Chris Christie: Port Authority Fare Hike Isn't A Tax, It's A "User Fee"

"See now THAT'S a tax!" (AP)

Governors Christie and Cuomo finally ended their "outrage" of the Port Authority's massive proposed toll hikes by pitching much smaller increases—an extra $1.50 for Hudson River crossings and $0.25 a year for the next four years for a PATH ride—and yesterday the increases passed. Hooray for carefully choreographed political theater! But Christie's critics are calling the move a "tax increase," something the governor has avoided like non-propeller based transportation. "It's a user fee," Christie tells the Star-Ledger, "It's not a tax. I know what a tax is and what it looks like."

Christie goes on to somehow echo both Sarah Palin and Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in his defense of the "not-tax": "You can look at a pig and call it a horse and if lots of people call it a horse, it's still a pig." Exactly. It's like when some people call depriving New Jersey's schoolchildren of a "thorough" education, "fulfilling the promise of a smaller government," when really, it's just depriving New Jersey's schoolchildren of a "thorough" education.

After the PA's ugly overtime records came to light, Christie also called for a "top to bottom" audit of the agency's finances, which he'll probably read while he's campaigning in Iowa.

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By Christopher Robbins in News on August 20, 2011 5:55 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

I love it! When he was running, I said to myself "If the people of NJ elect this fat man, they're crazy. They elected him and now they're crying "bwah bwah bwah".....Obesity -- especially in a man who is rich enough to afford a healthy chef, personal trainer, lap-band surgery, and whatever else it take to get in shape -- is indicative of a real psychological problem.......I don't call him a horse.....he is a pig, and he proves this every time he opens his mouth......oh I forgot -- it's none o' my damn business......sorry to be so intrusive.....oink oink oink.....

Al_Cool_Dates

This guy is nothing but a fat idiot, wasn't he in the hospital sometime ago for breathing issues? It couldn't of been that bad because he's using that same wind to spout this garbage.

AndySydor

It's a tax.

randomtransplant

Some of the most brilliant minds of our generation are the students from Brick City and Liberty City who are able to hop a train after school and learn about the world on the West Side. Christie isn't one of them, and he doesn't want any competition.

randomtransplant

Also he should support local business and buy Skinny Cow milk! HAHAHAHA

Steven H.

Well someone has to pay for the bridges and tunnels, and it shouldn't be the people who don't use it.

Kevin_Kramers

Its like saying Chris Christie isn't morbidly obese... He's just realllllly big boned...

aspiringrapper

And he's not big boned, he's fat.

zombie_cakes

Can't wait to vote for whoever runs against him in the next elections. I'd vote for my puppy's turds over this disgusting asshole. These toll hikes are gonna mean MORE fare hikes for NJT's buses sooner or later. And with NJT's rider satisfaction grading around 61%, I expect (and welcome) massive bloodshed amongst those would cause and allow it. Bring on the pitchforks, 2x4s with a rusty nail in it, torches soaked in moonshine and pterodactyl tears and good ole fashion sharp rusty things.

seattlesnow

If the MTA placed a toll on the willamsburgh bridge there would be a lot less snark in this post

matteus

Anytime you make money from the economy, there should be a "user fee" so that part of it goes back into supporting the bridge/economy/country that got you where you are now. Not just income, but capital gains, too for instance. Tomato, tomato

Ian MacAllen

So isn't a gas tax just a user fee too?

teacherman

It's not a tax in that it's only applied to users. It's not a "we're raising taxes on voters" kinda tax...

... I rarely use the tunnels/bridge so I definitely see it as more of a user fee. I'm only "taxed" by the "user fee" when using the services.

Guest

You must live in NJ and you must have voted for Christie, and can't admit you made a big FAT mistake.

teacherman

I live in Brooklyn and go to Jersey, maybe, a dozen times a year.

Raising the rates on the Hudson River crossings has almost no impact on me. I'd be pissed if my taxes were raised to pay for something I don't use.

When I do use it I'll pay the toll. It is what it is.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Let's just call it a rip-off.

crusher153

chris christie is a fat moron if he really thinks that is not a tax hike. no matter what you call it it still hits taxpayers right in the wallet. just today a major shipping company is letting its lease expire in staten island due to the rediculous taxes ("user fees") that they have to pay to get on the island. that particular company makes up 31 percent of all shipping in and out of staten island. they are not the only ones leaving because of the crazy staten island "user fees". thanks for keeping the jobs in the city. cuomo isn't any better but you i'd just have to call him a moron.