GREENSTEIN & DeANGELO VOW TO PUSH HARD TO GET MAJOR ETHICS REFORM PLAN INTO LAW

By droseman

GREENSTEIN & DeANGELO VOW TO PUSH HARD TO GET MAJOR ETHICS REFORM PLAN INTO LAW

(TRENTON) - Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo today vowed to sponsor legislation to enact the sweeping ethics reform plan unveiled by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

The landmark plan would end pay-to-play at every government level, ban wheeling, enact tough contracting reforms, strengthen financial disclosure and boost ethics enforcement, compliance and training.

"This is the opportunity New Jerseyans have long been waiting for," said Greenstein (D-Middlesex), who has been working for about five years to enact a major pay-to-play ban. "The sinister mix of money and politics will be tackled once and for all, and it will be done so in a sweeping and historic way. Let's seize the moment."

DeAngelo (D-Mercer) said the plan is sorely needed in a state plagued by corruption and high property taxes.

"This plan takes aim at two of New Jersey's most insidious ills - corruption and property taxes," DeAngelo said. "It's not only about ethical responsibility. It's about fiscal responsibility. It's about making our state more responsible and more affordable for hard-working New Jerseyans."

Greenstein noted the plan would be another milestone in a long list of ethics reforms backed by Democrats, including a new comptroller, overhauling the legislative ethics commission, modernizing the legislative ethics code and restricting no-bid contracting.

"Making this plan reality will be a historic day for New Jersey," Greenstein said.

DeAngelo noted the plan will bring unprecedented transparency to all governments in New Jersey.

"The old way of doing business in New Jersey will soon come to an end," he said.

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DROSEMAN can be reached via email at droseman@njleg.org.

Related topics: Linda Greenstein, Wayne DeAngelo, ethics

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