In 1968, the State Commission of Investigation was created as an independent fact-finding agency whose mission is to expose organized crime, public corruption and waste and to recommend reforms in the service of the citizens of New Jersey. It's actually the state's oldest, most independent and most successful government watchdog agency. But despite the success of the SCI rooting out fraud and corruption, Governor Christie is proposing to slash the commission's budget from $4.5 million to $1 million and reduce its staff from 53 to 10. Instead of being an independent arm inside the Legislative branch, the SCI would fold into the Executive branch under the Office of Comptroller, who serves at the Governor's pleasure. They are calling it consolidation, but it's really an elimination. The Philadelphia Inquirer took a shot at their own industry in defending the SCI and opposing Christie's plan:"The state can't afford to end the SCI's long history of exposing corruption and misrule. Some of the SCI's recent reports examined street gangs in state prisons, wasteful purchasing of fire trucks and voting machines, and abusive municipal employee leave and benefits. These investigations often have the potential to pay for themselves; the latter report identified millions of dollars of waste in Camden alone. And the dramatic shrinkage of the state's press corps in recent years makes the Commission's work even more valuable." For over 40 years, the SCI has saved this state millions of dollars and the Governor is going to end it over $3.5 million? That's pocket change in the grand scheme of things and no one says the SCI doesn't work, in fact it's just the opposite. So maybe it's not the price tag that's the problem, but the independence. By moving it into the executive, the Governor's office could be kept informed and provide direction for investigations. The SCI was created to avoid just that situation:The framers of the SCI's enabling statute in 1968 felt it was vital for this expert independent agency to function at arm's length from the routine partisan and bureaucratic fray of state government.
To eliminate even the appearance of political influence in the SCI's operations, no more than two of the Commission's four members may be of the same political party. They derive from three separate appointing authorities (the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker), and serve staggered four-year terms. Further, members and staff of the SCI are prohibited from participating in non-federal political activity in New Jersey.
The significant fact that the SCI is funded through the Legislature and is not tethered to the Executive branch is central to the construct that provides the SCI with the integrity and the independent stature necessary to perform its job in a credible fashion. In addition, the Commission also makes recommendations for systemic regulatory reforms. Here in New Jersey we spend $80 billion on state, county and local government. The state budget is $28 billion. And the money for an independent commission with proven results to oversee all this government? A measly $4.5 million not even .01% of the state budget. And though it's FUNDED by the state budget, it OVERSEES all parts of the government.
In 40 yrs., the SCI has completed 100+ investigations that found waste of tax dollars, exposed corruption, organized crime & gangs.
Stories condemning Christie's cynical power grab have run in the Asbury Park Press, Bergen Record, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the AC Press and the Courier Post. Legislative Democrats have voiced their opposition to the plan, but their Republican colleagues have remained silent and you have to ask yourself why? Aren't both sides of the aisle located under the Dome?
This is a bad proposal by the Governor and both parties in the Legislature need to stop it from moving past the planning stages. |
