NJ Assemblyman Urges Vote Against Ballot Question 2
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson, a Republican representing New Jersey's 23rd District, explained his opposition to Ballot Question #2 that would amend the state's constitution to tie proceeds from the new gas tax to the Transportation Trust Fund, telling Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that if the new tax fails to meet revenue estimates, it could be raised every year.
"It sounds very good that they're going to dedicate the tax on the gas to the roads, but what they're really doing is they're borrowing against it and what's really insidious about this is that the bill for gas tax has a clause in it that allows the gas tax to go up and the reason for that is the gas tax really isn't a 23 cent increase, it is a revenue projection. So, it's projected to produce about $1.2 billion in revenue. If it falls below that, because consumption goes down because the tax went up, then automatically, next October, and every October thereafter, the gas tax will automatically adjust upwards. So it won't be just 23 cents, it will keep going up."
Peterson, along with other Republicans have publicly broken with Governor Chris Christie over the issue of the gas tax. He objects to the way Christie has handled the process and thinks it is fiscally irresponsible.
"The Governor put out a press release that, even if we shoot down the ballot question, they're going to borrow the money anyway, even though that will violate the Constitution of New Jersey. So, it's not conspiratorial, it's an actual fact that they want to borrow $12 billion on the gas tax. That will make the gas tax run out of money in eight short years."
