KEAN INTRODUCES PLAN TO REFORM BUDGET PROCESS TO AVOID FUTURE BUDGET DEBACLES

Economic impact of shutdown is felt throughout the Monmouth County region

            Noting that the effects of the recent government shutdown hurt Monmouth County families and the region’s economy, Assemblyman Sean Kean introduced a constitutional amendment designed to prevent a repeat of the budget crisis.

            “Whether it be building and trades workers who have had their construction projects shut down or the employees of Monmouth Park, this budget crisis hit home” said Kean, R-Monmouth. “This was not a political game behind the scenes in the State House, it was a crisis that hurt Monmouth County families. We need to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

            Kean introduced a constitutional amendment on July 7 that would implement four changes to the budget process designed to decrease the likelihood of a government shutdown in the future. These changes include:

·        A requirement that the Governor’s budget proposal be accompanied by an actual budget bill, and be introduced as legislation in each house by its presiding officer (similar to Maryland’s and California’s constitutional requirements).

·        Changing the deadline for enacting a balanced state budget to 30 days prior to the end of the fiscal year. This would allow for state government to continue operating past the deadline.

·        Providing that, if the budget is not enacted by that deadline, then passage of the budget and any other legislation will require a two-thirds vote of each house until the budget is enacted. Doing so would provide an additional disincentive for the legislative leadership in the majority party to allow the Legislature to miss the budget deadline.

·        Specifying that, in gubernatorial election years, the Governor-elect will be entitled to receive any information deemed necessary to prepare the budget as is currently the case in California. This would assure maximum access by an incoming governor to information necessary to prepare a budget proposal in a timely manner.

            Kean said he hopes that his constitutional amendment proposal will be considered by the Legislature this summer so that it can be approved before the August 7 deadline for getting an amendment on the ballot for voter approval this November.

            “This budget crisis never should have gone so far this year, and it should never get to this point again in the future,” Kean said. “If the legislative leadership and the Governor don’t look at this year’s flawed process and act to reform the system right now, they are simply begging for another disaster in the future.”