Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), one of the legislature’s leading champions for Port Authority reform, released the following statement on today’s announcement:
“After their eleventh hour veto Christmas weekend it’s encouraging to see that both governors finally understand the importance of reforming this extremely troubled agency.
“I’ve been working with my colleagues in New York to make sure that this bill, and all Port Authority reform efforts, overhaul the culture that has allowed dysfunction, waste and abuse to exist for so long. This legislation includes much of what we have been fighting for over the past several years, including much of what the governors vetoed last year.
“This is a good starting point. My main concern is to make sure that the rushed nature of these reforms does not leave out key elements such as ensuring that the core mission of the Port Authority is refocused on critical transportation infrastructure needs; overhauling the management hierarchy; requiring greater financial accountability; and making sure that each state has an equal seat at the table.
“My number one priority all along has been to make sure reforms are substantive in nature and not simply business as usual masquerading as reform. I am thoroughly reviewing this proposal and will discuss it with my colleagues in New Jersey as we decide our next steps. Our New Jersey constituents deserve no less.”