Assembly Democrats: Bill Prohibiting Donation of Leftover Campaign Funds to Candidate-Run Charity Heads To Governor

BILL PROHIBITING DONATION OF LEFTOVER CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO CANDIDATE-RUN CHARITY HEADS TO GOVERNOR

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Jack Conners, Dr. Herbert C. Conaway, Jr., and John F. McKeon sponsored to prohibit the distribution of election campaign funds to any charitable organization in which a candidate or an immediate family member is directly involved was unanimously passed by the General Assembly today.

"Campaign contributions should never be seized upon for personal enrichment," said Conners (D-Camden), a member of the Assembly State Government Committee.  "A stronger firewall is needed to prevent unethical individuals from subverting campaign contributions for non-profit organizations in which they have a clear financial interest."

The measure (A-4014) would prohibit distribution of campaign funds by a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, or a legislative leadership committee to any charitable organization in which a candidate or an immediate family member is a paid officer, director, employee, or recipient of compensation for goods or services provided to the organization.

The legislation was prompted by the activities of former Essex County Executive Thomas D'Alessio, who started a charitable foundation with $1.8 million in leftover campaign funds and then used the charity to provide himself with a luxury car, a summer home and a salary in excess of $80,000.

"People make campaign contributions to politicians because they believe their donations will support an individual who embraces the same causes or political views," said Conaway (D-Burlington).  "Preventing politicians from donating unused campaign funds to charities they are intimately involved with ensures that money donated in good faith will be used in good faith."

"Politicians do not deserve to profit off the good will and generosity of the civic-minded," said McKeon (D-Essex).  "Prohibiting unscrupulous, self-serving 'charitable' donations preserves the spirit of allowing unused campaign funds to be donated to charity in the first place."

The bill is part of an eight-point plan to improve transparency in government, first introduced by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex).  The measure now heads to the Governor, who may sign it, veto it, or modify it in the form of a conditional veto.

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