Christie Vetoes Sandy Relief Oversight Bill (April 26, 2013)

[kpete]

Christie Vetoes Sandy Relief Oversight Bill

New York (April 26, 2013, 1:24 PM ET) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday vetoed legislation establishing oversight and transparency measures to ensure that federal Superstorm Sandy relief money is properly allocated, saying the bill was redundant, wasteful and duplicates existing safeguards already in place.

Christie vetoed Assembly Bill 61 — which sought to establish a recovery funding transparency website and require comprehensive quarterly reports on how the funds were spent — saying recovery funds and projects were already prioritized expeditiously and transparently through the Office of Recovery of Rebuilding, which was established...


hmmmmmmmmm?
http://www.law360.com/articles/436304

[hrmjustin]

1. Yes he did!

[jsr]

2. Cockroaches hate daylight.

[Raine1967]

3. Thank you for finding this.

I recalled he vetoed this and remember at the time that it gave his office full control over those funds.

I think we now know why.

[jsr]

6. Premeditation to crime.

[dorkzilla]

4. Very interesting! nt

[SummerSnow]

5. very interesting....

Not surprised he would do that since he made sure they weren't properly allocated...oh when it rains it pours.


You should send this to Steve Kornacki and Rachel Maddow

[ProSense]

7. You know what else he vetoed?

Port Authority transparency bill to be re-introduced after GWB scandal

FORT LEE — A state assemblywoman plans to reintroduce a Port Authority oversight bill following September's George Washington Bridge lane closures, after Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill when it went to his desk last year following a controversial 2011 toll hike.

- more -

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/port_authority_transparency_bill_gwb.html

Christie Administration Attorney Accused Of Having Conflict of Interest

The potential conflict of interest centers around the fact the firm represents the Port Authority, which oversees the bridge, in a lawsuit brought by the American Automobile Association over toll hikes instituted by the agency in 2011. Last September's lane closures, which some Democrats have alleged were ordered by Christie's allies in an effort to retaliate against a local mayor, have been discussed in the AAA lawsuit. The closures led to days of gridlock in Fort Lee, N.J.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/christie-attorney-conflict-of-interest

Christie's GWB counsel fights to shield toll files
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014701223

[dorkzilla]

8. So basically Christie doesn't want anyone to know anything

This guy stinks to high heaven.

[rocktivity]

17. Christie doesn't want anyone to know anything

While at the same time, he knows nothing...


rocktivity

[ProSense]

18. LOL!

[Baitball Blogger]

9. hee-hee.

No premeditation here.

[herding cats]

10. I didn't know about this!

From a different source, but still on topic.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said the bill would have written oversight into state law, rather than taking the Republican governor’s word for it.

“Residents devastated by this storm deserve the peace of mind that the billions in federal funds slated for the recovery will be administered efficiently and appropriately,” Oliver said. “This bill would have done that. Now all they have is a stated goal from the governor that can be broken or rescinded without the power of law. With his veto, the governor has weakened oversight and transparency of Hurricane Sandy relief funding.”

The Christie administration has already come under fire for awarding a no-bid debris-removal contract to a politically connected Florida firm, AshBritt, by “piggybacking” off an old Connecticut contract. The administration maintained the approach was the quickest way to clean up storm debris, and the work has since been competitively bid.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/christie_vetoes_sandy_oversigh_1.html

[Kingofalldems]

11. Smoking Gun #15 by my count.

[defacto7]

12. For Christie there are only 2 possibilities,

Either he is very stupid or a megalomaniac. I doubt you could call him stupid as in unintelligent, but his visions of grandeur made him feel invulnerable, untouchable. Eventually. that always brings them down.

[Laxman]

16. No, Something Completely Different...

he was given complete control of a $1.4 billion pot of money in an election year. He was, and is, consumed by hubris and power, but this was an opportunity to manipulate the distribution of a huge pot of money in a manner that burnished his image and promoted his political career.

[defacto7]

20. and you don't call that

visions of grandeur? If he were not blinded by his own power over money, image, and political career he would not likely have made the errors involved in his manipulation and distribution having an understanding of his own vulnerability. When a politician or dictator makes such blatant mistakes in judgment to the point of excessive hubris, it's usually because they feel they are invulnerable. In that lies the illness or character flaw. Or they are just too stupid to know better, but I don't think he falls into that category.

[Cha]

13. Oh why? 'Cause he better things to do with the

money than be Oversighted by those who wanted to make sure he didn't extort the funds for favors?

Crisp Crispie is the epitome of Wasteful Spending.

[kelliekat44]

14. It's a good thing Obama is not running for President again. Christie would tarnish his image. nt

[rocktivity]

15. Yum!

From NJ.com:

The bill (A61) would have required the treasurer to set up a website to track contracts by county and municipality, issue quarterly reports on recovery dollars and put out “expedited priority reports” explaining any problems the administration encounters...

"While I thank the sponsors for their efforts, and for sharing in my commitment to the transparent and efficient administration of Sandy recovery funding, this bill would produce unnecessary redundancies and waste government resources,” Christie said in the two-page veto message.

...Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said the bill would have written oversight into state law, rather than taking the Republican governor’s word for it..."Now all they have is a stated goal from the governor that can be broken or rescinded without the power of law. With his veto, the governor has weakened oversight and transparency of Hurricane Sandy relief funding.”

The Christie administration has already come under fire for awarding a no-bid debris-removal contract to a politically connected Florida firm, AshBritt, by “piggybacking” off an old Connecticut contract. The administration maintained the approach was the quickest way to clean up storm debris, and the work has since been competitively bid...

rocktivity

[on point]

19. Sounds like audit needed and all results posted to web

[calguy]

21. No matter how all this eventually turns out

I think we can safely say that Donut Boy's presidential aspirations are over. Not that he had a great chance in the first place.

[pnwmom]

22. I wonder if that got overridden? Because they do have a "transparency" web site

and it supports Zimmer's claims that almost everything she's gotten came from FEMA.

[George II]

23. That's why he's known as "Richard Cranium" in New Jersey!

How he won re-election is a testament to his bullying.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. Curiouser and curiouser...

[DillyDally]

25. Festivus for the rest of us!!!

Karma is an eye that never closes. And here I thought Christmas was over, but the whole time Santa was shaved and working as the Gov. Ho ho hosed is he....

[RandySF]

26. Someone needs to send this to Josh Marshall and Steve Kornacki n/t

[Festivito]

27. Interesting how he BOOMS lists at the listener.

"...properly allocated(BOOM), saying the bill was redundant(BOOM), wasteful(BOOM) and duplicates existing safeguards(BOOM) already in place(BOOM)..."

You are now officially browbeaten.

[malaise]

28. Oops!

Rec