Republicans demand to see report
on Corzine toll road plan
August 21, 2007
By TOM HESTER Jr. /
Associated Press Writer
TRENTON, N.J. - Assembly Republicans on Tuesday threatened to
file a lawsuit against Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration for
refusing to release a consultant's report on the governor's plan
to make more money off state properties such as toll roads.
Assemblymen Kevin O'Toole and Sean Kean and Assemblywoman
Jennifer Beck said they have asked for copies of an $800,000
consulting report detailing what would happen if tolls are
increased on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
The
governor is considering increasing highway tolls as part of his
plan to try ease state financial woes.
The
Republicans said they planned to file a complaint in Superior
Court next week alleging violation of the state's open public
records law if they don't get the report.
"In
the spirit of transparency, you must trust members of the
Legislature and the public to review the consultant's final
reports and recommendations which we have all paid $800,000 to
produce," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Corzine.
Corzine hasn't released an official plan and hasn't said when he
will do so. He has promised public meetings in all 21 New Jersey
counties.
Treasury spokesman Mark Perkiss dismissed the Republican threat,
arguing state fiscal problems were created by both parties.
"Politically motivated threats concerning decisions that have
not been made and proposals that are not yet complete only move
New Jersey deeper into political gridlock over how to put the
state's fiscal house in order," Perkiss said.