Paul Sarlo

State lawmakers are set to approve a $34.8 billion state budget for the 2017 fiscal year Monday. Democrats added around $275 million to Gov. Chris Christie's plan.

After waiting months for a Transportation Trust Fund replenishment plan, it appears there are now two. One includes a 23-cent a gallon hike in gas taxes.

Gov. Chris Christie is not budging from his position on how to rescue Atlantic City from financial ruin, despite a new plan from state Democrats that could initiate a state takeover of the city by the end of August.

Polls show it's roughly a 50/50 bet, but lawmakers voted Monday to have voters decide this November whether to allow two casinos to be built in North Jersey.

State lawmakers are taking first steps toward two tax cuts, though the changes appear unlikely to become law unless drivers also start paying more for gasoline.

The Transportation Trust Fund is on pace to run out of money June 30, 2015. A deal between Gov. Chris Christie and the Democrat-controlled legislature remains elusive.

At a legislative leadership forum Tuesday sponsored by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, State Senate Budget Committee chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) suggested there were enough Democratic votes to phase out the estate tax and lowering income taxes for retirees in exchange for an increase in the gas tax to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund.

Tuesday night on the December edition of Townsquare Media’s Ask The Governor program Christie was asked point blank by host Eric Scott if he would support an increase in the gas tax in exchange for phasing out the estate tax and lower income taxes for retirees.

uts. At a State House press conference Monday, State Senate Budget Committee chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), who wants to cut the estate tax made it sound like a gas tax hike proposal was a foregone conclusion, but a death tax cut was not.

Gov. Chris Christie has said that is the case, but the chair of the state Senate Budget Committee adamantly disagreed during a hearing at which the state treasurer testified.