SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
New Jersey Poised to Pass Legislation That Would Speed Water Privatization
'The Legislature is selling out our clean water by turning New Jersey’s water supply over to foreign, multinational corporations.' — Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club
Dec 23, 2014
A bill awaiting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's signature will make privatizing municipal water systems easier and let "corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment," critics charge.
The legislation in question is the "Water Infrastructure Protection Act," which passed the Senate 21-16 on Thursday. The measure is sponsored by Republican Senator Joe Kyrillos and Democratic Senator Paul Sarlo.
The Herald reports that sales of municipal water systems to private entities would be fast-tracked because the bill would eliminate "a mandatory public vote on such deals and reduc[e] oversight of the sale price by the state Board of Public Utilities."
Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, wrote Tuesday that the governor should veto the bill, stating: "The Legislature is selling out our clean water by turning New Jersey's water supply over to foreign, multinational corporations."
Tittel called the bill "dangerous" and "undemocratic," and added: "Studies have shown that when public services are privatized, corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment."
Also cautioning against the measure is Stefanie Brand, Director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, an independent state agency that she says "gives consumers a voice in setting energy, water and telecommunications policy that will affect the rendering of utility services well into the future."
In remarks delivered this month to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, she said: "Investor-owned utilities could run wild in an effort to submit the highest bid knowing that they bear no risk and will be subject to no regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, ratepayers will be required to pay for the full purchase price in rates, and will pay for these higher bids."
Kyrillos, in contrast, touts the bill as allowing aging infrastructure to be taken over by people with "know-how."
"The challenges of maintaining and replacing aging water infrastructure can escalate quickly beyond the technical and financial means of government entities and taxpayers. Despite this, current law makes it nearly impossible to let those with sufficient resources and know-how to take over these systems and effectively address emergent conditions," he said in a statement issued last week.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
A bill awaiting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's signature will make privatizing municipal water systems easier and let "corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment," critics charge.
The legislation in question is the "Water Infrastructure Protection Act," which passed the Senate 21-16 on Thursday. The measure is sponsored by Republican Senator Joe Kyrillos and Democratic Senator Paul Sarlo.
The Herald reports that sales of municipal water systems to private entities would be fast-tracked because the bill would eliminate "a mandatory public vote on such deals and reduc[e] oversight of the sale price by the state Board of Public Utilities."
Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, wrote Tuesday that the governor should veto the bill, stating: "The Legislature is selling out our clean water by turning New Jersey's water supply over to foreign, multinational corporations."
Tittel called the bill "dangerous" and "undemocratic," and added: "Studies have shown that when public services are privatized, corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment."
Also cautioning against the measure is Stefanie Brand, Director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, an independent state agency that she says "gives consumers a voice in setting energy, water and telecommunications policy that will affect the rendering of utility services well into the future."
In remarks delivered this month to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, she said: "Investor-owned utilities could run wild in an effort to submit the highest bid knowing that they bear no risk and will be subject to no regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, ratepayers will be required to pay for the full purchase price in rates, and will pay for these higher bids."
Kyrillos, in contrast, touts the bill as allowing aging infrastructure to be taken over by people with "know-how."
"The challenges of maintaining and replacing aging water infrastructure can escalate quickly beyond the technical and financial means of government entities and taxpayers. Despite this, current law makes it nearly impossible to let those with sufficient resources and know-how to take over these systems and effectively address emergent conditions," he said in a statement issued last week.
A bill awaiting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's signature will make privatizing municipal water systems easier and let "corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment," critics charge.
The legislation in question is the "Water Infrastructure Protection Act," which passed the Senate 21-16 on Thursday. The measure is sponsored by Republican Senator Joe Kyrillos and Democratic Senator Paul Sarlo.
The Herald reports that sales of municipal water systems to private entities would be fast-tracked because the bill would eliminate "a mandatory public vote on such deals and reduc[e] oversight of the sale price by the state Board of Public Utilities."
Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, wrote Tuesday that the governor should veto the bill, stating: "The Legislature is selling out our clean water by turning New Jersey's water supply over to foreign, multinational corporations."
Tittel called the bill "dangerous" and "undemocratic," and added: "Studies have shown that when public services are privatized, corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment."
Also cautioning against the measure is Stefanie Brand, Director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, an independent state agency that she says "gives consumers a voice in setting energy, water and telecommunications policy that will affect the rendering of utility services well into the future."
In remarks delivered this month to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, she said: "Investor-owned utilities could run wild in an effort to submit the highest bid knowing that they bear no risk and will be subject to no regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, ratepayers will be required to pay for the full purchase price in rates, and will pay for these higher bids."
Kyrillos, in contrast, touts the bill as allowing aging infrastructure to be taken over by people with "know-how."
"The challenges of maintaining and replacing aging water infrastructure can escalate quickly beyond the technical and financial means of government entities and taxpayers. Despite this, current law makes it nearly impossible to let those with sufficient resources and know-how to take over these systems and effectively address emergent conditions," he said in a statement issued last week.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy