Culturally Embedded Political Corruption Costs NJ Taxpayers

Press Release

August 10, 2009

For Immediate Release

Culturally Embedded Political Corruption Costs NJ Taxpayers

Middletown (Monmouth County, NJ) - Today Bob Brown and Jim Grenafege, candidates for New Jersey State Assembly in the 13th Legislative District, called for tougher penalties for elected and appointed officials, as well as public employees, convicted of corruption charges.  They also called for a major initiative to eradicate and transform the culture that silently supports and justifies the unethical behavior that promotes illegal acts.

"As a former police officer and a taxpayer, I am outraged, like the rest of the residents, by the public officials who think that they can ignore the law and do as they wish", Brown said.  "Betraying the public trust erodes confidence in our democratic system and greatly increases the cost of government", Brown added.

"The annual parade of elected and appointed public officials in handcuffs is clear evidence that the current laws are not enough", Grenafege said.  "Bob Brown and I will diligently pursue legislation that provides severe penalties for anyone convicted of the corruption that contaminates government and directly adds to the back breaking financial burden experienced by state residents", Grenafege continued.  "In the recent past the legislature essentially grandfathered the unethical behavior that breeds corruption.  Ask yourself:  is it ethical to grandfather unethical behavior", Grenafege concluded.

Mr. Brown and Mr. Grenafege believe reoccurring unchecked corruption feeds public apathy, which adds to low voter turnout, which weakens the democratic process allowing corrupt people survive and thrive.  They think that broad and deep cultural reform coupled with a ruthless pursuit of corruption at the state, county and municipal levels is required to correct this problem in both the short and long term.

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