TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A New Jersey Democrat is saying “bah humbug!” after a veto from the governor’s office.
A bill that passed unanimously in both chambers in Trenton was rejected by Gov. Phil Murphy, who cited health and climate change concerns.
“It’s just a shame,” said State Sen. Andrew Zwicker. “I never expected that the governor would be the Grinch who stole the Christmas tree bonfire.”
Zwicker says the goal of his bill was to eliminate a loophole that prevented townships from burning Christmas trees at ceremonial bon fires because they are classified as trash.
Zwicker says towns can still have those bon fires if they burn logs or palettes, instead, so it makes no sense to prevent the burning of old Christmas trees, which end up in landfills.
“I am a scientist, someone who strongly believes we have to do everything we can to combat climate change, but this does nothing to make the problem worse.”