TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A state development agency borrowed more than $300 million for Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed renovation of the statehouse right after approving the project and before two lawsuits were filed to stop it, sparking outrage from the lawmakers behind the legal actions.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers, which includes two Democratic candidates for governor, said the Christie administration sold bonds quickly to evade public scrutiny and transparency. Christie, speaking at an unrelated event on Wednesday, said the deal was legal and the lawmakers’ lawsuits were politically motivated.
“There’s nothing more than a press release with a legal caption,” Christie said.
State Sen. Ray Lesniak and Assemblyman John Wisniewski are Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for governor and have sued, along with Republican state Sens. Kip Bateman and Michael Doherty.
“Aside from the contempt toward voters, the process was so quick that it raises significant red flags and leaves multiple questions about how the process played out,” Wisniewski said.
Lesniak said Christie had “no shame.”
The Economic Development Authority sold the bonds on May 11 after earlier that day approving the sale in a board vote. Wisniewski brought his lawsuit the next day. The legislators said the bond sale came to light only on Wednesday during a scheduling call with a judge over the lawsuits.
Judge Mary Jacobson combined Wisniewski’s complaint with Bateman, Doherty and Lesniak’s on Wednesday. The lawmakers argue that the deal is improperly going forward without legislative and voter approval.
The judge is set to hear arguments on June 14.
Christie announced the project to renovate the executive statehouse, parts of which date to the 18th century, last year. Parts of the building lack heating and ventilation, skylights are held together with duct tape, windows are in danger of falling out, Christie said, and the exterior paint is flaking away. He described the building a “fire trap.”
Lawmakers and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who also is running for governor, have questioned whether the state can afford the project. Guadagno, who has not sued, has said she would scrap the project if elected to succeed Christie, who’s term-limited.
Doherty and Bateman have raised concerns about the interest payments on the $300 million in new debt, which the state treasurer has estimated could add about $25 million a year to the price tag. Documents released by the development authority state the final maturity of the bonds cannot go beyond 30 years.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.