Most New Jerseyans say ‘no thanks’ to gas tax hike, Vice President Christie

A Quinnipiac University Poll finds that the majority of New Jersey residents oppose increasing the state’s gas tax to pay for road and mass transit improvements.

Pollster Maurice Carroll said 54 percent of Garden State residents don’t want a gas tax hike, while 42 percent support it.

“If we poll the Legislature, I think we’d probably come up with a different answer because they face the reality the Transportation Trust Fund is running out of money,” Carroll said. “If you don’t have the money, what are you going to do?”

Gov. Chris Christie is waiting for the Legislature to present him with a plan to replenish the fund that’s expected to run out of money for new projects by early August.

Only 29 percent of the voters surveyed approve of Christie’s job performance.

And Carroll said they don’t want him to be Donald Trump’s running mate — 72 percent to 18 percent.

“New Jerseyans say, he shouldn’t be picked,” Carroll said. “Does that mean that Trump won’t pick him? Not necessarily. Trump can do whatever he feels like as has been quite clear.”

Christie has broad powers to get things done during the rest of his term as governor, Carroll added. But he’s not sure if the governor will be able to boost his job-approval numbers.