NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron was joined by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick from the nation’s capitol ahead of his keynote address for the 79th Annual New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Walk to Washington event. They discussed the state of politics in New Jersey and what might happen going forward between Democrats and Republicans.
Sweeney said the Transportation Trust Fund is the most pressing issue facing legislators when they return to New Jersey, which will include a tax increase of some kind. He said the Senate will be passing a rollback on the estate tax and raising the retirement income level to $100,000 “because we think those two taxes need to be rolled back.”
Bramnick said if legislators lower taxes in other areas, he would consider an increase in the gas tax. “The governor said everything’s on the table and I, as one Republican leader, I say everything has to be on the table. That’s how you negotiate. You have to meet in the middle and you have to solve the crisis. And we’ll do it,” he said.
While he said he can’t speak for Gov. Chris Christie, Bramnick said he believes the governor is open to a gas tax increase.
Several potential gubernatorial candidates took the train to Washington, but Sweeney wasn’t one of them. He said attending the event has nothing to do with 2017, but is a way to connect with the business community. “If it had to do with 2017, I guess I would’ve been on the train,” he said.
Bramnick said he was on the train because he’s a man of the people. “I think 2017, everybody’s talking about it, but there’s been no decisions as far as I’ve known,” he said. When asked if he’s interested in running, Bramnick said, “I’m interested right now in continuing my job, but I’m open to suggestions.”
When asked if he would be interested in running for governor, Sweeney said, “I think I ditto him, what he just said.”