Christie Vetoes a Picture of Executive Over-reach

The Star Ledger ran a story today about Governor Christie’s unprecedented rate of vetoing legislation (see: No rubber stamp Governor: N.J.’s Christie often invokes his veto power

I think they got the story all wrong.

Perhaps worse, the story failed to discuss the implications, which are especially dire for environmental and public health protections, which are being sacrificed at the alter of economic interests, with little or no public debate (with one exception).

The story headline (“no rubber stamp“) and the rhetoric (“toughest and most selective governor in recent history“) form a narrative that is complimentary and supports the Governor.

Instead, that narrative should be about anti-democratic executive over-reach and unchecked abuse of executive power.

In addition to Christie’s record number of vetoes and demagogic attack rhetoric, he has issued numerous Executive Orders, many of which trample on legislative powers.

Christie also has usurped legislative policymaking via appointments that reflect his controversial policy views, e.g. Highlands Council, State Planning Commission, and Pinelands Commission appointments.[The Gov. also has a negative check on those bodies via the power to veto the minutes and block action.]

The primary focus of Chrisite’s over-reach are with respect to setting policy and consolidating executive power over major policy controversies, including:

• environmental regulation and policy (EO #1 – 4),
• State Planning (EO 78),
• privatization, (EO 17)
• the controversy over DRBC oversight of “fracking“,
• Regional greenhouse gas emissions (RGGI)
• Consolidation of control over regulatory policy in the Lt. Gov.
• Control over Highlands Council
• De facto moratorium on drinking water standards (Institute has not met for 18 months)
• Executive (DEP) waiver of environmental laws
• public access to coastal waters and river fronts
• elimination of various “in but not of” entities (EO 15)

The public policy established by the Legislature is under attack by Christie’s Executive action.

Christie’s Executive Order’s and DEP’s regulatory initiatives often include policies, criteria, and standards that are either not found in the enabling legislation, or flat out contradict the Legislatively set policy.

Yet, aside from the Joint Resolution (SCR239) to block DEP’s waiver rule, oversight hearings on DEP’s proposed privatization of land use permit reviews, and the reversal of DEP’s proposed elimination of the D&R Canal Commission, there has been virtually no legislative oversight or pushback.

Christie has even challenged federal EPA oversight and anticipated “confrontations”(watch YouTube), e.g. WQMP (sewer) rules, TMDL for Barnegat Bay, et al.

This vast over-reach needs to be resisted by the public and the legislature in 2012 – and backed up by the Obama EPA.

[Update: Christie environmental vetoes are discussed in these posts:

Governor Christie’s Veto of the Barnegat Bay TMDL Bill – What It Really Means

Another Friday Night Massacre: Christie Vetoes RGGI and Stormwater Bills

Judith Enck, EPA Region 2 Administrator plants the EPA flag in NJ