Assemblymen Joseph Malone and Kevin O'Toole

MALONE AND O'TOOLE ASK GOVERNOR NOT TO SPEND ANY REMAINING PORK OR GRANT DOLLARS

MAKE REQUEST AT BUDGET BRIEFING IN LIGHT OF FEDS PROBEFebruary 21, 2007
Assemblyman Joseph Malone/609-298-6250
Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole/973-696-2323

In light of the ongoing federal investigation into legislative pork, Assembly Republican Budget Committee members Joseph Malone and Kevin O'Toole today made a direct plea to Governor Corzine and Treasurer Bradley Abelow that the administration not expend any money remaining in a number of grant programs nor any unspent pork dollars placed in last year's budget at the last minute by lawmakers.

"While this dark cloud is hanging over these grant programs it would certainly seem imprudent to continue spending these funds," said Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer. "We have been trying to get the administration to cut back on spending since last year and there probably is no better place to start than pork funds currently being examined in a pending federal investigation."

Federal investigators have issued a number of subpoenas in recent weeks to legislative offices in Trenton and this follows a subpoena served on the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) that was the subject of a recent court hearing. According to the media this investigation centers on the use of funds from a number of state grant programs.

"Trenton right now is swept up in a whirlwind of rumor an innuendo regarding this investigation and until we have some answers, these funds should be frozen," said O'Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. "These dollars were nothing more than wasteful pork when put into the budget, and worse yet, it now appears that they may be at the center of a criminal controversy."

Malone and O'Toole made their request of Corzine at a budget briefing this afternoon held at the Governor's mansion. They followed that meeting with a formal written request which is attached.

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February 21, 2007

Honorable Jon Corzine
Governor, State of New Jersey
State House
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Dear Governor Corzine:

This is to follow-up on our request that you halt certain politicized spending included in the current year's budget. This spending has been criticized from the outset and it is no more worthy today than it was last July.

The Fiscal Year 2007 budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars of what is more commonly known as pork or Christmas tree items. While this description might not appropriately describe each and every item, it does represent spending that is unnecessary in light of the state's current fiscal situation and the priority that has been placed on providing property tax relief. By freezing this spending, more dollars will be available for balancing the budget and lowering taxes.

In addition, stopping this money from being spent will send a clear message that the Legislature and the Administration are not for sale; a belief held by many in light of the current investigations that are underway.

We look forward to working with you on constructing a budget for Fiscal Year 2008 and hope that this will be the first of many instances in which we share the common goals of restoring both the state’s fiscal health and the people’s trust in government.

Sincerely,
Joseph R. Malone
Assemblyman, District 30
Kevin O’Toole
Assemblyman, District 40