FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          CONTACT:    Bill Pascoe

June 22, 2007                                                                                     (609) 709-1656

 

REPUBLICANS ASSELTA, CLARK AND DONOHUE BLAST CORZINE, NJ DEMS FOR STATUE OF LIBERTY PLAY

 

(VINELAND, June 22) – First District Senator Nick Asselta and his Republican Assembly running mates, Norris Clark and Michael Donohue, today blasted Governor Corzine and his Democratic allies – specifically, Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew and Nelson Albano – for their decision to move ahead with plans to raise money by selling or leasing or ‘monetizing’ the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and other state toll roads, and then lie about it.

 

“The Governor’s plan to raise cash by selling, leasing, or ‘monetizing’ the Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and other toll roads is ridiculous, and he knows it,” said Asselta. “No matter what name he chooses to use, what we’re really talking about here is PRIVATIZING the toll roads – and that’s a total non-starter with the public. This is as stupid as burning your furniture to heat your home. The public understands already that it makes no sense. So last night the Governor and his Democratic allies tried a two-sided Statue of Liberty play – a total misdirection scheme. This has GOT to stop.”

 

Yesterday, Democrats (including Van Drew and Albano, both of whom voted “YES”) passed a state budget that included – inserted in the third-to-last paragraph of the 291-page budget document -- a provision that allows the Governor to spend an UNLIMITED amount of money on preparations for the sale, lease, or monetization of New Jersey’s toll roads.

 

But late last night – AFTER the budget containing the spending provision had passed – the Governor’s allies leaked to the press the “fact” that he had decided to withdraw his proposal until after the November elections.

 

“The Governor knows this won’t fly with the public, and that’s the only reason he decided last night to say he was pulling it from consideration until after the election – he’s scared of what will happen to Democratic candidates if voters are allowed to make their views known,” Asselta continued. “He should do the right thing, and put it before the people – either by having his Democratic allies talk about it on the campaign trail as a legislative issue, or by putting it directly on the ballot as a voter referendum. After all, these roads don’t belong to the Governor – they belong to the people, and the people should have the right to make this decision.”

 

“The legislature, acting at Governor Corzine’s behest, voted yesterday to put a $450 million, ten-year bond issue on the fall ballot,” said Clark. “Why does the Governor believe the people can be trusted with an issue like that, but NOT be trusted with the decision to pass judgment on his toll road scheme?”

 

“Selling our roads is a bad idea,” added Donohue. “But if the Governor thinks it is such a good idea, he should let the voters decide, rather than hold it back until AFTER the fall election. It looks like the Governor is hoping that lame-duck Democrats can catch the voters sleeping and approve this reckless scheme after November.  Haven’t we had enough ‘surprises’ from our Governors in recent years?”

 

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Paid for by Asselta Clark Donohue