TRENTON — Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald is upset that state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff has declined an invitation to testify before his committee. Democrats on the committee had planned to question the treasurer at a hearing Thursday morning on concerns with the current state budget and revenues. Instead, they’ll hear from Legislative Budget and Finance Officer David J. Rosen....
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David Rosen, Legislative Budget and Finance officer, in this May 2010 file photo.TRENTON — Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald is upset that state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff has declined an invitation to testify before his committee.
Democrats on the committee had planned to question the treasurer at a hearing Thursday morning on concerns with the current state budget and revenues.
Instead, they’ll hear from Legislative Budget and Finance Officer David J. Rosen.
“I hope the treasurer’s decision to decline this invitation doesn’t indicate an antagonistic change in tenor toward this committee. I also hope he reconsiders his decision and decides to join us in this vital conversation,” said Greenwald (D-Camden) in a prepared statement.
A spokesman for the treasurer could not immediately be reached for comment.
Eristoff said he's too busy to attend but will testify at hearings on next year's budget.
“I have nothing but the highest regard for the chairman and his committee and beg his understanding that the press of making final preparations for the Governor’s Budget Message has regrettably made it impossible for me to prepare adequately for a substantive appearance before the committee at this time," said Sidamon-Eristoff in a prepared statement. "I appreciate the chairman’s gracious comments with respect to my appearance before the committee last year and assure him that I look forward to appearing again at the beginning of the normal annual budget hearing cycle.”
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