Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

With Any Luck, We’ll Resolve Once And For All Whether The Fourteenth Amendment Applies To Cars, As Well

Everyone knows that any plan worth its salt should provoke a lawsuit or two:

A border war erupted yesterday between Mayor Bloomberg and Garden State Governor Jon Corzine, who is threatening to sue over the proposed $8 charge to drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street if New Jersey commuters have to pay.

Jersey drivers are now exempt in the plan because their toll on interstate crossings counts as a deduction from the congestion pricing fee.

But to make sure out-of-state drivers pay their fair share, the congestion pricing bill approved by the City Council on Monday requires the Port Authority to agree to give the MTA $1 billion - or New York will hit Jersey drivers with up to a $4 fee.

“I am dismayed at the attempt by the New York City Council and New York State lawmakers to politicize the selection of Port Authority capital projects,” Corzine said. “Unless this plan treats all drivers fairly, I am prepared to pursue legal action to protect New Jersey commuters from this outrageous action.”