hundreds of roads and transit projects have been shut down since the beginning of the month.