Bill Text: NJ AR172 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes interstate authorities and compacting states to release fiscal information concerning interstate authorities; urges compacting states to pass legislation necessary to require that interstate authorities release fiscal information.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-11-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [AR172 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR172-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DOMENICK DICICCO, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes interstate authorities and compacting states to release fiscal information concerning interstate authorities; urges compacting states to pass legislation necessary to require that interstate authorities release fiscal information.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution memorializing certain interstate authorities and compacting states to release certain fiscal information concerning those interstate authorities and urging compacting states to pass legislation to require those authorities to release such information.
Whereas, New Jersey has compacted with: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to form the Delaware River Joint Commission, known as the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; the State of Delaware to form the Delaware River and Bay Authority; the State of New York to form the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission; and both the States of New York and Connecticut, to form the Interstate Environmental Commission; and
Whereas, Those entities, known as interstate authorities, were formed for significant public purposes such as the development and maintenance of roads, airports, bridges, and tunnels, and the control of water and air pollution; and
Whereas, Accordingly, these authorities have an obligation to adhere to the public trust and good stewardship of vital public resources; and
Whereas, Officials of certain of these authorities namely, the Delaware River Port Authority and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, have been the subject of inquiries concerning fiscal abuse and mismanagement; and
Whereas, These authorities are funded by citizens of the compacting states, through the payment of various fees, taxes, and tolls; and
Whereas, The citizens of the compacting states deserve transparency concerning the use of public funds; and
Whereas, Legislation is pending in the New Jersey Legislature to require that the interstate authorities report fiscal information for public access through a website maintained by New Jersey's Executive Branch; and
Whereas, It is therefore altogether fitting and proper for this House to memorialize the interstate authorities and compacting states to release the spending, revenue, and payroll data of the authorities for public viewing and, where necessary, to pass legislation concurrent with the legislation pending in New Jersey's Legislature, to require those authorities to release the information; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly respectfully memorializes the Delaware River Joint Commission, known as the Delaware River Port Authority, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and the Interstate Environmental Commission, to release their spending, revenue, and payroll data and the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the States of New York, Delaware, and Connecticut to pass legislation concurrent with pending New Jersey legislation, where necessary, to require those authorities to release such data.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Governors of the States of New York, Delaware, and Connecticut, the Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware River Joint Commission, the Executive Director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the Executive Director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Commissioners of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, the Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and the Chair of the Interstate Environmental Commission, respectively, the Presidents Pro Tempore of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Senate, and the New York Delaware and Connecticut State Senates, and, respectively, the Speakers of the New York State Assembly, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut Houses of Representatives.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution memorializes the interstate authorities established under compacts which New Jersey has entered with other states to release their revenue, payroll, and spending data and urges those states to pass concurrent legislation to require the release of such data.
New Jersey has compacted with: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to form the Delaware River Joint Commission, known as the Delaware River Port Authority, and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; the State of Delaware to form the Delaware River and Bay Authority; the State of New York to form the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission; and both the States of New York and Connecticut, to form the Interstate Environmental Commission.
Those entities were formed for significant public purposes such as the development and maintenance of roads, airports, bridges, and tunnels, and the control of water and air pollution. Accordingly, these authorities have an obligation to adhere to the public trust and good stewardship of vital public resources.
Officials of certain of these authorities, namely, the Delaware River Port Authority and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, have been the subject of inquiries concerning fiscal abuse and mismanagement.
The interstate authorities are funded by citizens of the compacting states, through the payment of various fees, taxes, and tolls. The citizens of the compacting states deserve transparency concerning the use of public funds. Legislation is pending in the New Jersey Legislature to require that the interstate authorities report spending, revenue and payroll data for public access through a website maintained by New Jersey's Executive Branch. Therefore, it is fitting that the interstate authorities and their compacting states follow the State of New Jersey in reporting fiscal information concerning the authorities and introducing concurrent legislation, where necessary, to require the interstate authorities to report such information.
