David Rosen, Office of Legislative Services (OLS) Chief Budget Officer, says he laughed when he heard Gov. Christie yesterday had called him the “Dr. Kevorkian of the numbers” after Rosen’s testimony on state revenue figures.
The State House was still buzzing today over Christie’s unexpected tirade against Rosen. And Democrats were quick to spring to Rosen’s defense.
“I firmly believe that there is no member of this legislature, including any member of this committee, that agrees with the comments and personal attack and criticisms of you by the governor,” Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D) told Rosen.
With state revenues declining, there is a dispute about how bleak the picture is.
“… may disagree with you on the numbers, but there is no reason to have a personal attack on your credibility, your professionalism,” Sarlo added.
Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee walked a tightrope on the governor’s remarks.
“The governor has his own way of expressing himself,” said Sen. Anthony Bucco (R). “I think there is a difference of opinion as to revenues and whatnot and I respect Dr. Rosen and I also respect the governor and his thoughts on what’s happening.”
Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R) said it should come as no surprise when this governor speaks his mind, saying that it was part of his appeal. “That’s why the folks of New Jersey voted for him,” said O’Toole. “He hasn’t been shy throughout his tenure here. I suspect for the next six years, he won’t be shy in any respect.”
Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg are not so quick to dismiss this latest attack. “The chief executive of the state of New Jersey has really got to stop attacking people on a personal level,” said Weinberg.
The flap over David Rosen obscures the fact that the Christie administration intends to close the budget gap by borrowing more for the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) and other one-shot revenue maneuvers.
State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff tangled with Sarlo over whether that solution constitutes borrowing for operating expenses, which requires voter approval.
Sidamon-Eristoff made an apples and oranges argument regarding the TTF and the state budget, saying “On the one hand, you have the TTF which is a component part of the transportation capital program. On the other hand, you have the operating budget of the state of New Jersey — $31 billion plus.”
But Weinberg shot back, saying “I think what we did is we’re borrowing from the apples and we’re calling them oranges.”
Reporting from the State House, Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron has the full story.
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