Legislation Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski sponsored to prohibit use of the governor’s beach house in the event of a government shutdown gained approval from the General Assembly on Monday.
“Gov. Christie said he went to the beach during the shutdown to honor his obligation to his family,” said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). “Well, there were several other fathers in New Jersey who wanted to take their families out to that very same beach that weekend but were turned away.”
The bill (A-5132) would prohibit the use of any residential property owned by the state and provided exclusively or primarily for the governor’s use – including the beach house at Island Beach State Park – during a state budget-related government shutdown. The prohibition would apply to the governor, the governor’s family or any other person or entity.
“If a beach is closed because of a state shutdown, it ought to be closed to everybody,” said Wisniewski. “Having it open to the governor and his guests while it’s closed to all the other New Jersey residents who are paying for them to be there isn’t right and it isn’t fair.”
The measure would not apply to Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion in Princeton.
It now awaits Senate consideration.