Senator Speaks Out Against Wasting Taxpayer Money on Creating a Redundant Agency

Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) today voted against spending $3 million dollars on legislation that would create a redundant agency that New Jersey taxpayers don’t need.

S-3585, which was up for a vote during today’s State Senate Voting Session, would establish the “Office of Homelessness Prevention,” with the purpose of managing coordination between multiple government agencies and nonprofits – that already should work with each other on a regular basis.

The legislation includes a $3 million appropriation specifically for the new agency created under S-3585.

“Forcing taxpayers to fork over $3 million to create a new bureaucracy to oversee the overseers is lunacy,” Senator Pennacchio said. “Everyone agrees that homelessness is a problem in New Jersey, but we already have agencies that are working to address this crisis. If they aren’t doing their jobs, then we need to figure out why and work to increase oversight and accountability within our existing support structures.”

“This is just another sign that Governor Murphy and his Democratic co-conspirators have no idea how to handle money. More government is never the answer,” Pennacchio added. “The numerous State agencies aimed at combating homeless already should be working with each other. While I laud the sponsor’s intent to help the homeless, the execution and the price tag outweighs the potential benefit. We would be better off taking that $3 million and writing checks to the homeless directly.”