NJ Governors Troubling Actions

As a state we are in financial trouble, we all know this. Our governors actions to resolve the problem are very troubling.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_gov_chris_christies_spendin.html

Treasury:
• Dissolves the untapped $128 million fund controlled by the Board of Public Utilities encouraging companies to use alternative energy.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_environmental_groups_accuse.html

Christie declared a fiscal state of emergency today and, in an effort to close a $2.2 billion budget deficit, cut $9 million in aid for the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 million for state parks and $500,000 for the Pinelands Commission.

In addition, he took $18 million in existing funds from the Highlands Council which controls development in seven northern New Jersey counties. The money had been given to the council by Public Service Electric & Gas last June to preserve land in exchange for the council approving a project to expand 240 electric towers along the Susquehanna-Roseland power line stretching 44 miles from the Delaware River to Essex County.

Tittel also chided the governor for taking another $158 million in existing funds from the Clean Energy Fund operated by the BPU.

The program gets about $269 million a year from surcharges on ratepayers to finance energy efficiency improvements in businesses and homes, including installation of solar panels and windmills. The program is credited with building alternative energy markets, and creating jobs.

This is not money for the state to use on general programs.

Call my view on the issue simple. When you raise money for a specific issue and then take the money to close the state general budget is nothing other than indiscriminate taxing.
How is he allowed to do that legally.