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Self-serve gas? Not happening any-time soon, N.J. Senate President Stephen Sweeney says

(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

TRENTON — State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has said it before and he's saying it again: Drivers in New Jersey aren't going to be pumping their own gas as long as he has any say in the matter.

"I continue to support the full service requirement for New Jersey's gas stations and I will oppose any attempt to rescind the law that has effectively served the best interests of the state's motorists for decades," Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement Tuesday. "As long as I am Senate President, the ban on self-serve will stay in place."

Sweeney said as much earlier this month, when news hit that Oregon — the only other state that bars drivers from pumping their own gas — is considering allowing it in many of its counties.

But then his colleagues, state Sens. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) and Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen), introduced legislation that would allow drivers to pump their own gas. Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said he would put in identical legislation in the lower house. And an association that represents around 1,000 gas stations in the state supports the idea, even though it opposed it years ago.

RELATED:

A brief history of why you can't pump your own gas in N.J.

But Sweeney gets to decide which bills get posted for a vote, dooming the legislation for at least the rest of the Senate session, which ends in 2017.

"Full service is matter of convenience and especially important to the disabled, senior citizens and others who would find it difficult or impossible to operate gas pumps," Sweeney said. "We've been doing it the right way in New Jersey. We should not change."

The proposal, however, would require that gas stations provide an attendant to pump gas for senior citizens and the disabled at no extra charge.

In response to Sweeney's statement, Sarlo — who chairs the powerful Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee — sent out his own saying he was aware that Sweeney was opposed to the bill.

"But I feel it's important as the Senate Budget chairman to start the conversation on the issue now, especially as we head into negotiations next year over how to fund the Transportation Trust Fund," Sarlo said. "We know we're going to have to consider some type of transportation user fee, and self-serve gas would lessen the impact of the inevitable increase."

Valero and Wawa on Rt. 130 in Florence 6 Gallery: Valero and Wawa on Rt. 130 in Florence

Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. e