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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg to give the Governor the authority to approve or veto the minutes of certain regional agencies or commissions to curb out-of-control waste and abuse of taxpayer resources was approved by the Senate State Government Committee today by a vote of 5-0.

“For far too long, the agencies in question have been able to operate with lax oversight and minimal spending controls, and it’s past time that the party on the taxpayer’s dime comes to an end,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who has been pushing for reform of the agencies since 2007. “Under this bill, the Governor would be able to go after rampant patronage, waste and abuse of the taxpayers’ trust under the guise of regional utilities commissions. By giving the Governor veto power over agencies’ minutes, we’re ultimately giving the taxpaying public a voice in how their money is being spent.”