Lawmaker urges Sherrill to back repeal of last-minute spending approved before she took office
TRENTON, N.J. — Assemblyman Michael Inganamort on Wednesday called on Gov. Mikie Sherrill to support legislation repealing a package of spending measures approved in the final hours before she took office, citing the governor’s own criticism of the actions as fiscally irresponsible.
In a recent interview with NJ Advance Media, Sherrill described the January spending as a “feeding frenzy” that conflicted with her campaign focus on affordability.
“There was just a feeding frenzy in Trenton, days before I took office,” Sherrill said, referring to roughly $175 million in spending and billions of dollars in corporate tax breaks. “[That’s] not a thoughtful way to run this.”
Sherrill said she campaigned on lowering costs and indicated the late budget changes were something she intended to change.
Inganamort, a Republican and incoming member of the Assembly Budget Committee, said the governor should follow through by publicly backing legislation to repeal the spending when lawmakers return to session later this month.
“If the governor believes this was a reckless way to do business, then repealing it should be an easy decision,” Inganamort said. “The next voting session will show whether that concern translates into action.”
The spending package included $300 million in tax incentives for the Prudential Center and $128.25 million in spending approved outside the regular budget process, including $26 million for World Cup promotion.
Inganamort questioned the need for the funding approved during the January session.
“Does anyone not know about the World Cup?” he said. “Don’t spend the money.”
During confirmation testimony Monday, Sherrill’s nominee for state treasurer, Aaron Binder, warned that the state faces a structural deficit “in the billions.”
“That warning makes these last-minute expenditures even harder to justify,” Inganamort said. “If affordability and fiscal discipline are real priorities, this is an obvious place to start.”
