Assemblyman Wisniewski to address Democratic Alliance
Assemblyman WisniewskiState Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski of Middlesex County will attend a Hillsborough Democratic Alliance meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, to discuss efforts to reform the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The focus will be on organizational reforms being discussed in Trenton, Albany and New York City and how these proposals might affect New Jerseyans.
After the presentation, there will be a question-and-answer period, discussion and refreshments. The free event will be held in the dining room of Avalon Assisted Living, 393 Amwell Road.
Assemblyman Wisniewski is also known as one of Gov. Chris Christie’s main tormentors in the “Bridgegate” scandal following the road-clogging closure of some lanes to the George Washington Bridge in 2013. Trenton Democrats have openly suggested the move was one of political payback for Gov. Christie being shunned for endorsement for re-election by Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich.
Mr. Wisniewski has also introduced a bill in the state Legislature that would raise the gas tax by at least 25 cents a gallon to raise an additional $1.25 billion a year for the state Transportation Trust Fund. The tax helps pay for state projects and provides aid to counties and municipalities, but is running out of money for anything but to pay off debt.
In late December both Governor Cuomo of New York and Governor Christie vetoed legislation to reform the Port Authority. Mr. Wisniewski, who is the deputy speaker of the Assembly and chair of the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, is the primary sponsor of the legislation introduced last October which would reduce the number of commissioners appointed by the governor of each state.
Port Authority reform proposals were introduced in the wake of the Bridgegate investigation and the Port Authority resignations that resulted. The Transportation Committee conducted the original investigation of Port Authority and Mr. Wisniewski co-chairs the Legislative Select Committee on Investigation, which continues to look into the Port Authority’s operations.
An Alliance statement said that issues that Mr. Wisniewski might address are the need to reign in an agency that lacks transparency and accountability, the agency’s ability to raise tolls arbitrarily, its political patronage and its ability to meet the infrastructure needs of the region’s bridges, ports and airports.
If interested in attending, the Alliance asks RSVP by phone at 908-359-5188, by email at [email protected] or on the group’s Facebook page.