NJ Senate not planning vote on Christie's gas tax proposal

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A top Democratic lawmaker says the New Jersey Senate is not set to take any action Thursday on legislation to hike the gas tax by 23 cents while cutting the sales tax.

Sen. Paul Sarlo, the budget committee chairman, said Thursday lawmakers are continuing to work on a deal that is acceptable to the Assembly and Republican Gov. Chris Christie but there won't be a vote Thursday.

The Assembly approved a measure that pays for road and bridge work for eight years and hikes the gas tax by from 14.5 cents to 37.5 cents while cutting the sales tax from 7 percent to 6 percent over about two years.

Sarlo and Senate President Steve Sweeney support a competing plan that also raises the gas tax but included other tax cuts.