Christie Diverts Environmental Clean-up Funds...

[Laxman]

to fill his budget gaps. Corruption can take many forms. It isn't always shady business deals and pay-offs. Violating the Public Trust and shirking responsibility to future generations for a politician's private ambitions is just as corrupt an activity and is far more damaging. Chris Christie seems to have it all covered. The headline below looks promising. The reality is something different. The last few miles of the tidal Passaic River are a badly degraded urban waterway fouled by generations of industrial activity, including the production of Agent Orange. When the companies responsible were held financially responsible resources to remedy the conditions were finally available. Instead Christie has diverted the money to fill the holes in his budget created by his fiscal mismanagement. So clean-up be damned, he's got a budget to balance so he can look good to Republican primary voters. Who needs a clean environment? So he shakes down corporations for $355 million for environmental clean up costs but uses 75% of the money to cover his fiscal mistakes. Misfeasance or malfeasance? Does it make a difference?

$190M settlement in pollution suit would end decade-long legal fight over Passaic River

With the Occidental settlement, New Jersey has recovered $355.4 million in the Passaic River litigation. But only $67.4 million has been dedicated to natural resource restoration projects in New Jersey, state officials said Monday. The majority of the settlement funds have been diverted by Christie to balance the state budget, a move that has drawn criticism from several environmental groups.

Last year Christie took $147.5 million of the $165 million settlement for the budget’s general fund. At the time, administration officials said moving the money to the general fund amounted to paying the state back for $120 million it had already spent on Passaic River restoration over the past few decades.

About $50 million from the Occidental settlement is slated for natural resource restoration projects around Newark Bay, state officials said. That’s because the current state budget calls for the first $50 million in this type of settlement to be used for cleanups and legal fees. The rest can be used for any purpose.

Read more here: http://www.northjersey.com/news/190m-settlement-in-pollution-suit-would-end-decade-long-legal-fight-over-passaic-river-1.1088416

[malaise]

1. I was looking for this early this morning

after watching the repeat of Rachel's program.

Thanks

[Laxman]

2. The Damages Of Corruption ....

take many forms. The abdication of responsible governing, and by that I mean understanding what the "public good" is and serving that interest, is the most damaging form of corruption. Personal petty corruption is damaging, but nowhere near what hijacking the governing process to serve personal ambition can cause. I didn't realize Rachel covered this. That's good because this fits the definition of bad government to a tee but isn't always the kind of stuff that garners a great deal of attention. These are the kinds of actions that not only cause immediate damage but can be difficult or impossible to overcome in the long-term.

[malaise]

3. These fat cats are self serving greedy

opportunists. They have no understanding of the public good.

[Beach Rat]

4. Misfeasance or malfeasace? Now there's a choice!

Charlatan, fraud, no good rat bastard. Are the people who live near the Passaic River Buono voters? Misappropriate Sandy money. Misuse clean-up funds. At least the guy's consistent.

[MaeScott]

5. Kicked and rec'ed nt

[gordianot]

6. Obviously he needs to share a cell with Governor ultrasound.

Even when convicted it takes time to throw them in jail. Justice is way too slow.

[Laxman]

7. It's Hard To Sort Out....

what's "bad government" from the criminally corrupt with our good Governor. Actually it's all bad government. It will take 20 years to dig out of the mess that this guy has created in his quest for even more power. He's not smart, he's not adept at governing, his motives are bad and he's not a nice person. You've really got to try to be such a total package of failure in every measure of competence. How this guy still has any support in this state is beyond me.

[gordianot]

8. What amazes me is how Federal money can be dumped on States with very little accountability.

I suspect the reluctance to prosecute is hindered by a non partisan agency DOJ not wanting to appear partisan. Whatever else the consequences the DOJ has managed to blunt Partisan critics who have already been blunted by political intimidation. So one of their own prosecutors a member of the club is a crook and gets a free ride.

[Laxman]

9. It's The Way Congress Set Up...

the disaster relief laws. The money flows through the states with little oversight. (Think Republican Congress and most Hurricanes impacting "state's rights" territory) The requirement for the states to prepare a spending plan was only recently added. It creates a huge slush fund to be dispersed at the discretion of the individual states whenever a disaster occurs. Christie saw it as a chance to wield political power and influence (see what happened in Hoboken). It's a whole other discussion about how Christie has squandered billions in disaster relief. I hope he's not going to skate because he's a former U.S. Attorney. The list of his transgressions is as disgusting as it is long.

[gordianot]

10. I like Timothy Leary's' liquid theory of money.

Money is a liquid coming out of a waterspout. The trick is to get is many cups under the spout so you can catch the flow. Apparently that is Christie's only real talent.