(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement Tuesday after the Joint Budget Oversight Committee voted 4-2 against the Christie administration’s plan to spend $13 million in bond proceeds without details:
“Unlike the governor and legislative Republicans, we’re always ready to progress measures that create jobs and economic development, but we were given very little information on this spending proposal and unfortunately could not move forward today.
“Sadly, the governor chose to play politics last month and veto jobs bills that had essentially the same goal as today’s request by the administration.
“Instead of working cooperatively to advance legislation, he chose to veto the bills and put job growth at risk. The administration’s actions have been consistently disappointing.
“Clearly, the potential expenditure of $13 million should come with more information than was provided by the administration. The governor, almost certainly, would veto a bill that called for spending $13 million without specifics. It’s odd that he would ask us to approve the same. Approving this money without details would be premature.
“This is not about politics. This is about transparency and accountability. We have legitimate questions about these proposals and were given no answers today, though I take heart that the EDA said it will answer our questions shortly ‘without any problem.’
“We’re going to work with the Economic Development Authority to get the information and transparency needed. Once we get that information, we will move expeditiously.”