New Jersey Republicans are calling on Democrats to explain the more than 400 plus line items in the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget that was passed June 30.
The Republican members of the State Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on the Democratic majority to explain the items, which were added hours before adoption of the budget.
State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), who serves as Republican Budget Officer, said transparency in the budget was of paramount importance in wanting a more detailed explanation.
Enforcing Rule 42
“Republicans complied with legislative rules and publicly posted all of our proposed tax decreases, spending restraints, reforms, and spending requests before the budget was voted on, and we’re calling on our Democrat colleagues to finally do the same,” O’Scanlon said.
The GOP lawmakers pointed to Rule 42 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and General Assembly, which requires “budget resolutions” explaining every line item proposed by a legislator to be on file prior to the budget being voted on and to be made available to the public.
Account for $1 Billion in Spending
State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-24) said the Democrats’ lack of communication was “very alarming.”
“One has to ask why the Democrats’ budget resolutions still haven’t been made public nearly a full month since the State Budget was adopted. Secrecy only breeds distrust,” he said.
State Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-23) agreed with Oroho’s message, stating “when you share inaccurate documents, pass budget bills that don’t exist, and keep spending resolutions hidden, it makes it look like you have something to hide.”
Jersey City Art Museum Under Fire
State Sen. Michael Testa (R-1) took aim at funding earmarked for a French art museum in Jersey City. Gov. Phil Murphy proposed spending $12 million in his budget for the museum; that figure was doubled in the final budget by state lawmakers without an explanation.
“Our staff reviewed publicly available documents and found significant waste and excess, including more than 30 no-bid consultants, consultants hired to find other consultants, more than $10 million in fees to use the French ‘Pompidou’ name, and millions more that will be spent for the privilege of displaying art owned by France,” said Testa (R-1).
“It’s not clear why this extremely expensive project is a priority for the Murphy administration, but the least the governor can do is try to control costs that appear to be ballooning.”
School Funding
Testa went on to say that this singular project has received $58 million over the course of two years while schools across the state were watching their funding be cut.
“There are more than 400 additional line items totaling $1.2 billion that was given away without any explanation at all. New Jerseyans deserve to know why these items are spending priorities for Democrats,” he said.
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