CNBNews Opinion:Leave NJ Why You Can... Tax & Spend Murphy is at it Again
Tax & Spend Murphy is at it Again
Monday, August 31, 2020
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
(Gloucestercitynews.net)(August 31, 2020)--The state's gas tax will increase by 9.3 cents on October 1 because, ….hold on to your face mask…. people are driving less. In other words, residents of NJ have been conserving energy so Murphy decides to increase the gas tax. The last time he raised the gas tax he said the roads and bridges needed to be repaired.
This will bring the gas tax total in New Jersey to 50.7 cents. Diesel will also be taxed by 57.7 cents per gallon as of October 1. This is because less gas was sold in New Jersey during the 12 months ending in June 2020, according to the New Jersey Sierra Club.
Once the gas tax goes up, New Jersey will have the fourth highest in the United States. The state currently ranks 10th. The gas tax is supposed to be used to fix the state's infrastructure. But, as we all know, New Jersey's roads and bridges are some of the worst in the country.
If not on the roads, rails, and bridges where is the gas tax being spent?
Murphy raised the gas tax by 4.3 cents in October 2018. That increase, according to NorthJersey.com was a legacy of a deal struck between former Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democrats in 2016 to raise the gas tax by nearly 23 cents to pay for construction projects across the state.
Sal Risalvato, Executive Director of the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience, Automotive Association (NJGCA) issued the following statement regarding the latest Murphy increase.
Before 2016, total gas taxes in New Jersey were 14.5¢ a gallon, since the passage of the gas tax increase four years ago, prices will have gone up 13.6¢ a gallon without a single vote by the people’s elected representatives.
The increase will also hurt our essential workers, who still must drive to work every day to provide critical services. It is up to the Legislature to suspend this increase in the immediate term, and to find new ways to fund our infrastructure investments in the long-term, since it is now abundantly clear that relying on fuel taxes is a failed model.
With this increase we will have the 4th highest gas tax in the nation; over 7¢ a gallon higher than New York and 27.7¢ more than Delaware. We will also have the 4th highest diesel tax, more than 14¢ a gallon higher than New York and 35.8¢ a gallon more than Delaware.”
If you are looking to buy a handgun, shotgun, or rifle, you better do it soon. "Tax and Spend Murphy" plans on increasing the cost of a pistol purchase permit from $2 to $48 and Firearms identification cards from $5 to $98 in the coming month. The NRA said it is important to keep in mind the vast majority of states don't even require these bureaucratic hoops in the first place.
Understandable, the NRA and its members are not happy with the increase; "The Governor, a Wall Street multi-millionaire who enjoys around-the-clock protection and taxpayer-paid security detail, has clearly made his position known: elitists with money have more rights than average citizens," stated an NRA editorial.
The Senate Budget Committee and Appropriations Committee is taking public input on Gov. Murphy’s budget proposal. It’s important to make your voice heard during the two-week timeframe for submission of testimony (August 28 – September 11).
Those wanting to submit written testimony may send a copy via e-mail through the State Legislature's homepage, or by mailing a copy to:
Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and / or Assembly Budget Committee
C / O Legislative Budget and Finance Office
Office of Legislative Services
P.O. Box 068
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
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published Gloucestercitynews.net | August 31, 2020