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GOP Rallies Businesses Against Corzine's Toll Hike

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Feb 4, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern

GOP Rallies Businesses Against Corzine's Toll Hike

TRENTON (AP) ―

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Presidential Race Split Down Middle In N.J.
(2/2/2008)
Poll: Most New Jerseyans Oppose Toll Hikes
(1/30/2008)
Corzine Plan Raises Questions About Tax Relief
(1/30/2008)
Industry, Labor Unions Back N.J. Toll Hikes
(1/29/2008)
Judge Drops Charges Against Corzine Protesters
(1/28/2008)
Charges May Drop Against N.J. Toll Hike Protestors
(1/27/2008)
N.J. Weighs New Approach To Transportation Funding
(1/26/2008)
Hearing To Test If Corzine Willing To Compromise
(1/24/2008)

Republicans on Monday vowed to try to lobby businesses against Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plan to increase highway tolls to pay state debt and fund transportation.

Meanwhile, a second Democratic congressman endorsed the
proposal.

The Republican effort comes after the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce last week endorsed Corzine's plan, angering many Republicans who claim the toll increases will hurt the economy and businesses.

Republicans Anne Estabrook, a former Chamber chairwoman, and former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan plan to launch a joint effort to build a new coalition of businesses opposed to the plan.

"It will hurt working families and drive businesses out of state," said Estabrook, who is running for the state's Republican U.S. Senate nomination this year.

Corzine wants to pay off at least half of the state's $32 billion in debt and fund transportation projects.

To do so, Corzine wants to increase tolls 50 percent in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. Those increases would include inflation adjustments, and after 2022 tolls would increase every four years until 2085 to reflect inflation.

The Atlantic City Expressway, Garden Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Route 440 would be affected.

Corzine also calls for restricting state spending and requiring voters to approve borrowing.

Estabrook said Corzine should instead focus on cutting spending. Lonegan advocated state worker layoffs.

But U.S. Rep. Rush Holt endorsed Corzine's plan on Monday, becoming the second Democratic House member from New Jersey to do so, following U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews.

"It is vital that we put our state on sound financial footing and fund required transportation projects," Holt said. "The governor has developed a most thoughtful mechanism to do so."

Corzine, a multimillionaire from his days leading Goldman Sachs, has also donated $500,000 to a nonprofit group, Save Our State NJ, formed by his supporters to promote his plan. The group plans to run radio and television ads on the governor's proposal.