Bipartisan support for sound public policy? Have legislators lost their mind? Watch video
The Auditor has always fretted about how it would know if it lost its grip on reality.
This week, The Auditor discovered it could rest easy, because as long as Gov. Chris Christie is in the Trenton statehouse, there will always be someone willing to let you know if you are out of your gourd.
After state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) called for an independent prosecutor to handle a Bergen county criminal complaint of official misconduct by Christie in the Bridgegate matter, the governor on Tuesday offered up a mental health diagnosis of the lawmaker.
"Crazy," in case you were wondering.
But the governor was quick to defend the sanity of a Republican lawmaker who'd signed on to Lesniak's "lunatic" bill requiring the attorney general to name an independent prosecutor. State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) was no lunatic; she was "running for re-election in a tough district" the governor explained, and "she wants to do everything she can to distinguish herself from her party."
The Auditor felt it it was only fair to ask Beck if she concurred with Christie's assessment of Lesniak, and if she agreed that she was merely pandering to Democrats.
Surprise! She did not.
"I think he is mentally competent," said Beck, in an interview conducted by telephone, rather than the The Auditor's comfortably padded room.
"I just think the public has a lack of confidence in its elected officials and judicial systems, as evidenced by the Hillary Clinton emails and police shooting and even the gas tax issue," explained Beck.
"To the public, this (a special prosecutor) is a way to ensure that it's independent in nature and trusted. It's good to have independent folks deliberating over these matters. It's tough, becuase the A.G. is an appointee by our governor will always be viewed as an ally. It makes sense that the prosecutor be independent. It's really not that far out there."
Nor is Lesniak, said Beck, despite the governor's claim on NJ 101.5 FM that if you "talk to anyone in the Legislature privately...they will tell you that he is not 'with it,' not of right mind."
Beck disagreed.
"I think he's a very independent minded individual, who has strong opinions, but I do not think he is crazy."
She also says she's puzzled by the governor's outburst.
"I am not sure why he reacted the way he did," said Beck. "He's asserted his independence on a number of occasions, and you would assume he would want the most unbiased, independent assessment on the matter."
Beck said she couldn't say whether their co-sponsored bill will pass or even if it would survive a veto, but she believes its chances are good when its considered by the full Senate after Thanksgiving.
"I don't see a lot of partisanship here," she said.
This last statement was worrisome to The Auditor.
A lack of partisanship?
In Trenton?
Now, that's just crazy talk.