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N.J. POLITICS ROUNDUP
A collection of political news from the Statehouse and around New Jersey
TRENTON -- New Jersey lawmakers recently unveiled a proposal to exchange a hike in the state's gas tax for a cut in the state's sales tax -- and here are nine things to know about the sales tax.
Meanwhile, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he was surprised the state Assembly held a late-night vote on the proposal and isn't sure what the Senate will do yet.
And Star-Ledger columnist Tom Moran writes that the Assembly helped Gov. Chris Christie "burn down the house" by passing the plan.
POLL: SALES TAX CUT
Would you pay a higher gas tax to have a lower sales tax? Vote in the informal, unscientific poll below.
CHRISTIE THANKS N.J. OVER 2016
Returning to the town hall circuit Tuesday, Christie thanked New Jerseyans for their patience as he ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. (See photos above.)
Meanwhile, more than a dozen protesters greeted the governor over his controversial school funding proposal.
SWEENEY ON SCHOOL FUNDING
Sweeney said he isn't giving up on his plan to revise New Jersey's public school funding system despite Christie's plan.
BRIDGEGATE MYSTERY OVER CHRISTIE's TEXTS
Federal prosecutors never received the text messages written by Christie and an aide during a key period before the government's Bridgegate investigation, prosecutors say in a new brief.
A LIFELINE FOR MENENDEZ?
A U.S. Supreme Court decision making it harder to prosecute public officials could help U.S. Sen. Robert Melendez (D-N.J.) as he fights federal corruption charges.
IN OTHER NEWS ...
* New Jersey's welfare recipients would collect a larger monthly assistance grant and no longer be financially penalized for having additional children under two bills the stat eSenate approved and sent to Christie.
* The Senate also advanced a bill that would strictly limit the use of solitary confinement in New Jersey's jails and prisons.
NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Claude Brodesser-Akner, Adam Clark, Tim Darragh, Susan K. Livio, Samantha Marcus, Jonathan D. Salant, and S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.