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[Last Updated 11 am, 7/26/07]
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On June 25, 2007, David W. Robinson, a private citizen and taxpayer from UnionCounty, announced that he is contemplating another lawsuit to stop unconstitutional spending in the proposed FY 2008 budget. See "Latest News and Updates" tab for additional information.
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On May 5, 2006, Governor Corzine memorialized his agreement to permanently impound the challenged grants. Citing his "serious concerns about the grant process," the Governor directed that no additional funds be disbursed and that they lapse into New Jersey's General Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
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During the week of April 3, 2006, the parties agreed to give the Governor and Treasurer until April 18th to complete the review of the grant programs, after which time the lawsuit may not need to continue. If the Governor and Treasurer decide, however, to lift the freeze and proceed with funding the grants, the lawsuit is expected to proceed on an expedited basis.
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Late on March 30th, Robinson heard that the Governor had agreed to freeze the grants program. As reported by NJ.com, "Less than eight hours after being sued by a private citizen who accused New Jersey lawmakers of illegally tapping into a multimillion dollar slush fund, the governor on Thursday froze the program's remaining money. Gov. Jon S. Corzine agreed to halt payments from the grant program after David Robinson, an attorney from Cranford, filed a lawsuit Thursday morning in Superior Court in MercerCounty. Robinson characterized the Property Tax Assistance and Community Development Block Grant program as nothing more than a fund for lawmakers' pet projects. 'I'm outraged, plain and simple,' Robinson said of the program."
On the afternoon of March 31, 2006, Mark Sheridan, Robinson's counsel, received a letter evidencing the Governor's agreement to freeze the grants program. Early in the week of April 3rd, it is expected that the litigants will agree to a briefing schedule and a hearing date.
Click here for the Letter Freezing the Grants
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On March 30, 2006, David W. Robinson, a private citizen and taxpayer from Union County, announced today that he sued Governor Corzine and Treasurer Abelow to stop the funding of more than $25 million in cash that remains unspent from approximately $128 million of grants that were selected by New Jersey's Legislature in FY2005 and FY2006 without public notice, application process or merit-based review. These grants are often referred to as "Christmas Tree" grants. At a Statehouse press conference today, Mr. Robinson and his counsel, Mark D. Sheridan, Esq. of Drinker Biddle & Reath, said this practice violates the separation of powers set forth in New Jersey's Constitution.
“It’s a shame that in New Jersey it takes a private citizen spending his own money to try to stop the unconstitutional expenditure of funds,” Mr. Robinson said. “The Governor and Treasurer had than enough time to do the right thing and impound these funds. Instead, while claiming to seek budget cuts and calling for higher taxes because the State is broke, Governor Corzine appears to have sided with the politicians who treat the State’s coffers as a piggybank for the politically connected pursuing parochial pet projects.”
Click here for the Press Release
Click here for the Complaint
Click here for the Brief and here for the Exhibits to the Brief
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