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Legal Costs Over Trans-Hudson Tunnel Project Funds Tops $1 Million

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Governor Chris Christie's legal battle with the federal government over whether the state owes $271 million for abandoning a train tunnel under the Hudson has so far cost the state more than a $1 million.

The GOP governor said the state will fight a finding it must repay the federal government the entire $271 million spent on early design and construction work for a now-scrapped New Jersey-New York train tunnel.

Christie abandoned the project last fall, citing escalating costs, but federal transportation officials say New Jersey only got the federal funds because it committed to finishing the project.

Invoices obtained by The Star-Ledger show the state owes $225,000 a month in interest on the money.

The state has also been paying the Patton Boggs law firm an average of $300,000 a month in legal bills.

Is the legal fight costing New Jersey too much? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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