U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.-09) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-05) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation today to address New York’s flawed Congestion Pricing tax that would unfairly impact New Jersey commuters and businesses.
“What this legislation would do is disincentivize New York from moving forward with their congestion pricing proposal and ensure that New Jersey has a seat at the table on any congestion pricing system that would impact the state,” said Sen. Menendez. “At the end of the day, we are not New York’s piggy bank. This is all about a money grab for the MTA and does not consider the adverse consequences to New Jersey. This is not a one-way street.”
“I’ve said it before and I will say it one more time: New Jerseyans are used to paying our fair share but New York’s congestion pricing scheme is fatally flawed and unnecessarily unfair,” said Congressman Pascrell. “USDOT should have required New York to complete a full Environmental Impact Statement. New York’s plan would saddle Jersey commuters with extra taxes on top of our already-high taxes without the needed financial return for our transit systems. Having the rubber stamp of approval by the federal government is wrong and an affront to New Jersey. This plan as conceived should not stand and today members of our New Jersey delegation are fighting back to give fairness to Garden Staters.”
“I’ve been fighting the Congestion Tax for years, and I’m proud to help lead this new bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Senator Menendez to stop New York’s and the MTA’s anti-environment, anti-commuter, $23-a-day Congestion Tax plan,” said Congressman Gottheimer, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus. “MTA Chairman Janno Lieber’s plan was exposed for what he admitted it was: a cash-grab to bail out the terribly mismanaged MTA and a plan that will increase pollutants, particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens like formaldehyde in New Jersey. And it will increase truck traffic in Bergen County.”