10/4/10-Peace, or the closest thing to it, has been restored in New Jersey as a deal was reached Monday, Oct. 4, to move ahead with $1.4 billion in bonds to keep road and rail work on track.
Tensions were high on both sides of the legislative aisle through the weekend as the Joint Budget Oversight Committee prepared to meet today to settle a dispute between Democratic leaders and Gov. Chris Christie.
The Democrat-led oversight panel decided on Friday, Oct. 1, to hold off on the bond sale. They expressed frustration with the governor not releasing a long-term plan to bail out the nearly-bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund.
Christie, a Republican, responded to the move by halting all state-funded transportation projects. The bond sale, as well as refinancing up to $500 million in existing debt, is needed to keep funding projects through next April.
Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, co-chair of the oversight panel called the emergency meeting for Monday in response to the work stoppage. He indicated that the issue would get settled today.
After the dust settled, the oversight panel issued the bonds needed to keep work going on projects including the reconstruction of Interstate 295 in Burlington County and the Route 3 Passaic River Crossing project in Passaic and Bergen counties, as well as transit projects.
The governor then immediately lifted the suspension.
The fight between Democrats and Christie, however, isn’t over.
Assembly Appropriations Chairwoman Nellie Pou, D-Passaic/Bergen, voted in favor of the plan but was pointed in her criticism of the governor.
“The administration needs to do a much better job of communicating and being transparent,” Pou said in a statement. “I see no valid reason for the lack of communication with the Legislature on this issue. I see no reason this had to become a so-called crisis situation.”
Republicans criticized their counterparts for holding up funding to wage a political battle that idled about 2,000 workers for one day.
“Holding transportation projects hostage that address key infrastructure needs on our roads and bridges has significant consequences for commuters and New Jersey’s economy,” Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris/Passaic, said in a statement.

10/4/10-Tensions are high on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey as state officials try to negotiate a deal to make sure $1.7 billion in transportation projects continue to move forward.
The Democrat-led Joint Budget Oversight Committee will consider a $1.2 billion bond issue today, Monday, Oct. 4, after their delay late last week led Gov. Chris Christie to halt all state-funded transportation projects. The bond sale, as well as refinancing up to $500 million in existing debt, is needed to keep funding projects through next April.
The stoppage affects transportation projects throughout the state, including the reconstruction of Interstate 295 in Burlington County, the Route 3 Passaic River Crossing project in Passaic and Bergen counties, as well as transit projects.
Action on the bond issue was delayed by the panel Friday, Oct. 1, because of frustration with the governor for having yet to give details about his plan for bailing out the nearly-bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund.
Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, is co-chair of the oversight panel. He warned a month ago that Democratic lawmakers would withhold approval of the new borrowing until Christie offered his plan for fixing the broke trust fund. Sarlo stated that the governor’s response is a clear signal that the “administration has no plan.”
Republicans criticized their counterparts for holding up funding to wage a political battle.
“Holding transportation projects hostage that address key infrastructure needs on our roads and bridges has significant consequences for commuters and New Jersey’s economy,” Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris/Passaic, said in a statement.
Sarlo called the emergency meeting for Monday in response to the work stoppage. He has indicated that the issue will get settled today.