newjerseynewsroom.com

Calls on Legislature for expansion of gubernatorial veto authority

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday reiterated his call for the Democratic-controlled Legislature to extend gubernatorial veto authority to state authorities, boards and commissions where it currently does not exist.

The governor announced that the administration will propose legislation within 10 days for the Legislature’s consideration to grant him veto authority over multi-jurisdictional entities where it does not currently exist. He said extending or expanding the governor’s veto authority is necessary to prevent waste, abuse and unethical conduct before it occurs and rein in the practices of authorities that have flouted his insistence on a high-level of accountability in their conduct.

“For too long, the unelected, political appointees of these patronage mills have run roughshod over the taxpayers, ratepayers and tollpayers of New Jersey with little or no accountability for their actions, or oversight of their operations that collectively amount to billions of dollars of public funds,” Christie said. “Early on in my administration, I made it clear that the status quo at these entities was unacceptable and that the swamp must and would be drained.

“Following through on that promise to the people of New Jersey, I have exercised veto authority 20 times in an aggressive and unprecedented manner to rein in the waste, mismanagement and abuse taking place at the state’s so-called ‘independent’ authorities, boards and commissions,” the governor said. “But we can and must go further, and the granting of additional veto authority is a necessary step to strengthen my administration’s ability to enforce accountability. It’s past time for the entire Legislature to get on board with the bipartisan effort to bring fiscal responsibility, good governance and oversight by extending or expanding gubernatorial veto authority to these entities currently lacking it.”

Christie said that despite his calls for veto authority, and the continued uncovering by the Authorities Unit of the governor’s office of waste, abuse, mismanagement and malfeasance at these entities, the Legislature has failed to act.

“The Legislature has a clear choice on this issue – stand up for the public who demand that public money be used in an appropriate, efficient and responsible manner or side with the political appointees and entrenched interests who abuse the public trust to enrich themselves and their cohorts,” Christie said. “Existing bills pending in the Legislature enjoy bipartisan sponsorship, and would no doubt be passed with overwhelming support. The time for the Legislature to act on behalf of the taxpaying, tollpaying and ratepaying public is now.”

In pressing for additional oversight, the governor cited action taken Wednesday by his office to police these entities with the commencement of removal proceedings against two members of the Wanaque-based North Jersey District Water Supply Commission.

In letters issued Wednesday, Christie notified NJDWSC Commissioners Albert Manzo and Michael Cricco, that he will immediately commence removal proceedings for cause. In addition, the governor also took the necessary steps to suspend the commissioners without pay pending the resolution of the removal proceedings.

Christie wrote Manzo that the commissioner listed an apartment in Paterson as his residence when his appointment to agency was approved by the Senate in 2008 and did not mention his actual home in Franklin Lakes. The governor wrote that had the Senate known of Manzo’s actual residence, it could have influenced his appointment.

Christie wrote Cricco that he attended commission meetings on at least 20 occasions when he should have been at his paid job with the state Schools Development Authority. The governor wrote that he understands Cricco continued the practice even after SDA officials told him to stop it.

The governor told Manzo and Cricco that remaining as commissioners “would be disruptive to the effective and orderly operation of the NJDWSC facility and contrary to my administration’s efforts to promote fiscal responsibility and compliance with ethics laws.”

The letters follow Christie’s demand for increased transparency and disclosure at the NJDWSC outlined in letters sent on Feb. 25 from his Chief Counsel Jeff Chiesa to the commissioners and the agency’s director.

The governor’s letters also state that if the resignations are not provided by Monday, each commissioner is directed to appear before David A. Cohen, director of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, to be advised of the charges.

Wednesday’s action represents the next step in what Christie described as a continuous effort to bring oversight and accountability to the various state authorities, boards and commissions, including those where the governor does not presently maintain veto authority.

In January and February, Christie took action to remove six of the seven Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners and empower Director Wayne Forrest to clean up the patronage practices, mismanagement and associated waste of ratepayer dollars. Those efforts have included at least 71 firings, an overhaul of the organization and the freezing of fees paid to outside attorneys. Forrest has told the governor the actions have resulted in savings of $10 million at the PVSC.