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Governor demanding to know why his order ignored

Calling it a blatant violation of his June 23 directive, Gov. Chris Christie is demanding that the bi-state Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor explain why it did not obey his veto of its proposed budget, which specifically directed the agency to cut $125,000 it had earmarked for non-contractual discretionary salary increases.

"I am disturbed to learn your office ignored my directive, and indeed gave discretionary raises totaling $123,000 to non-contractual employees," Christie wrote in a letter send to the commission on Thursday. "Those salary increases were awarded in contravention of my letter, which eliminated funding for such salary increases."

In June, the governor rejected a portion of the commission's proposed 2010-2011 budget indicating that, due to the current fiscal climate, it was not financially appropriate to allow the agency to proceed with salary increases that are not contractually obligated.

In his Thursday letter, Christie also ordered that all affected salaries immediately be reduced to the levels prior to the increase and has demanded a written explanation within seven days to explain why the increases were granted.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM