Slam the brakes on gas tax hike

New Jersey has the lowest gasoline prices in the nation and the third lowest state gasoline tax. It’s about the only tax in New Jersey that isn’t the highest, or among the highest, in the country. Gov. Corzine this week hinted that may change. Our hint to the governor: Don’t even think about it.

Frustrated by his attempts to find new ways to wring more money from taxpayers to finance pet transportation, education, health care and affordable housing projects and to cover escalating public employee pensions and health care costs


“It’s certainly something we have to take into consideration in regard to our transportation capital needs and financial needs for mass transit in particular, so we’ll review that,” Corzine said.

Implicit in his remarks was that if he didn’t succeed in getting the Legislature to swallow his scheme to leverage the state’s toll roads and other assets or allow itself to be held hostage to his threat to block an open space referendum question, he would be forced to raise the gasoline tax. Former Gov. James E. McGreevey tried to do it during his administration, proposing a 12.5-cent-a-gallon increase in 2003. Public outcry made him think better of it. Any similar attempt by Corzine should be greeted with the same intense opposition.

Ashbury Park Press (New Jersey)