Senator Pennacchio Calls On Corzine To End Christmas Tree SpendingAdd-Ons Cost Taxpayers more than $100 Million in FY 2008 Budget  

           Senator Joe Pennacchio, (R-26), called on Governor Jon Corzine to exercise his Constitutional authority to veto any legislative additions in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2009 budget.  In the current budget items added to the final document cost taxpayers more than $100 million.

            “If the Governor is truly serious about cutting spending then this is the place to start,” Pennacchio stated.  “Over the past six years nearly a $1 billion has been doled out to politically connected entities, often in the dead of night with little or no public debate or comment on the expenditure.  Additionally this process breeds corruption as evidenced by the United State’s Attorney’s investigations into the budget process.”

            In the last several budgets items included at the last minute were: free tickets for Newark Bears baseball games, special aid to prosecutors in just four counties and special aid funneled to Camden City through the South Jersey Port Corporation.

            “During his state of the state message the Governor spoke of matching expenses to recurring revenues.  Governor Corzine’s actions must match his rhetoric.  While I suggest he begin with Legislative additions, budget savings must go beyond that.  He must seek real substantive cuts across the board,” Pennacchio concluded.