THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

And so what if some of the deals stink and some of the people are are on the wrong side of sleazy? Let's face it you can't get elected governor if you can't take good care of your friends. With that in mind, the two governors, Hid Fatness and Handy Dandy Andy, vetoed reform legislation that was passed by unanimous votes of both state legislatures.

The governors of New York and New Jersey, defying the unanimous votes of both their Legislatures, on Saturday rejected a bill aimed at curbing political interference and patronage at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, more than a year after lane closings at the George Washington Bridge set off a scandal that looms over the agency to this day.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat, announced the veto of the bill just hours before a midnight deadline and in the face of almost-unheard-of bipartisan support.

Because the authority is governed by both New York and New Jersey, approval is needed by both Legislatures to make changes in its structure and operations. On Saturday night, the anger over the governors’ rejection of the bill was felt on both sides of the Hudson River.

“It’s appalling and disappointing,” said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, a Democrat of Bergen County, N.J., who sponsored the bill in Trenton, adding: “The Legislatures of New Jersey and New York crossed party lines to pass Port Authority reform. The governors crossed party lines to obstruct it.”...

In place of the bill, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Christie on Saturday recommended instead the acceptance of the findings of a special panel the two governors had formed in May. In a joint news release, they outlined a variety of proposals for the authority, including the adoption of a single chief executive and other administrative changes; restructuring its board; a new mission statement; and the creation of a “chief ethics and compliance officer.” The governors — who retain wide powers over the authority — will also request and consider offers of resignation from all of the current commissioners.

In addition, the governors announced support for a bill that would apply the Freedom of Information Law to the authority, pending some minor modifications.

It takes a lot of money to be President and both His Fatness and Handy Dandy Andy want to be President. And by gently massaging one of their more important sources, they hope to avoid a costly, to them, reform of this important agency. And by doing so, they may have denied themselves the opportunity to be President.