Beck assails Democrats for 'preparing' to sell state assets without citizen consent; calls on Corzine to veto the authorization

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck today assailed the Democrat-leadership of the Legislature for inserting a tiny, four-line clause into the annual budget that will grant an unlimited amount of money to the Governor to “prepare” for the sale of State assets.

“It’s remarkably insulting that this language would be tucked in at the end of a 291-page bill in an effort to squelch public debate on an issue with such wide-ranging implications,” said Beck, R-Mercer and Monmouth.  “That’s why I’m calling on Governor Corzine to line-item veto this provision until the Legislature has had the opportunity to review a concrete proposal of the sale.”

The clause Beck was referring to would authorize the Governor “to prepare for the sale of state assets” and not simply study the idea as some Democrats have alleged.  She said the sale of State assets should be debated apart from any other measure or issue.

“Even as a member of the Transportation Committee, I have yet to see the Governor’s long-promised plan to sell our roads,” Beck said.  “New Jerseyans are skeptical of any policy involving the sale of New Jersey highways and, as a Legislator, I want to see a plan before money is spent on furthering an un-vetted, unapproved concept.

Before calling on the Governor to make good on his promise to conduct the peoples’ business in as transparent a manner as possible and to veto the language in question, Beck last night sponsored a budget amendment which would have removed it from the bill.  Democrats, however, employed a procedural tactic to defeat the amendment without considering the merits of the original language itself.

“Considering the magnitude of this issue, I think every official should be on record for or against preparing to sell the Turnpike and the Parkway.  Period.”

A copy of Assemblywoman Beck's amendment follows.

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ASSEMBLY AMENDMENTS(Proposed By Assemblywoman BECK) to 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5000

(Sponsored By Assemblyman GREENWALD )

SECTION 75 IS OMITTED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

STATEMENT

      The amendment deletes section 75 of the FY 2008 appropriations bill which provides authority to the Executive to expend such sums as may be necessary for legal and engineering fees, financial advisors and other consultants and services associated with, as well as any other costs determined necessary in preparation for, the monetization, sale, or lease of public assets, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting.