New York governor on Trump administration ending city’s congestion pricing

(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about President Donald Trump's order to end New York City's congestion pricing.

Governor Hochul was in Washington last week, and according to Brennan, she met privately with President Trump, prompting Brennan to ask Hochul if the meeting was "adversarial," and Hochul said:

"It was an adversarial meeting, but I was very clear, especially after I found that the Trump administration had ended a program that was put in place, congestion pricing, by the duly elected members of our legislature representing the voice of the people, and with a tweet, he claims that he is the king, and therefore he has the power to destroy it. And I have a problem with that characterization, because we labored under a king 250 years ago, and as I said, we're not going back there. So I wanted to take my case to him directly and let him see the benefits of this program, because our city is paralyzed with gridlock, and we had a path forward to be able to make the city move again, and it's working. I wanted to just have that opportunity to convey that, but I don't know that we're very persuasive on that front, but that's okay. The people in my state need to know I'm willing to take the fight wherever I have to."

Congestion pricing, according to Brennan, is a $9 toll "put on people driving into lower Manhattan, below 60th Street," with Hochul's fellow Democrat, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, saying he doesn't like the policy and had ask President Trump to stop it. When asked how she responds to that, Hochul said:

"I respond this way with all due respect to the state of New Jersey. They do not tell us in New York what to do, nor does Washington when it comes to policies that we believe are going to reduce congestion. Move along vehicles, emergency vehicles are moving faster. Air quality is improving. So I have arguments that are important, but no one else should be able to second guess us, because that's not how our system of laws and states was set up. I'm the Governor of New York. I will deal with the internal issues before me without interference from New Jersey or indeed, the federal government."

Brennan followed up if this will be going to court, and Hochul responded saying, "Oh yes, it's going to the courts, and I believe we will be victorious in the courts, and this program will continue."

To watch more of Brennan's interview with Hochul, click here.