Bob Martin Pushes for Comprehensive Anti-Corruption Plan

Hopewell (July 27, 2007) –In the face of overwhelming corruption at all levels of New Jersey’s state government, Bob Martin, Republican State Senate candidate in the 15th district, announced his comprehensive anti-corruption plan today.

Martin’s plan calls for a serious commitment to strengthening laws against political conflict of interest and holding elected officials accountable for their money sources and uses. Most significantly, Martin has committed to working to close the loopholes left by our Trenton legislators in crucial anti-corruption bills, including the recently passed dual-office holding ban and pay-to-play legislation.

“There is a great deal of work that needs to be done in this state by our state legislators to win back the trust of its citizens,” Martin stated. “That work should begin with the state senate and assembly passing serious laws to end the blatant abuses of power that have wasted so much of the taxpayers’ money.”

Martin’s plan includes a resolution forcing the forfeiture of state pensions for those convicted of corruption charges, a ban on nepotism in political appointments, and an end to the bureaucratic delay tactic known as Senatorial courtesy.

Martin stressed the need for responsibility and oversight in the state government that has constantly been compromised in recent years by self-interest. “We need to stop accepting the status quo in the state house,” Martin stated. “I am committed to doing whatever it takes to make the changes we need.”

Martin’s plan covers seven broad categories of ethics and anti-corruption measures:

1. Push to eliminate the grandfather clause in the dual office holding ban that allows 18 lawmakers who currently hold more than one position to continue to do so indefinitely. As it stands, the dual office-holding ban allows elected officials to continue boosting their pensions from numerous positions and waste taxpayer money in the process, in addition to creating inevitable conflicts of interest.

2. Ban dual job holding, which involves the holding of a public job which conflicts with a held elected position. This practice should be stopped at all levels of government because it leads to fewer checks and balances and hampers the competition that is essential to the democratic process.

3. Fight for comprehensive reform of “pay-to-play”, with an emphasis on putting tight restrictions on the practice of “wheeling” money illegally between committees after the primary season. Comprehensive legislation on this important issue has consistently been abandoned in committee by our Trenton legislators unwilling to close campaign loopholes.

4. Create legislation that requires the forfeiture of all state pension benefits for public officials who are convicted of corruption charges. This will save taxpayers from being forced to pay for officials who violate the public trust and will ensure a higher level of accountability from those in elected office.

5. Require that the office of State Comptroller, or auditor, be a publicly elected nonpartisan position and not one appointed by the governor. This will ensure an objective figure who will not be beholden to political interests as an appointee and who will be directly accountable to voters as a leader in identifying waste and solving the financial crisis of the state.

6. Stop the practice of “senatorial courtesy”. As it now stands, senators can block the confirmation of appointees without giving public testimony or justification for their objection, wasting time and money. This practice should be banned in order to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions and their opinions, and to allow the state senate to perform its constitutional responsibility properly.

7. Move forward on legislation to ban nepotism in political positions. This will go further towards guaranteeing equal opportunity for participating in public office and will ensure that special favors are not being given to those who do not deserve them.

For more information on Bob Martin’s plan, please visit his website at www.BobMartinforSenate.com

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