MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OMITTED FROM NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC STIMULUS ACT

ASSEMBLY PANEL APPROVES WIDE-RANGING STIMULUS ACT BEFORE GIVING CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT

    Republican members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee abstained from a vote today on the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act after several members of the public, who would be affected by the legislation, testified that it was quickly added to the committee’s agenda before copies were available to the public.

    “This is no way to run a democracy,” Assemblyman Michael Doherty, R-Warren and Hunterdon, said. “We were given a few hours to consider whether this legislation that touches on urban-tax credits, affordable-housing fees and contains a $15 million appropriation will help New Jersey. What’s worse is that several citizens whose livelihoods may be helped or hurt by this act came to Trenton today without being able to see a copy of the legislation.”

    The measure, A-4048, was approved 8-0 with all four Republicans abstaining. After the vote, the bill was still not listed on the Legislature’s web site. It contains provisions that would allow municipalities to increase taxes on rental cars, parking and admission tickets, place a moratorium on affordable-housing fees, allow colleges to enter public/private development agreements and expand tax credits for cities with commuter train stations.

    “This bill is all over the map,” Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, said. “It contains elements I could support as well as some I cannot. But without a thorough review that is fully open to public participation I would rather err on the side of caution - especially because part of financial collapse the legislation is attempting to correct was caused in part by members of Congress who did not due their due diligence.”