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Vainieri Huttle: Reckless Christie Veto Puts Conservative Ideology above Fiscal Common Sense

(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle on Monday said Gov. Chris Christie put his conservative ideology above fiscal common sense when he vetoed legislation she sponsored to ensure public services are not privatized unless there is cost savings for taxpayers.
“With this inexplicable veto, Gov. Christie further threatens to overburden taxpayers and undermine the state budget with unchecked privatization schemes,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “We already know he’s considering privatizing state motor vehicle inspections, for instance. With this veto, taxpayers must not only worry about the inconvenience of such schemes, but they also must worry about being frustrated by wasteful costs.”
The bill (A-998) required that a contract for the privatization of public services not be entered into without cost analyses demonstrating there will be actual cost savings for the public agency and the taxpayers without increased fees, fares or other charges to the public, reduced quantity or quality of services or lowered workforce standards.
“Decisions to use private contractors to provide public services must be based on factors that promote the public interest,” Vainieri Huttle said. “Requiring a thorough review and analysis of potential cost impacts before entering into any such privatization contract just made smart fiscal sense, but it appears the governor put his right-wing ideology above protecting the taxpayers.”