Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
Governor also ordered a review to determine which should be cut
Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday issued an executive order that places strict limits on spending by the state's independent authorities, commissions and boards and sets the stage for eliminating some of them completely.
On his 35th day in office, Christie signed his 15th executive order. This one places limits on authorities and boards hiring lobbyists to attempt to influence his administration, scales back generous retirement packages, and places caps on entertainment and travel expenses by employees.
Christie also ordered a review to be completed by May 15 that is designed to determine which, if any, of the dozens of authorities and boards should continue to exist.
The governor questions what he calls the "hidden economy'' in state government, the bistate, regional and state authorities that spend taxpayer dollars with little oversight."We're going to rein in these authorities and let them know they are answerable to the people who are elected,'' Christie said after signing the order at the Statehouse.
The order does not give Christie veto power over the minutes of agencies he has criticized like the Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority. The governor has urged the Legislature to approve a measure that would give him that power.
Since taking office, Christie has vetoed all or parts of the budgets of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey, the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, the Schools Development Authority and the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority.
In a related development, Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex) announced he will be a prime sponsor the State Authorities Reform Act, legislation that will be introduced aimed at creating more accountability and transparency at the authorities and commissions.
"The era of spending taxpayer money without scrutiny is over," Chiusano said. "We cannot continue the practice of allowing approximately 700 state boards and authorities throughout the state to spend without answering to the public. That lack of accountability has been intoxicating at some authorities and can't be tolerated. Gov. Christie's executive order and the legislation I will sponsor directly address the cloak and dagger approach by which many of these entities operate."
The legislation Chiusano is sponsoring with Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) is designed tol ensure that all state authorities adhere to a standard of practices that are transparent to the public and are answerable to the governor. The bill, A-2361, would reform the routine ways that boards function, including how they enter into contracts, issue bonds and hire employees. It also requires that procurement contracts be advertised publicly, including their posting on the relevant website; an annual financial audit to be conducted by an independent accounting firm; and a yearly review of a commission's operation that identifies waste.
"There are millions of dollars waiting to be saved at the authorities," Chiusano said. "Giving the governor the authority to review the minutes of their board meetings will result in a heightened awareness for protecting tax dollars.''
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
