Gov. Chris Christie defended New Jersey's recent gas tax hike in a speech to lawmakers when he made his keynote speech at the League of Municipalities meeting in Atlantic City Thursday.

The governor told the lawmakers that his transportation trust fund deal will lead to more than $32 billion in state and federal spending.

Gov. Christie said that President-elect Donald Trump has plans for a larger federal infrastructure program and more funding could come to the Garden State.

"The fact is it was time for real leaders to stop playing politics and make hard decisions," Christie said. "And because we hadn't raised the gas tax in 28 years, it necessitated us looking at it in a much broader way."

Repealing the estate tax was part of the transportation fund plan. Gov. Christie said the plan will encourage New Jerseyans to stay in the Garden State.

New Jersey voters approved an amendment to the state constitution on Election Day that would make sure the money collected by the gas tax would be used solely for transportation projects.