Last week, McGreevey admitted he knew but didn't warn thousands of elderly homeowners that there wasn't enough money to send them their tax rebate checks. When he signed a bill last month giving unions preferential treatment in public contracts, news of the law came out only days later, after opponents noticed.
In the eight months since the Democrat took office with a promise to be accountable to the public, secrecy has become commonplace in McGreevey's administration.
"Here is a guy who strikes everyone as a populist yet on certain matters his team is aloof and private," said David Rebovich, a Rider University political scientist. "Some citizens may be saying, 'What is the new governor about?'"
There was no comment Tuesday from McGreevey, who was vacationing in Florida.
Administration officials said they have been unfairly criticized and have tried to be more accessible. This week, they started publishing a list of all bills the governor signs, a practice that was routine in previous administrations.
"We are trying to do the right thing," said his spokesman, Paul Aronsohn. "We aren't perfect."
After taking office, McGreevey broke with past practice and refused to provide cabinet members' resumes. He also would not disclose their outside business relationships.
After taking homeland security duties away from an Israeli because the man's credentials were questioned, the governor gave him another job at $110,000 a year but refused to provide a job description, despite daily questioning by reporters.
"The strangest thing about this administration is the level of secrecy; everything is a secret," said Nick Acocella, who publishes a statewide political newsletter. "The best spin is that because the governor insists on doing everything himself, important things fall through the cracks."
Many government officials, including McGreevey, also have cited post-Sept. 11 security for the need to shield information.
Residents have had mixed reactions.
"They have to hold some things back," said Dorothy Surtees, 65, of Robbinsville. "Everybody can't know everything that is going on."
But Kathy McLaughlin said officials should not be making decisions in the dark that affect the public.
"They should not pick and choose the information we should and should not hear," said McLaughlin, 41, of West Windsor. "I think the information should be out there for the people to make a decision."
Copyright 2002. Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
