FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact:  John Amodeo or Vince Polistina at 609-677-8266

 

May 23, 2008 

LEGISLATORS CALL ON CORZINE TO RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR PATRONAGE JOB LISTING

 

NORTHFIELD – In response to Governor Jon Corzine’s failure to provide a detailed list of the status of state government patronage positions, Assemblymen Vince Polistina and John Amodeo today again called on Corzine to hand over the listing.

"Patronage jobs place an enormous drain on our state budget each year," explained Polistina.  "The state is using hard-earned taxpayer money to pay the salaries and pensions of thousands of political appointees which I find unconscionable, especially at this time when the state is facing such dire fiscal difficulties."

"We need to look at ways to make government run efficiently and save money,"  said Amodeo.  "This information from governor's office will help the Legislature in crafting a taxpayer friendly budget."

In a letter to Governor Corzine, dated April 28, 2008, Polistina noted that in his February budget address, the governor said he would eliminate half of the patronage jobs in state government with a promise not to backfill any of the positions. As a result, Polistina said he requested a list of the patronage jobs Corzine was proposing for elimination along with the remaining positions he intends to keep.

To date, there has been no reply.

"Governor Corzine and his staff have had ample time to provide a listing," stated Polistina.  "Not only is it a simple request, but it is important information as the Legislature is currently engaged in developing a budget.  The governor challenged us to provide him with alternatives to his budget proposal, but how can we do that if he doesn’t provide us with the information we need in a timely manner?"