(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green released the following statement Monday on Gov. Chris Christie’s conditional veto of legislation he sponsored (A-3447) he sponsored to abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and reform affordable housing laws to put less pressure on municipalities.
In his conditional veto, the governor sought the original version of the bill that was judged unconstitutional by the Office of Legislative Services – that opinion is attached – and imposed a 2.5 percent fee on businesses.
Green’s bill was deemed constitutional and lowered the fee to 1.5 percent:
“The governor has now made it clear that he supports unconstitutional legislation that imposes higher fees on New Jersey businesses.
“The last thing New Jersey and its economy needs is unworkable laws that force businesses to pay higher taxes, but that’s exactly what the governor has endorsed with this unfortunate decision.
“Our bill was backed by a broad range of businesses, housing advocates, legal experts and local officials who understood it was the best way to provide housing for working class residents, create jobs and spark the economy.
“The governor, sadly, wants higher business taxes and a court fight. That accomplishes nothing.”