BECK AND KEAN BLAST CORZINE FOR REFUSING TO STIPULATE A LIMIT ON FUTURE TOLL INCREASES
SAY GOVERNOR’S FIRE-SALE PLAN UTTERLY DISREGARDS THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS

Assemblyman Sean T. Kean and Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck today assailed Governor Jon S. Corzine for forging ahead with a plan to sell-off New Jersey’s most important transportation assets for a short-term infusion of cash to the state coffers, a move which will cripple the financial well-being of the state for decades to come.

“It’s simply astounding that the Governor refuses to hear the voice of the people on this matter,” said Beck, R-Mercer and Monmouth. “Selling the Turnpike now for cash upfront will destroy an important revenue stream for New Jersey in the future and bring fiscal ruin to the State for generations.”
Kean and Beck made their comments in light of the Governor’s recent decision to refuse to place any limit whatsoever on the toll hikes that will inevitably be part and parcel of his still secret plan.

“The Governor’s refusal to be candid with the people of the state and to disclose to them the details of his secret plan belies the height of arrogance,” said Kean, R-Monmouth. “New Jerseyans don’t want to see their roads sold, they don’t want to pay more to travel and to commute in New Jersey, and they don’t want the state to continue to flirt with financial ruin. What they want is spending restraint and they deserve it.”

Beck and Kean have pledged to work with their Republican colleagues in the Assembly to do whatever they can to stop the Governor and the Democrats in the Legislature from mortgaging the state’s future by selling-off state toll road assets.

“The Democrat philosophy always seems to focus on obtaining more money for the government and more money for friends and family members of Democrat legislators,” Beck said. “I think the people of the state are beginning to see that the government’s activities simply aren’t worth the money it costs to fund them”

Kean agreed. “The people are literally being taxed out of this state. The people are fleeing to Pennsylvania and Delaware while New Jersey is hemorrhaging private sector jobs at an alarming rate,” said Kean. “Without tax reform and spending restraint, the state will go bankrupt.”
Both Kean and Beck have maintained that the Governor’s plan to enable and encourage the state to increase spending would be potentially disastrous. “When you’re already facing a $37.5 billion debt, as well as pension and health care liabilities in excess of $100 billion, its just unreasonable to think that you can spend your way out of the problem,” said Beck.

Kean added that the Governor and the Democrats in the Legislature have got to face facts and admit that the state must tighten its belt and place a moratorium on new spending. “Otherwise, our children may not be able to recover,” he said. “Their’s will be the first generation to fare worse than their parents did. For them the American Dream will be dead.”

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