Senator Buono Issues RTTT Subpoenas

by: Bill Orr

Fri Oct 01, 2010 at 10:00:00 AM EDT

Senate Majority Leader and the committee chair Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) called the action "extraordinary but necessary," because of the administrative roadblocks that have allowed officials to keep vital documents out of lawmakers' hands, despite an extensive request for information under the state's Open Public Records Act. Sen. Buono added, "As people hide behind OPRA, the more it raises the question of what they are hiding. Residents deserve answers, plain and simple."

There had been an earlier agreement brokered between Governor Christie and Sen. President Sweeney that permitted release of partial OPRA material. However, to her credit, Sen. Buono has been persistent. Now with two key participants in the grant process under subpoena, more useful information should become available.

The Senate Legislative Oversight Committee will convene its RTTT hearing on Thursday, October 7. The committee's subpoenas will seek testimony from the two individuals and demand they release all correspondence and documents related to the application. According to PolitickerNJ Sen. Buono told the Senate, "If the testimony taken and the documents produced at this hearing open an area of inquiry that suggests that we need broader subpoena power I'll be back."