Kean Challenges Governor to End Secrecy & Immediately Disclose Budget Changes
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean asked Governor Corzine, in a letter sent today, to provide a full accounting of any proposed budget savings intended to offset new spending he has asked for or approved in the last several weeks. The letter is attached.
“Governor Corzine’s unwillingness to announce any budget savings which would offset recently approved new spending is imprudent to say the least,” Kean stated. “We must act now to ensure that our fiscal house remains in order.”
Since the budget was signed, more than $200 million in new spending has been authorized by the Legislature. The budget approved in June, contained a $600 million surplus – a surplus that has been consumed by more than $1 billion drop in revenues.
“Common sense dictates that budget savings are required to make New Jersey more affordable for middle-class families. Those budget savings must be debated in an open and candid public forum. Governor Corzine must be accountable to the people and announce his proposed budget savings sooner rather than later, it is the only responsible course of action,” Kean concluded.
December 10, 2008
The Honorable Jon Corzine
Governor, State of New Jersey
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625-0001
Dear Governor Corzine:
I am writing to ask that you provide my colleagues and me with documentation showing the steps you have taken to freeze funds appropriated in the current budget to address developing budget difficulties.
The $600 million surplus anticipated in the State budget, even without considering your approval of various spending bills, has been decimated by estimates that revenues are now coming in more than $1 billion less than projected when the budget was signed. Previously, you stated that you would freeze discretionary funds to address the situation, but you have provided the public with no explanation as to which funds are being frozen.
In the face of declining revenues in 2001, Acting Governor DiFrancesco periodically released lists of funds that he froze to partially address a similar drop in revenue. This served two purposes. It helped the public understand the gravity of the situation, and it afforded them an opportunity to comment and suggest alternatives.
It is my sincere hope that you will release the requested documents. However, please be advised that I have caused to be filed with the Treasurer, a more formal request for relevant records to preserve my right to seek remedies under the Open Public Records Act, should the request for these public documents be denied.
Sincerely,
Thomas Kean
Senate Republican Leader
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