PSE&G gives $100k to Corzine toll hike group; does that create a DeMicco/Fox conflict?
By Wally EdgeAmong the donors to Save Our State NJ, the issue-advocacy group essentially formed by Governor Jon Corzine to advocate his plan to raise tolls, is Public Service Electric & Gas. PSE&G has contributed $100,000 to the effort, according to sources familiar with the SOS group. That might explain Corzine’s reluctance to quickly release the list of SOS donors.
Editor's Note: The Inside Edge strongly stands behind our original report that PSE&G pledged $100,000 to Gov. Corzine's Save Our State NJ toll hike advocacy group, despite communications that seek to demonstrate otherwise and a release of their donors at the end of the day.
PSE&G is the state’s largest energy company, and as a regulated industry, state law prohibits them from making campaign contributions. But a hundred grand is a good way of moving some dollars in through the back door. And PSE&G has a strong understanding of how New Jersey politics works: they just hired Star-Ledger political columnist Tom Moran as their policy director.
There is another potential conflict here: PSE&G got a rate hike from the state Board of Public Utilities -- which could raise electric bills for 2.1 million New Jerseyans, and gas bills for 1.7 million. Corzine has just reappointed the embattled BPU President, Jeanne Fox, to another term. While it is unknown if Fox’s husband, Democratic political consultant Steve DeMicco, is working for SOS – nobody knows, they haven’t disclosed their contributors or expenditures – it is certain that DeMicco has a personal stake in the success of Corzine’s political career.
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- Jul 2 2009
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terrible idea
Corzine should have ran this group under the same contribution guidelines as ELEC. Taking money from regulated industries (utilities, banks, casinos) to fund a personal issue advocacy group is just another loophole in the campaign finance system.
Corzine, politically tone deaf as usual.
DeMicco & Fox
This is another reason for the Senate NOT to confirm Jeanne Fox to the BPU board. We can't have BPU commissioners recusing themselves on PSE&G matters.
Why not pay the debt directly?
Instead of financing this dubious group, donate your money to pay down the debt. Gov. Corzine, let's give it a try. Drop your $5 mill. down now. Why not ask PSE&G to drop another $5 mill. too. That would be $10 mill. What PSE&G could afford more, that's even better. How about members of this Comm. to drop $100K each? Any takers? Senator Menendez, Lautenberg, maybe Ferriero, Norcross?
DISGUSTING!
Whether you're for or against Corzine's toll-hike scheme, this is another example of how dirty, corrupt and laughable NJ's political-business landscape is - as well as how shockingly sophmoric, out-of-touch and tone-deaf Corzine is about these things. I cannot believe this guy is our governor (or maybe I can, considering this outrage), nor can I believe that he or any other Democrat really thinks he has any shot at a second term.
What does it take to start a recall?
Show Us The REAL Books!
There are the books to show and the books to go.
Which ones are these contributors being cited from?
Wally You're Slipping
Somehow you missed the SOS's sleight of hand. The press release notes contributors as of February 29th. That leaves seven days between the cutoff to be included on the list and the date of your post. Certainly PSE&G could have made their contribution during that time frame.