The question lingers - can the New Jersey Legislature find solutions to the alarming lack of funding for the Transportation Trust Fund before the legislative session ends next month?
Sens. Bob Gordon and Joe Kyrillos this morning agreed that finding revenue sources to replenish the state's transportation infrastructure fund is one of the most pressing issues in Trenton, but they didn't exactly sound optimistic that it would get done before the end of the lame duck session.
"We (Democrats and Republicans in the Senate) can jump off a cliff together and vote for an increase in the gas tax, but does anyone think the governor would sign it while running for president?," Gordon, the Democrat, said at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Monroe on Dec. 1. "I think there is (the prospect for) compromise in the Senate. But there needs to be some compromise from the governor's office as well."
Other items on the Senate agenda, according to Gordon, are public pension reform; a constitutional amendment to allow casino gaming in North Jersey; legislation that would require health insurers to clearly disclosure to patients when health care providers or facilities are out-of-network; and operating reform at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Negotiations between Senate and Assembly leaders are ongoing on these issues, Gordon said. Progress is crucial because our state economy is "not keeping up with our neighboring states and the rest of the country," said Kyrillos, a Republican.
"We need to address transportation," Kyrillos added. "And the (state) estate tax has to be, I think, eliminated because people are flowing out of state. Their accountants are telling them they can't afford to live here. These are big-ticket-items, all of which should have bipartisan support, and all of which would make New Jersey a more competitive state."
The transportation issue is pressing because the Transportation Trust Fund, which pays to maintain the state's highways, bridges and mass transportation, is nearly broke and is projected to be out of money by June.
Not only does New Jersey need to maintain its transportation infrastructure, it has to help fund the massive Gateway Project that would bring new rail tunnels between New Jersey and New York City, Gordon said.
"The (existing) two rail tunnels through the Hudson River are over 100 years old and are being held together by Band-Aids," Gordon said. "We are told one or both of those tunnels will have to be shut down for repairs. We could be facing commuter Armageddon as 87,000 (New Jersey residents) would have to find some way to get to work in (New York City)."
Kyrillos indicated that progress is attainable if both sides of the aisle can get together on a plan. "I have seen robust times when we have gotten a lot done," Kyrillos said. Regarding the final month of this legislative session, known as lame duck, he said, "I'm not sure what's going to come of it."
A special thank you to Prudential and Summit Medical Group for sponsoring the event.
For photos from the event, click on an image below:
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