Propp and Griffin call on Governor to release asset sale plan immediately, ask Conners and Conaway to join them

Propp and Griffin call on Governor to release asset sale plan immediately, ask Conners and Conaway to join them

Burlington—  Assembly candidates Brian Propp and Nancy Griffin today signed a letter to Governor Corzine asking him to immediately release the details of his proposed plan to sell state assets, including New Jersey’s toll roads and Lottery.  They additionally called on Assemblymen Herb Conaway and Jack Conners to join them in urging the Governor to release his plans before the November election.

“The debate on selling state assets needs to happen before the November election,” said Propp.  “The Governor has called for a full and open public debate, and that debate needs to factor into voter’s decisions when they go to the polls in three months.  We invite our opponents to join us in calling on the Governor to start this debate immediately by releasing his plan.  We urge them to sign our letter.”

“We’re asking for the Governor to release his plan because the voters deserve it,” said Griffin.  “The residents of the 7th District deserve to have all of the candidates for Assembly participate in the debate on selling our state assets prior to voting on November 6th.  We are hopeful that, for the benefit of public debate, Assemblymen Conaway and Conners join us in a bipartisan  message calling on the Governor to do right by the voters.”

The text of the letter to the Governor is as follows:

August 9, 2007

Hon. Jon S. Corzine

Governor of New Jersey

Office of the Governor

PO Box 001

Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Governor Corzine,

We are writing to request that you release your complete “asset monetization” proposal to the public immediately.

Selling or leasing state assets, what you have termed “asset monetization” will likely have a negative impact on the current affordability crisis New Jerseyans face. You have promised a full and open public debate on this issue and we hope that, after releasing your plans, that you will hold the first of your promised town hall meetings in Burlington and Camden counties.

We are particularly concerned about reports and statements that lead us to believe that you are planning to withhold the release of your proposal until after the November 2007 legislative elections.  This would a complete disservice to the public, as the voters deserve to know exactly where each of us stands on this issue so that they may make informed decisions at the ballot box in November.

There is much at stake when voters go to the polls on November 6th.  Please make good on your promise to New Jersey by releasing your plans immediately so that the public debate you have so frequently asked for can begin without delay.

Sincerely,

Brian Propp                              Nancy Griffin                  

Candidate for Assembly            Candidate for Assembly

The text of the letter to Assemblymen Conaway and Conners is as follows:

August 9, 2007

Hon. Herb Conaway

Hon. Jack Conners

8008 Route 130 N., Suite 125

Delran, NJ 08075

Dear Assemblymen Conaway and Conners,

We are writing to ask that you join us in calling on the Governor to release the details of his plan to sell or lease our toll roads, lottery, and other state assets immediately so that a full and public debate of this issue may be conducted prior to the November 2007 elections.  

The voters deserve to know what exactly the Governor has in store for New Jersey’s state assets prior to the election.  Since you twice voted to give the Governor a blank check allowing him to sell or lease our toll roads, Lottery, and other assets, we believe that it is only fair that the voters be privy to the Governor’s plan as you clearly were.  In the spirit of bipartisanship, please join us by submitting your own call to the Governor to release his plans to the public immediately and prove to your constituents you are committed to hearing their thoughts on this plan.

New Jersey needs to be made a more affordable place to live.  The sale or lease of state assets such as toll roads would likely make New Jersey less affordable- and New Jerseyans deserve to hear from the Governor, and yourselves, as to why you think selling our assets is a good idea.  In the interest of doing right by the voters, please join us in asking the Governor to come forward with his plans immediately so that the public debate may begin.

Sincerely,

Brian Propp                                       Nancy Griffin

Candidate for Assembly                    Candidate for Assembly