NORTH JERSEY — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Thursday released the following statement on the MTA’s proposed congestion tax:

“Unsurprisingly, the MTA’s first hearing today on their proposed $5,000-a-year Congestion Tax whacking hard-working families was a disaster. The people spoke and it couldn’t be any clearer what Jersey and New York residents think of it: It was a huge swing and miss for the MTA.

If the MTA’s own report proved anything, it’s that their plan only exports pollution and traffic to Jersey and the outer boroughs, and that it will crush lower-income families. The bureaucratic and woefully mismanaged MTA sees hard-working Jersey and New York residents as their piggy bank. Every scenario will crush drivers with a new tax.

The hearing made one thing clear: New York and New Jersey residents want the MTA to reverse course on their outrageous Congestion Tax plan. It will kill jobs, it will kill small businesses, and it will drain pocketbooks. The pushback was overwhelming. I hope that the MTA — as well as New York’s Mayor and Governor — listened to these families.”