Oct 31, 2009 12:51 pm US/Eastern
Corzine: Toll Hike, Turnpike Lease 'Off The Table'
TRENTON (CBS) ―
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New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine
AP
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine says he has no plans to increase tolls or lease toll roads.
"No toll increases, no leasing. Off the table. Not gonna happen," Corzine said following an event Friday morning in Hudson County.
The New York Times reported Friday that Corzine would consider reviving an unpopular plan to lease the New Jersey Turnpike to raise money for the cash-strapped Garden State.
Corzine now says that was a mischaracterization of his position.
He says what he meant is that he may generate revenue by allowing advertising on some Turnpike properties, like rest stops.
He says it also could include leasing the rights of way for commercial development.
Republicans quickly jumped on the story, saying they remain opposed to the governor's failed 2008 proposal to boost tolls over 15 years to raise a projected $11 billion to pay down debt and fund transportation projects, which they helped defeat.
Corzine is locked in a tight re-election fight with Republican Chris Christie. The election is Tuesday.
Early in his first term, Corzine floated a proposal to lease of sell toll roads but quickly retreated in the face of public opposition. He later proposed the plan for massive toll hikes, but abandoned that amid overwhelming opposition from commuters and lawmakers from both parties.
He subsequently called the toll-increase plan "too big, too fast, at the wrong time."
Christie issued a statement Friday calling Corzine's toll-hike plan "ludicrous" and "misguided."
"Let's face it, Jon Corzine likes raising taxes and he's never going to stop doing it," Christie said in a statement.
Christie does not support raising tolls or leasing toll roads. He supports a pay-as-you-go approach to transportation projects.
Corzine is involved in a heated gubernatorial race against Republican candidate Chris Christie. Corzine is hanging on to a slight lead as the November 3 election nears.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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