O'Scanlon: Legislature looks to cut budget by $1B Fort closing probe, DEP changes topics of luncheon address BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer WEST LONG BRANCH - District 12 Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon was the keynote speaker at the county's Fifth Wednesday Squire's Luncheon April 30. O'Scanlon was a last-minute replacement for scheduled speaker state Sen. Jennifer Beck (D-12), who was called out of town at the last minute and was unable to make it to the event. O'Scanlon spoke about his efforts in Trenton, as well as the efforts of the other representatives of the 12th Legislative District, to reform state government and control spending. O'Scanlon represents the 12th Legislative District along with Beck and fellow District 12 Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande. "The majority of folks seem to be ready to make real changes to state government where in the past that was just not so. The debate now is how much less do we spend. That is a huge change. I hope to take advantage of that sentiment," said O' Scanlon, addressing the audience at the luncheon. Fifth Wednesday Squire's Luncheon is so named because it is held every fifth Wednesday and is Monmouth County's premiere gathering of business, government and civic leaders, according to a Monmouth County press release. Hosted by the Monmouth County Department of Economic Development and Tourism, it is the only venue where attendees can meet and conduct business in a casual atmosphere, said Bea Duffy, director of the county's Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Those in attendance at the April 30 event, which took place at Branches in West Long Branch, included Monmouth County Clerk Claire French, former Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph Oxley as well as members of the Monmouth County government and business community. In his speech, O'Scanlon addressed the controversial state budget, the impending closure of Fort Monmouth in Oceanport, the presidential campaign and the "faulty" real estate market. "In order for municipal government to function properly and not continue to lead to an increase in property taxes, which are already the highest in the nation, we need to give more power to local municipal officials," said the freshman assemblyman. O'Scanlon said he and his fellow District 12 legislators have a "mile long" list of budget cuts and about $1 billion needs to be cut out of the budget this year. "I am optimistic there as much as I'm disappointed," said O' Scanlon when addressing the closure of Fort Monmouth. "We do need to hold the people who manipulated the date and artificially justified the closing of Fort Monmouth accountable. It's my feeling … that there was criminal manipulation in that data." Six Assembly members, including O'Scanlon, are asking for further investigation into the decision-making process regarding the closure of Fort Monmouth and have called on Gov. Jon S. Corzine and U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie to intervene. Letters were sent to Corzine and Christie on April 24 by Assembly members Mary Pat Angelini and David Rible from District 11; Casagrande and O'Scanlon from District 12 and Amy Handlin and Sam Thompson from District 13. O'Scanlon also addressed Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) mandates, the paid family leave bill and the "cumbersome" N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). "The market itself is helping to do much more for those folks than any artificial act of government ever could," said O'Scanlon referring to COAH mandates and the housing market in New Jersey. O' Scanlon also said the paid family leave bill is the last thing needed in the already depressed business climate in New Jersey. When addressing the DEP, O'Scanlon said they are researching the Michigan DEP, which was ranked near the bottom of government agencies and now sits near the top. "[The DEP] is one of the most cumbersome agencies not just in New Jersey but in the nation. Overall, it is ranked near the bottom of government agencies in the country to deal with. We are actively in our legislative offices trying to make some changes there," he said. The changes would include streamlining the process of acquiring permits and there would be a set list of what is needed or required to finish a project, he said O'Scanlon, who said he has learned a few new things in his first 100 days in the Assembly, remains optimistic about the financial situation in the county. "It isn't all gloom and doom especially here in Monmouth County. We have opportunity to turn some of these things to our benefit," said O'Scanlon. He ended his speech by calling for more power to be given back to the individual as well as civil service reform and the elimination of full time benefits for part-time employees.