Bucco

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco and Senator Steve Oroho, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, criticize Governor Corzine for refusing to regularly update revenue numbers despite repeated requests for openness and transparency.

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony Bucco said Governor Corzine should re-read his Executive Order No. 1, which lays out the rules for conduct of a governor's financial affairs. "It is obvious that the governor is invested in a hedge fund whose managers also own casinos," Bucco said. "Clauses in Governor Corzine's executive order No. 1 would seem to prohibit such an investment."

New Jersey's casino laws leave little doubt that even the appearance of conflict of interest is unacceptable. Governor Corzine must reveal documents that would confirm definitively whether he is invested in a hedge fund with close ties to the casino industry.

The governor Isn't Disclosing Fiscal Problems to Investing Public.

Despite his 2005 campaign vow of transparency, the governor now thinks it's better if the public doesn't hear about the coming fiscal crisis for a few months. So much for campaign promises that he would insist on two-year budgets instead of one-year spending plans.

After eight years, New Jersey knows the routine. A Democrat governor signs an irresponsible budget that perpetuates a multi-billion dollar deficit and paves the way for a new round of tax increases and high-cost borrowing. Then the governor praises himself for making 'tough' choices.

Governor Corzine won't let Morris County save money. He's demanding that the county filled an unneeded position with a political appointee. It's clear the governor's rhetoric about saving tax dollars does not match his actions. 

New Jersey Democrats aren't pushing through an irresponsible budget full of gimmicks and one-shots just because of the current economic crisis. They are pushing through an irresponsible budget because that's what Governor Corzine and his supporters have always done.

New Jersey state government will face the worst, most devastating fiscal crisis in its modern history starting next year, Senator Bucco said. To create the illusion of a lower budget, "Governor Deficit" has deferred billions of dollars in expenses that will create unprecedented shortfalls for future governors and legislatures. We should not approve this fiscally irresponsible legislation.

Republicans give the governor dozens of choices he could make to create jobs and make New Jersey more affordable for the middle class