Assemblymen Jack Conners & Herb Conaway's Bill Addressing Campaign Fund Misuse Becomes Law

By Alescia Marie Teel | November 2nd, 2007 - 5:43pm
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Release Date: 
Nov 2 2007
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CONNERS & CONAWAY BILL ADDRESSING CAMPAIGN FUND MISUSE BECOMES LAW

Governor Corzine Signs Measure that Prohibits Campaign Fund Misuse

(TRENTON) - Governor Jon Corzine recently signed legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway, MD, that will prohibit the distribution of campaign funds to any charity in which a candidate or a family member is a director or paid employee.

CONNERS & CONAWAY BILL ADDRESSING CAMPAIGN FUND MISUSE BECOMES LAW

Governor Corzine Signs Measure that Prohibits Campaign Fund Misuse

(TRENTON) - Governor Jon Corzine recently signed legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway, MD, that will prohibit the distribution of campaign funds to any charity in which a candidate or a family member is a director or paid employee.

The lawmakers' bill is part of a comprehensive legislative package aimed at restoring public confidence in state government.   Assemblyman Conners and Conaway said their bill will prevent ethically unsound instances such as a public official using campaign funds to create a charity to steer that money for personal use.

The bill (A-4014) makes it a crime for an elected official to misuse campaign funds for their own personal gain or for the financial benefit of an immediate family member including a candidate's spouse, parent, or sibling, as well as the child, parent, or sibling of the candidate's spouse.

"Unfortunately, recent incidences in which public officials have misused campaign funds only continue to further portray political officials in a negative light and leave New Jersey residents wary," said Conners (D-Camden).   "Although these are isolated and rare occurrences, we must make sure that campaign funds are not misspent.  Responsible spending of campaign dollars shouldn't be just a show of good faith - it should be the law."

The bill is part of findings of the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, a ground-breaking effort focusing on giving government an ethical makeover.  

"The signing of this bill is a victory for taxpayers fed up with stories of ethical problems in government," said Conaway (D-Burlington).   "This law will help ensure that candidates are held accountable for how they use campaign funds to prevent them from being used for the financial gain of a candidate or their family."

The Assembly approved the measure by a vote of 80 to 0 last summer.   The law takes effect immediately. 

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Contact Info: 

Assemblyman Conners

Assemblyman Conaway

Rick McKelvey

(856) 461-3997

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