N.J. lawmakers worry about security costs if Trump frequents Bedminster

New Jersey lawmakers want the federal government to reimburse the town of Bedminster and Somerset County for security costs when President Trump spends the weekend at his golf club there.

Assemblywoman Annette Quijano said if Trump visits the golf club seven weekends a year, it will cost the town an estimated $1 million over the next four years in overtime costs to help with security.

“If the President was visiting just one time, then yes, the taxpayers should absorb the cost. However, when a President is going to be routinely visiting one locale, then it really becomes a cost burden not just on that municipality but all the taxpayers of the state of New Jersey.”

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora said the Trump organization or the federal government should pay for the costs of protecting Trump when he visits private property.

“This is a President who said that he was honored to live in the White House and he would never take vacations. Now it’s just caused a lot of headaches for taxpayers in additional protection and expenses that the local governments had not expected.”

The Assembly’s Regulatory Oversight committee has approved a resolution urging the feds to pay those costs.