Press Release

State Sentor Robert Littell

Release Date: Jan 31 2007

LITTELL INTRODUCES BILL TO BLOCK TURNPIKE SALE
Bill Would Let Voters Decide on State Asset Sales in Excess of $100 Million

Senator Robert E. Littell (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) announced today his intention to introduce legislation to permit the voters of this State to decide on the advisability of selling State assets with a value of $100 million or more. The legislation is in response to attempts by prominent Democrats to sell or lease the New Jersey Turnpike to foreign interests.
Senator Robert E. Littell (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) announced today his intention to introduce legislation to permit the voters of this State to decide on the advisability of selling State assets with a value of $100 million or more. The legislation is in response to attempts by prominent Democrats to sell or lease the New Jersey Turnpike to foreign interests.

The people of this State should decide on whether it is a good idea to sell the New Jersey Turnpike to foreign companies. I for one think that selling or leasing the Turnpike to a foreign entity is one of the wackiest ideas the Trenton Democrats have yet come up with, and I am quite sure that a majority of voters will agree with me, said Littell.

The Littell bill would provide that any bill or resolution introduced in either House of the Legislature that authorizes the sale or lease of any State asset having a value of $100 million or greater must provide that the legislation cannot take effect unless it is approved by a majority of the voters at the next general election.

The Trenton Democrats ought to tell the people all of the details about their scheme to sell off the turnpike to foreigners, and not submit their plan for approval after they seal the deal with Wall Street financiers, said Littell. The people first deserve to vote on whether we should conduct a massive fire sale of New Jersey’s assets in order to pump more cash into the Democrat machine to finance their reckless policies of tax, borrow and spend.