With New Jersey gas prices nearly $4.50 on average statewide as of this morning according to AAA, up 25 cents from last week, Hudson County Assemblyman Raj Mukherji is proposing legislation to provide state residents rebates between $400 and $800 for owning a non-commercial vehicle registered in their name.
The Jersey City Assemblyman, who also represents Hoboken and other 33rd District municipalities, is also proposing to allocate $1.5 billion for the rebate program, as well as an additional $150 million to establish a fare holiday for NJ Transit from June to August.
Mukherji’s bill was introduced and referred to the state Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on May 2.
AAA is reporting an average $4.472 per gallon across the Garden State, with Hudson County gas prices averaging $4.436. The statewide average is also up 37 cents from a month ago, AAA said. That’s $1.45 more per gallon compared to this time last year.
More bad news…New Jersey gas prices are higher than the national average, which currently stands at $4.328. When compared to the rest of the country, the Garden State ranks at No. 13 for the highest gas prices. California is first at $5.829 on average per gallon, with New York sitting at No. 9, $4.518 and Pennsylvania at No. 10, $4.508. Maybe we should all rethink those summer vacation plans!!
Assemblyman Mukherji’s proposed bill is similar to a bill introduced by Sen. Edward Durr (R-Gloucester) earlier this year. Durr’s legislation proposes a gas tax rebate for New Jersey families making less than $125,000 per year. Durr’s bill, known as the “Gas Price and Inflation Tax Credit Act,” however, has stalled in the Senate Transportation Committee.
