Politics & Government

Hagner, Holtzman Pledge Not to Raise Gas Prices

The GOP state assembly candidates for the 27th district said gas increases take millions from taxpayers.

Nicole Hagner and Lee Holtzman, the GOP candidates for the State Assembly from the 27th district, pledged not to raise New Jersey gasoline prices if elected and ask their Democratic opponents to pledge the same.

Hagner, the mayor of Chatham Township, said, “New Jersey cannot afford to take hundreds of millions of dollars from our already overburdened homeowners and businesses and give it to Trenton politicians.”

According to a press release from the two candidates, Democrats have tried to raise the price of gas at least three times since 2008. Holtzman, an attorney from Livingston, said the Democratic incumbents in the assembly will likely keep pushing for higher taxes.

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“We will not increase the financial burden on our residents by increasing the gas tax and we want our opponents – Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey to pledge the same,” Holtzman said.

Each one cent-per-gallon increase for gas would take approximately $50 million out of the consumers’ pockets, Hagner said.

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Holtzman and Hagner said they support Gov. Chris Christie’s option of paying for infrastructure improvements under his pay-as-you-go plan, which reduces state debt and avoids gas tax increases that become permanent costs for motorists and business.

According to the press release, Democrats have offered plans to increase the gas tax from 12 cents to as much as 24 cents under various legislative proposals.

“With our national economy precariously tilting toward a second recession, and with the nation facing a long economic recovery period, raising the state tax on gasoline would be a deadly blow to consumers and business in New Jersey,” Holtzman said.

“We know that once the Democrats increase a tax, they will never roll it back,” said Holtzman.


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