Vote to Raise N.J. Gas Tax Postponed to Friday

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) —
Senate Republican leader Sen. Thomas H Kean Jr.,  (R-Westfield) speaks mto the media in the Senate chamber of the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, N.J., on Wednesday, after New Jersey lawmakers postponed a vote on raising the gas tax. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Senate Republican leader Thomas H Kean Jr., (R-Westfield) speaks to the media in the Senate chamber of the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton on Wednesday, after New Jersey lawmakers postponed a vote on raising the gas tax. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

New Jersey lawmakers postponed a vote on raising the nation’s second-lowest gas tax by 23 cents a gallon.

Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday lawmakers will return and vote on the measure on Friday. A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto confirmed the Assembly will also consider the agreement reached between leaders and Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Friday as well.

If passed, the agreement would raise New Jersey’s gas tax — the second-lowest in the nation — from 14.5 cents to 37.5 cents a gallon.

The legislation would set up a $2 billion-a-year transportation trust fund. It includes cuts in sales, estate and other taxes.

Christie, Sweeney and Prieto reached a deal on the fund last Friday three months after the previous fiscal year’s account expired.

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