Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the State Comptroller’s Audit Report:
“The Legislature created many of the programs mentioned in the Comptroller’s audit report with the goal of spurring economic development, and creating and retaining jobs. Wasting taxpayer money is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The recommendations included in the report today regarding the EDA’s lack of oversight and poor management of State tax incentive programs points out the need for action and demands that any future programs include the oversight necessary to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely for the intended purpose. As we move through the process of considering tax incentive programs, the recommendations included in the report will merit serious consideration.“