Cuomo and Christie Teaming-up To Block Transparency

[Smarmie Doofus]

Nat'l DEMs take note. This is the much-vaunted "bipartisanship" in action. That is to say: this is how it actually WORKS.

Really: does it sound like ANYTHING people interested in responsible and honest government would WANT?

From Sat.'s NYT.

This would appear to the HEART of the matter:

"The authority has nearly 7,000 employees, and a budget of $7.8 billion for 2015.

But it has long faced questions over patronage and political interference. It is now the subject of federal and state investigations following revelations that Christie allies at the authority had worked with members of his administration to orchestrate the lane closings, apparently to punish a mayor who had declined to endorse the governor’s re-election, and then explain them as a traffic study."

Here it is from the top:



>>>>The Republican leader in the New Jersey State Senate is proposing legislation to increase oversight and transparency at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in an effort to break the deadlock that has existed since December, when the governors of the two states vetoed an overhaul bill unanimously passed by both legislatures.

The legislation, to be introduced by the leader, Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr., next week, combines elements from the bill passed by the legislatures with proposals made by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat, and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican, in their vetoes over Christmas weekend.

The vetoes drew loud complaints from Democrats in both states, who had pushed for changes to the 93-year-old authority following the scandal set off by the politically motivated lane closings at the George Washington Bridge in September 2013.

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But they were facing dim prospects to override the veto, particularly in New Jersey, where they needed Republican support and Mr. Christie’s fellow Republicans have never been willing to override him.

“I think this is the only proposal that has the chance to pass both legislatures and to get signed by both governors,” Mr. Kean said. “This is a common ground, hybrid approach that ensures transparency for the commuter and taxpayer alike.”

The Port Authority, whose commissioners and staff members are appointed by the two governors, oversees an enormous transportation network that includes the region’s major airports and bridges and tunnels between the two states, as well as significant real estate, including the new 1 World Trade Center. The authority has nearly 7,000 employees, and a budget of $7.8 billion for 2015.

But it has long faced questions over patronage and political interference. It is now the subject of federal and state investigations following revelations that Christie allies at the authority had worked with members of his administration to orchestrate the lane closings, apparently to punish a mayor who had declined to endorse the governor’s re-election, and then explain them as a traffic study.

Any changes to the structure or operations of the authority must be approved by both legislatures.

The bill the governors vetoed would have imposed sweeping new financial, ethical and administrative rules on the bistate agency. Those changes included opening all of its meetings to the public, requiring its 12 commissioners to acknowledge that they have a “fiduciary duty” to the Port Authority and requiring agency executives to testify before the legislatures.

Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Christie vetoed that legislation on Dec. 27, and instead recommended accepting the findings of a special panel they had formed in the spring. Those proposals included eliminating>>>>>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/nyregion/new-bill-calls-for-more-port-authority-oversight-in-effort-to-break-deadlock.html?_r=0