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Gov. Christie proposes legislation granting state more oversight, control over independent boards

Bill would also prohibit commissioners on boards from receiving any pay, require them to file financial disclosure forms

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Gov. Chris Christie during a March 16 press conference where he announced a bill that would give him veto power over state multi-jurisdictional authorities.

TRENTON — As part of his ongoing battle with the state’s independent boards and commissions, Gov. Chris Christie today sent the Legislature his recommendations for granting him more oversight power.

Christie has been pushing for veto power over the boards and commissions that he had no control, saying they’re currently operating as "shadow governments" with no accountability to the taxpayer.

In addition to granting Christie veto power, the legislation would also prohibit commissioners on the boards from receiving any pay, require them to file financial disclosure forms and give the governor express power to fire board members "for cause." The legislation would make the commissions subject to ethics laws, state oversight laws and any executive orders signed by a governor.

"These entities that for too long have engaged in conduct without oversight, often at the public’s expense, and with a blind eye from members of both political parties, will no longer be able to operate with impunity," Christie said in a statement. "With this legislation, my Administration will be better equipped to continue putting the best interest of the public first by cracking down on waste, impropriety and business-as-usual at these entities, where nobody is watching what is going on."

Christie began calling for veto power over boards and authorities after problems were unearthed at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners. He renewed that call last month when he fired two commissioners at the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission.

The governor has veto power over several boards and authorities, but that power does not extend to most of the state’s water and sewerage commissions.

Christie has exercised that veto power over boards and commissions more frequently than any governor in recent memory.

Legislation to give Christie veto power was filed earlier this year and stalled in the Senate. Christie’s recommendations today come in the form of a new bill and would require a lawmaker to sponsor the legislation.

Christie’s newest attempt to force movement on the measure wasn’t welcomed with open arms in the Senate.

"The governor has removed commissioners, placed his own people in charge and forced out dozens upon dozens of employees at these agencies," said Chris Donnelly, a spokesman for Senate Democrats. "He is getting everything he wants without the unnecessary measure of consolidating more power for himself."

The legislation would cover all independent boards and authorities, including the following boards and commissions:

• Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District
• Cumberland-Salem Soil Conservation District
• Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission
• Freehold Soil Conservation District
• Hudson-Essex & Passaic Soil Conservation District
• Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority
• Joint Meeting of Essex and Union
• Lake Hopatcong Commission
• Landis Sewerage Authority
• Middlesex County Utilities Authority
• Morris County Utilities Authority
• Musconetcong Sewerage Authority
• New Jersey Meadowlands Commission
• North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
• Ocean County Utilities Authority
• Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority
• Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners
• Passaic Valley Water Commission
• Pequannock River Basin Regional Sewerage Authority
• Pequannock-Lincoln Park Fairfield Sewerage Authority (aka “Two Bridges Sewerage Authority”)
• Plainfield Regional Sewerage Authority
• Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority
• Somerset-Union Soil Conservation District
• Southeast Morris County Utilities Authority
• State Soil Conservation Committee
• Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority


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