Christie Fast-Tracks Sale of Public Water Systems

A controversial bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie would allow for fast-tracking the privatization of many public water systems in New Jersey.
The Water Infrastructure Protection Act removes the public vote requirement to sell water systems throughout the state under emergency conditions that many systems currently meet.
The sponsors of the bill tout it as a way to get desperately-needed investment into water systems that have been neglected to the breaking point by government owners. The emergent conditions that would allow for a fast-track sale include the location of the system within a critical water area, and it being deficient in drinkability or pressure, among others.
Opponents warn that it is an attempt to turn private profits off public infrastructure at the expense of taxpayers -- who themselves will end up paying for the purchase prices with increased rates.

 
Originally introduced in September, the bill drew opposition from a wide variety of industry and environmental groups, including the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Food and Water Watch, and the Communications Workers of America union.
"This is such a bad deal for the citizens of New Jersey," said state Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex). "This is crazy. ... Just giving away our water supply.

 A notable political contribution was made in between the vote's passage and Christie's signing of the measure. American Water of Voorhees, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and sewer company, contributed $50,000 to the Republican Governors Association in the final days of the New Jersey governor's chairmanship of the organization.

Entire article at
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/christie_signs_law_greenlighting_sales_of_public_water_systems.html