Today, Governor Chris Christie vetoed the 2010 Delaware River and Port Authority budget, citing - among other things - a 3% increase over prior years' spending. The increase from '08 to '09 was only 1.8%. The governor also rejected unspecified payments of $25,000 and up to 98 vendors throughout the year.
This is the latest cost-cutting move by Christie as he tries to slow down New Jersey's runaway spending. Last week, he vetoed $1.3 million in change orders for an addition for Burlington City High School. The project was already $18 million over budget.
Like the appointment of Bret Schundler to head the Education Department, these vetoes are huge wins for NJ taxpayers. Christie is showing that he is not shying down from a fight and is serious about stopping the frivolous spending that has caused the state's taxes to rise and its populous to seek shelter in tax-friendlier states.
The governor is also setting his sights on the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, in which he has criticized the salary of its executive director, whom Christie said makes $313,000 a year. The 96 people at the commission also make more than $100,000 a year. Presently, the governor has no control over the commission, and Christie has used the PVSC has an example for wanting expanded veto powers.
The legislator should grant the governor the expanded veto powers necessary to control the budget more effectively. As the chief executive of the state, he should have a say in how every dollar of taxpayer money is spent,
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