(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement Friday on Gov. Christie’s conditional veto of legislation (A-2885) he sponsored to require prompt monthly reporting on the condition of state budget funds. Among other things, the conditional veto seeks a $10,000 fine for “unauthorized” release of budget information:
“This bill essentially mirrored the governor’s executive order that he hasn’t complied with and updated a law that hadn’t been revised in decades, so this conditional veto is inexplicable on many levels.
“We will take a close look at this conditional veto, but this appears to be an attempt by Gov. Christie to restrict the flow of vital public information and levy fines against those who release data unfavorable to his administration.
“I will never allow such a dictatorial plan to ever see the light of day. This conditional veto appears to be an attack on the checks-and-balances that are the cornerstone of American democracy.”