Gas Tax Increase and Pension Amendment Fate Remain Uncertain

Date: August 16, 2016 Last Edit: August 17, 2016

Senate votes are coming up short

As of this writing, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he
is one Democrat short in his effort to secure enough votes to pass the Senate’s
Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) plan. Additionally, without a resolution to
fund the TTF,  Sweeney stated that he would not call the pension payment
amendment for a vote citing that to do so would be financially irresponsible.

The Senate TTF plan, which Gov. Chris Christie opposes—along
with NFIB/NJ, would increase the gas tax by 23 cents in exchange for slowly
phasing out the estate tax, raising the retirement income tax exclusion,
increasing the earned income tax credit, and creating tax credits for drivers
and veterans.

Sweeney, who is working to secure the votes to override an
inevitable gubernatorial veto, says New Jersey can’t afford guaranteed pension
payments along with an increase in spending on the transportation trust fund.

Laurie Ehlbeck, NFIB/NJ state director, submitted a letter
to the Senate, outlining NFIB’s strong opposition to the TTF plan.

“We’ve been advocating for the types of tax reform included
in this bill for a long time, and when we balloted our members, I wondered if
the tradeoff would be worth it for them,” she wrote. “I was overwhelmed with
the response that we received and cannot remember when the last time an issue
garnered this much feedback from our members.  When this many respondents
are opposed to a bill, it tells you that something is very wrong. We have heard
from restaurateurs, transportation companies, and those in the tourism industry
about the detrimental impact that doubling the gas tax will have on their small
businesses. NFIB is unequivocally and unapologetically opposed to the
astronomical increase regardless of what else is included in the bill.”

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