Senate President Nicholas Scutari will drop his plan to transfer some investigatory powers from the state comptroller to the State Commission of Investigation, but remains committed to reestablishing a state inspector general during the legislature’s 2026-27 session.
“I’ve heard the concerns, and I’m going to listen to them,” Scutari told the New Jersey Globe. “I never cornered the market on good ideas. But I’m not going to move forward with the bill right now.”
Scutari sponsored legislation that would remove the State Comptroller’s authority to issue subpoenas – a statutory power that came when the inspector general’s office was eliminated in 2010. Instead, the ability to probe waste, fraud, and abuse would have gone to the SCI.
“I want to move forward on an inspector general in the next session. We need one,” said Scutari. “I’m not going to let that go.”
That provides time for the incoming governor, Mikie Sherrill, and the new legislature to evaluate new approaches that followed public comment on the proposal.
“Out of respect for the governor-elect, who will be starting her term, I’m holding off to work with the new administration,” said Scutari.
Scutari had maintained that he was streamlining duplicative efforts by multiple state agencies that provide oversight.
The decision follows a rancorous public hearing last week that included significant opposition from Attorney General Matt Platkin, U.S. Senator Andy Kim, and the current acting state comptroller, Kevin Walsh.
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee approved the measure with bipartisan support on December 1, but Scutari’s decision means that the full Senate won’t vote on the bill during the current lame duck session.
“Leadership is not being too dug in to understand that sometimes your own approach isn’t the one everyone else is sold on,” said Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. “By that standard, it is important to give Senate President Scutari credit, because this is the spirit of collaboration that will be necessary to mark a new, productive chapter in Trenton.”
Kim called the decision to drop the proposal “a win for the people of New Jersey.”
“As I’ve said before, the opposite of democracy is apathy. Do not feel helpless about fixing our broken politics. It isn’t just possible, it’s necessary,” he said about the anti-corruption movement in the national and state anti-corruption movement. “Now let’s get ready for the next fights.”
Walsh is set to leave his post on January 20, when Gov. Phil Murphy leaves office, and it will be up to Sherrill to nominate a new state comptroller.
Criticism of the embattled Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has prompted some lawmakers to seek oversight of the attorney general’s office.
This story was updated at 5:17 PM with comment from Kim.
