Oroho Calls for Murphy to Abandon Consideration of Gas Tax Increase

Noting that Governor Phil Murphy has repeatedly cited and exercised vast executive authority to respond to the current public health emergency, Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) called for the governor to abandon consideration of a 9.3 cent/gallon gas tax increase that was announced by the Treasury Department on Friday.

“Governor Murphy has had no problem issuing executive orders during the current public health emergency to take extreme steps like shutting down the New Jersey economy and preventing voters from casting their ballots in person. He has changed statutory deadlines and unilaterally ordered numerous other changes without legislative approval.

“It’s almost unbelievable for the governor to now suggest that preventing a gas tax increase when many families are in economic crisis is the one thing he can’t do by executive order. Considering his own executive actions kept people home and off the roads artificially depressing gas consumption, drivers shouldn’t be penalized.”