Budget panel members deride plan to abolish Agriculture Dept.
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Gov. Jon Corzine, in terms of the killing of the Ministry of Agriculture and dispel their responsibilities to other government agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection has jeers yesterday by many members of the Assembly Budget Committee. “The DEP and the Department of Agriculture are almost as closely used as a President of the Bank, and a bank robber,” said Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Burlington), the Republican Up on the budget panel . Corzine’s $ 33 billion budget by $ 2.5 million savings through eliminating the departments of Agriculture and Human Resources and the State Commerce Commission. It hopes to save $ 500000 agriculture by the division of labour on the DEP and other departments, including the elderly Health and Human Services Service and State, the management of promotions Jersey Fresh program. The plan has outraged farmers, tractors in Trenton on Tuesday for a major protest outside the State House. Spectacle Treasurer said David Rousseau cheap, committee members, the savings would be primarily through the elimination of secretary of the section of Agriculture and administrative support duties top. The human resources department remain on site, he said. “They are, in fact, to rest in the same building, and they are,” he said. “You are no doubt still the same phone number.” Rousseau also explained that the proposed amalgamation would jeopardize $ 6.3 million in federal grants seem unfounded. Key Democrats in the committee, including Chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), defended the consolidation plan. “Is there a culture that is not planted? Is there an area not planted?” Cryan asked. “Is there a single Jersey tomatoes, which are not to land?” Rousseau replied: “No, I do not believe that.” But a Democrat, Assemblyman John Burzichelli Gloucester County, fiercely opposed to the project, saying farmers are hurt by the elimination of the Division of Agriculture. “I think the important work of this department is dispersed a disservice,” he said. “We need a secretary of agriculture. We need a Ministry of Agriculture. ” Rousseau said the high-level, 20 positions would be eliminated when the Department of Agriculture was cut off. He said the DEP, the resumption of the State Agricultural Development Committee, agricultural production department of the preservation and conservation efforts, as well as the department of chemistry and recycling officials. The Department of Health and Senior Services to take on agriculture and food security, as well as programs Womens Infant and Children (WIC), Food and leaders. From milk prices for organic certification, and other product names relocate standards for the purposes of Section Consumer Protection in the Department of Public Safety and law. |