Assembly Republicans

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Christmas in July? Bah, humbug!
They're called "legislative initiatives."
They really are out-of-control budget stuffers.
Editorial, The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 23, 2007

The New Jersey Legislature should end Christmas in July.

Thats the last-minute practice of stuffing the state budget with "legislative initiatives" for the folks back home - sidewalks, recreation centers, library additions, firefighter equipment.

Some are worthy projects; some are special-interest payoffs. But how would the public know? They're usually negotiated in the dark of night.

Last July, after a weeklong government shutdown caused by an impasse over the proposed 1-cent sales-tax increase, Democrats spent another day behind closed doors porking up the budget with as much as $300 million in pet projects, known as "Christmas tree items."

Gov. Corzine got rid of the most egregious add-ons through line-item veto. After his vow to change the way Trenton did business, he should have slashed even more.

Yesterday, Corzine embraced Senate President Richard Codey's proposal to bring "legislative initiatives" into the light of day. All modifications to the governor's budget would have to be submitted to budget committees at least 14 days before the committee was scheduled to take action. It's a good start point for reform.

The eleventh-hour goodies defy sound budgeting. It's ATM time, not justification for the best project.

It's no wonder that last week U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie subpoenaed records related to these last-minute expenditures between 2004 and 2006. He's reportedly investigating whether any legislator personally benefited from the hundreds of millions of dollars allocated.

The new subpoenas are believed to be related to an ongoing federal investigation of State Sen. Wayne Bryant (D., Camden). A federal monitor appointed by Christie concluded in September that Bryant did "little or no work" at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The monitor concluded that Bryant was hired to use his influence as chair of the powerful Senate budget committee to direct millions in extra funding to the school.

Bryant has denied the allegations. He stepped down from the committee last fall. He has not said whether he will run for reelection in November.

Regardless of the outcome of the Bryant case, the Legislature should eliminate the annual stocking-stuffing. It's wasteful and rightly intensifies public distrust in government.

"We have tough choices coming, and the public needs to trust that we are working for them - not ourselves, not our friends, and not anyone else," Corzine said yesterday.

Legislators should justify their budget requests, just as Cabinet members do.

It's time to stow the Christmas tree. Spring budgets are better symbolized by fresh air and open doors.

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Corzine plays it safe in budget
Gloucester County Times, Editorial excerpts, February 23, 2007

The legislators got their present from the governor. The unions got theirs. What about the rest of us? A pat on the head, and a lecture that things won't be as bad as a year ago... The budget represents too little effort in terms of state program cuts... In November, lawmakers' performance needs to be judged on forward progress on these items, not just a one-year breather from some budget pain.

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For more information, contact:
Assembly Republican Press Office / 609-292-5339

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