Reports: N.J. Commerce Commission may be merged

Reports: N.J. Commerce Commission may be merged Are the days of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission numbered?
   A state Senate hearing is scheduled for today on the agency’s $17 million budget for 2008.
   Journalists covering the New Jersey statehouse are speculating that with the nomination of Secretary Virginia Bauer to become a part-time board member of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the department could be closed and jobs and economic promotion programs could be folded into other agencies such as the New Jersey Economic Development Agency or Department of State.
   The Record newspaper quoted a spokesman for Gov. Jon Corzine as saying the group’s work would be integrated into the Office of Economic Growth, which was created by Corzine after his election.
   The weekly magazine NJBIZ reports that in an interview last week Bauer said her cabinet-level commerce job will not be filled after she leaves, and that Corzine has asked her to stay on until a reorganization plan for the commission is implemented by the end of June.
   The magazine noted that last fall a joint committee in the state legislation recommended the commission be abolished.