Senator Anthony Bucco, (R-Morris), issued the following statement regarding remarks by made by the incoming governor’s Chief of Staff, Bradley Abelow, published by the Gannett Newspapers today.

            “It is clear that Governor Corzine’s new Chief of Staff, Bradley Abelow, is adamant that any plans for the sale, lease, monetization, or asset extraction, from New Jersey’s roads be kept secret until after the November elections.  It is deeply disturbing to me that after spending more than $4.5 million on studies and accepting a nearly $1 million report from a British consulting firm the administration still insists on keeping the public in the dark.

            “Mr. Abelow’s comments in today’s paper are unambiguous; the administration is hiding their toll road sale plan s in order to avoid alarming the public before the critical November elections. In fact, Mr. Abelow thinks ‘we’d be crazy’ to unveil the plan before the election.

            “It is also alarming to discover that the Corzine administration is also discussing whether to toll roads that are currently free, including Routes 78, 80 and 440 as well as the southern portion of the Garden State Parkway in Cape May County be tolled. 

 In the past, in his capacity as Treasurer Mr. Abelow has unequivocally stated that tolls will be raised. He has refused to say by how much or how often the tolls New Jersey’s commuters pay would be raised.

            “This state needs a debate on the toll road sale before the November elections.  There is too much secrecy and too many unanswered questions surrounding the governor’s scheme for the voters’ to make an informed decision on a proposal that will affect their lives of and the lives of their children for years to come.”