Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco Jr., R-Gloucester | Shining a light on authorities
Nearly every day has brought a new revelation in how officials have used the Delaware River Port Authority, or DRPA, as a conduit to siphon public dollars for personal or political gain.
A highly-paid public safety official has resigned after giving his daughter free rides across toll bridges, the agency has spent millions on politically-connected law firms and is building a football field in a Camden County town whose mayor happens to sit on the bi-state agency's board.
It's been a classic New Jersey boondoggle. It represents how independent authorities, dubbed by Governor Christie as "shadow government," have become political fiefdoms that steal money from taxpayers, toll payers and ratepayers.
Scandals have occurred at the DRPA, the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, the Bergen County Improvement Authority and probably at other independent authorities your money funds.
At least Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, has been on the case. Working cooperatively with Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Vereb, DiCicco has called for a federal investigation of the agency and a halt to any toll increases until the agency has been audited.
DiCicco and his Pennsylvania colleague unveiled their comprehensive bi-state reform legislation outside the DRPA on Aug. 18, shortly before its board was forced to enact reforms that many, including Governor Christie, have demanded.
Their proposal would make the agency more transparent and accountable, its officials more ethical and its employee perks more reasonable.
Specifically, the proposal would require annual audits, eliminate conflicts of interests when awarding contracts and cap salaries and end egregious employee benefits. More information about the proposal, which is expected to be introduced this fall, can be found here.
The problems at the DRPA may be worse than at other independent authorities throughout New Jersey, but they are a clear example of why Governor Christie and Assembly Republicans such as DiCicco, Gary Chiusano and Alison Littell McHose, both R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon, Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth and Middlesex, and Charlotte Vandervalk, R-Bergen, have been trying to reform New Jersey's shadow government.
But their efforts have been thwarted by Democratic Legislative leaders who won't post important bipartisan legislation, such as A-2361, the "State Authorities Reform Act," which would require competitive bidding for all contracts, audits and open public meetings.
No one has said why the Democratic leaders in the Legislature won't reform New Jersey's wasteful shadow government, but The Record of Hackensack had a pretty good guess:
"Some fear it could make Christie too powerful - or weaken the clout of the political bosses who have close ties to many lawmakers."
Once again, for the majority party in the Legislature, the public good takes a back seat to political interests. |
