Put question to the voters
18/05/07 17:14
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 05/18/07
Gov. Corzine is trying to link his idea to lease state assets with replenishing the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund — a move some say is attempted blackmail. It's also the wrong place for Corzine to be flexing his gubernatorial muscles. He should back away from his plan to keep a public question on the open space fund off the November ballot.
Instead of bonding to re-fund the trust, as has been done in the past with voter approval, Corzine wants to fund it with proceeds from selling or leasing state assets, such as toll roads or the lottery. He seems to be promising that phantom money to everyone. It sounds like a desperate attempt to sell his unpopular proposal.
The Corzine administration wants to quash legislation that would ask voters in November to replenish and strengthen the trust for 30 years. If placed on the ballot, it would likely be approved. Voters have passed 32 straight public questions on state ballots since 1991. And New Jerseyans have consistently supported preserving open space for recreation and to limit development.
Assemblyman Nicholas
Asselta, R-Cumberland, accused the governor of
"holding open space and farmland preservation
hostage" to asset-monetization, a plan Asselta called
"irresponsible."
It's also anti-democratic. A coalition of more than 90 environmental and community organizations have been working diligently to get the trust on the ballot and renewed. For Corzine to deny voters a voice and use the veto threat to force his own agenda is an affront to activists and citizens throughout the state.
The Corzine administration hasn't sold asset monetization to the New Jersey voters, who have understandably become wary of budget gimmicks and one-time infusions of cash. Corzine has said the revenue generated by his monetization plan could be used to plug budget holes, pay down state debt, expand health care programs, build schools, provide property tax relief and preserve open space. How thinly would he spread that money? That only makes us more wary of the idea. And what about all the state legislators who undoubtedly will camp outside his door trying to get their pet projects tacked on?
Corzine should respect the environmentalists and others who have fought hard to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund and make sure it's on the November ballot. If he wants to continue to push his idea to sell or lease state assets, he should do so on its own merits — not by making more popular state programs dependent upon it.
And when he's formulated his plans for monetization or "securitization" — having the Turnpike Authority borrow a huge amount of cash against future tolls — he should give the voters the chance to voice their opinion on that as well.
It's also anti-democratic. A coalition of more than 90 environmental and community organizations have been working diligently to get the trust on the ballot and renewed. For Corzine to deny voters a voice and use the veto threat to force his own agenda is an affront to activists and citizens throughout the state.
The Corzine administration hasn't sold asset monetization to the New Jersey voters, who have understandably become wary of budget gimmicks and one-time infusions of cash. Corzine has said the revenue generated by his monetization plan could be used to plug budget holes, pay down state debt, expand health care programs, build schools, provide property tax relief and preserve open space. How thinly would he spread that money? That only makes us more wary of the idea. And what about all the state legislators who undoubtedly will camp outside his door trying to get their pet projects tacked on?
Corzine should respect the environmentalists and others who have fought hard to replenish the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund and make sure it's on the November ballot. If he wants to continue to push his idea to sell or lease state assets, he should do so on its own merits — not by making more popular state programs dependent upon it.
And when he's formulated his plans for monetization or "securitization" — having the Turnpike Authority borrow a huge amount of cash against future tolls — he should give the voters the chance to voice their opinion on that as well.
