9/22/08-Senate Republicans are working on a plan to block tolls from being raised on the state’s Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
The state’s 17 GOP senators are calling for a veto of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s proposal to charge higher tolls to pay for transportation.
Republicans said the Legislature has the authority to call for a veto when lawmakers believe the executive branch is trying to impose rules or regulations that don’t follow the clear intent of the law. In this instance, GOP legislators said, toll revenues should not be used for a rail tunnel under the Hudson River, which the Turnpike Authority has proposed.
Meanwhile, some Democrats have said they don’t think the state Constitution allows a veto to stop the toll hikes. They cite analysis from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services that states the Legislature can only invalidate a “rule or regulation” approved by the Turnpike Authority, not a “resolution,” which would be used to adopt the toll increases, The Star-Ledger reported.
Public hearings started this week on the plan, which would double tolls for all vehicles on the Turnpike and Parkway by 2012.
Turnpike tolls for trucks and passenger vehicles would increase by 50 percent in 2012, and 10 percent in 2023. Parkway tolls would increase by 43 percent in 2009, 50 percent in 2012, and 10 percent in 2023.
Public hearings are scheduled for the following times at the following locations:

• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Camden County Community College, Blackwood Campus, 200 College Drive, Blackwood, NJ;
• 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Headquarters, 581 Main St., Woodbridge, NJ; and
• Noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ.

Turnpike officials will accept written comments until Oct. 1. To file a written comment, write to:
Attn: Executive Director
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
581 Main St.
Woodbridge, NJ 07095