TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's (D) plan to determine whether self-service gasoline would cut retail fuel prices in the state is hitting bumpy roads in the Legislature, with Democrats and Republicans on a key budget panel voicing opposition to the proposal Monday, reported the Associated Press. And a senior citizens group has also come out against the proposal.
As reported in CSP Daily News last week, Corzine said he would ask state lawmakers to quickly allow self-service gasoline dispensing at New Jersey Turnpike gas stations and [image-nocss] some local spots as a way to reduce prices.
But State Senator Joseph Doria (D) and Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R) said they have received numerous calls from constituents opposed to self-service.
"It is a tremendous disadvantage to senior citizens and disabled residents," said Lance. Doria said complaints about the plan have replaced complaints about state motor vehicle agencies as a leading constituent concern. Key Democrats, with majorities in the Assembly and Senate, have neither voiced support for the plan nor scheduled hearings on it.
"We do not believe that it will lower gas prices in the state, but rather would make full service much more expensive," Lance said.
Last week, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D), chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, scoffed at Corzine's plan. He holds sway over whether transportation bills are considered.
State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said the self-serve proposal should be considered as part of a package that also includes expanding mass transit options and carpooling incentives. "The goal here is not to mandate things on people," he said. "It's to provide people options."
Also, the president of the Holiday City-Silver Ridge Park Coalition in New Jersey said Friday that senior citizens will flood the Statehouse with petitions opposing any move to allow self-service gasoline stations in the state, according to a report by the Asbury Park Press.
Governor Jon Corzine asked the state legislature to authorize a three-month pilot program on the New Jersey Turnpike and in selected communities to see if self-service could mean a savings of 5 to 6 cents a gallon for consumers, said the report.
The Berkeley Township Council passed a resolution in February opposing self-serve gasoline stations. I don't see it lowering the price of gas. In Tampa, Fla., you can pump your own gas, and it's more expensive there than it is here, Councilman Nathan Abbe told the newspaper. It's a situation where seniors suffer either way. They either get out and pump their own gas or they go to the full-serve island and pay a nickel more. It's nothing more than a stop-gap measure.
New Jersey and Oregon are the only states in the country that outlaw self-service. While the measure would need legislative approval, Corzine hopes to have a program in place by summer. He said if the program passes savings on to consumers over a period of time, it would be more broadly applied throughout the state.
There will be traffic jams at the pumps, June Applegate, 68, of Silver Ridge Park East, told the paper. There will be people getting confused as to where they pay and how to swipe the credit cards. It could be a mess in some places.
Coalition President Judy Noonan, 63, of Silver Ridge Park East, said she knows younger people who also do not want to pump their own gasoline. What about the mothers of young children and people dressed up for work? They don't want gasoline all over them, she told the paper. It's ridiculous. There are some seniors who are disabled. It's senseless to have self-service where there are 60,000 seniors in Ocean County. We could flood Trenton with 50,000 signatures if we have to.
Abbe said the notion of saving five cents a gallon by having self-serve is smoke and mirrors. The only way the state can help consumers is by making sure the price of gas goes down, he said. New Jersey is a state where we must commute to work and where recreation requires travel. At this point, I just don't think it's a good plan.
Meanwhile, other measures Corzine has announced to assist New Jersey commuters amid rising gas prices include:
Stepping up station monitoring by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the state Attorney General's office. Addressing supply issues by ensuring reliable delivery of fuel to stations; Corzine signed an exemption to Intrastate Trucking Rules, now extended through May 1, to keep drivers on the road and fuel at the pumps. Creating the post of Director of Energy Savings who will design and implement a program to increase efficiency, reduce usage and improve the procurement of energy for hundreds of state-owned facilities, including energy audits, bulk purchasing of energy, increased use of Energy Star-compliant products and implementation of energy-efficient practices at state facilities Increase mass transit availability. Expanding ridesharing and carpooling. Creating incentives for New Jerseyans to rely more on fuel-efficient cars. Corzine has proposed a 0.4% surcharge when purchasing gas guzzler' vehicles, or vehicles that have an EPA rating of less than 19 miles per gallon. Allowing hybrid vehicles into the New Jersey Turnpike's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.