Lawmakers in Trenton are stepping up their efforts to have New Jersey’s gas tax suspended or at least temporarily lowered to ease motorists’ pain at the pump.
Senator Shirley Turner has proposed rolling back the gas tax to 2016 levels, which would lower it from 42.4 cents a gallon to 14.5 cents a gallon – a difference of nearly 28 cents for every gallon.
Other lawmakers have put forward their own ideas, including Senators Paul Moriarty and Edward Durr.
A bill proposed by Moriarty would cut the state’s gas tax by 50% for the summer months of gas prices hit $4.51 a gallon or higher, while Durr wants a $500 tax credit for families earning less than $250,000 and $250 for single or individual tax filers making under $125,000.
Despite all the ideas rolling in, none are likely to ever become law, as Governor Murphy remains adamant in his support to suspend the federal gas tax, but not the state gas tax.
Last week, Murphy called gas prices “a little pain” and urged motorists to “swallow hard and take it.”