Allen: Cut Spending - Keep Assets

Senator Diane Allen (R-7) issued the following statement today in response to remarks from Governor Corzine that he plans to cut New Jersey's $32 billion debt with his asset monetization scheme.          

     “It baffles me that Governor Corzine would continue down this path after several polls have shown that New Jersey residents overwhelmingly reject the idea of selling or leasing New Jersey’s toll roads.          

Citizens of this state expect politicians to make the same tough choices they make every day, and it starts with cutting spending.  The voters made themselves very clear on this issue when they recently rejected two ballot questions that involved increasing state spending to pay for programs that were not absolutely necessary.          

      The Governor challenged state lawmakers to make the tough choices needed to get the state’s finances in order.  I’m challenging him to do the same.  Look for ways to cut spending and not make the quick, bur risky, fix of selling state assets.          

      Asset monetization will mean a substantial increase in tolls and make regular users of the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway responsible for paying off the state’s debt.  It’s not fair and it’s not good public policy.          

     The Governor says he will travel around the state to explain his plan.  I can only hope he’ll do more than talk, but also listen as the residents of New Jersey continue to tell him why they think selling the tolls roads is the wrong way to go.”       

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