February 14, 2008 - 8:05am
Remember, Lautenberg gets tolls
By Wally EdgeThe mini-feud between Governor Jon Corzine and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg isn’t likely to erupt into a major war in the June Democratic primary, but one Democratic staffer suggested that the senior Senator’s opposition to Corzine’s toll hike plan should be taken seriously. Lautenberg has spent much of his more than 23 years in the Senate as an expert of transportation and budget issues, he served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and like Corzine, he was a hugely successful CEO before getting into politics. So when Lautenberg decides to buck his own party – not something he’s done often over the years – perhaps its reasonable to wonder if he’s right.
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Quote of the Day
August 29, 2008
"Oh, I know, there will be quite a scrum if" - he pauses and then doesn't say anything about a federal appointment - "if I get hit by a truck. A second time."
Gov. Jon Corzine, speculating on the mass of potential gubernatoial candidates eager to take his place.
--- The Jersey Journal, 8/29/08
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Politicker Poaches From Politico― News from Politicker.com
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Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
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Lautenberg is a realist
he realizes that finally the R's have something in Corzine's toll plan to sink their fangs into. That's why he opposed it. He didn't have to get his projects or policy wonks to read it.
Excellent point, Wally.
This is a man who is a fixture of the transportation infrastructure in the state. Remember that the Secaucus Transfer Station was named after him -- for a reason. These are people who never met a project or funding source they didn't like. So when he breaks ranks with the likes of the Alliance for Action, the cadre of former transportation commissioners, and their ilk, it is a big deal.
Mom is right
It was a political (survival) decision, pure and simple.
its about where the money goes...
Lautenberg would probably be in favor of the toll plan if the revenues were dedicated to transportation projects.
But to use toll revenues to fund general spending is blasphemy for a transportation advocate like Lautenberg. Tolls should be used to keep the roads and bridges in order, and to fund mass transit projects. That's it.