NJ's 'secret' public records

For Immediate Release:

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS RECORDS OF PUBLIC RECORDS ARE SECRET

Is a government's record of how it keeps public records a public record?

Not in New Jersey, state officials claim. Especially if that record might prove embarrassing to the administration of Gov. Chris Christie.

The Treasury denied a New Jersey Watchdog reporter's request for details on how its payroll and pension databases are kept. The indexes, known as record layouts, would show whether the agency collects data that would enable it to easily track state employees who collect both salaries and pensions – a widespread practice in New Jersey known as "double-dipping."

The reporter filed a lawsuit against Treasury with Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled.

The reporter requested the record layouts in July under the Open Public Records Act, which requires governmental agencies to respond within seven business days. Instead, Treasury took 64 business days to decide, including six extensions for extra time.

Then after nearly three months of delays, Treasury declared its records of records were "not government records" under state law, denying the request in its entirety. 

Two years ago, Treasury informed the State Legislature it had "no estimate" of the extent or cost of double-dipping. The lingering question is whether Christie's bean counters were lazy, less than forthcoming, politically motivated or all of the above.

The story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org.  The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/11/18/9451/.