Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande are pleased to announce that, S-1063, which prohibits local officers or employees from lobbying or advocating before any body of the municipality where he or she serves was passed out of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.

The Assembly version of the bill, A-1619, sponsored by O’Scanlon and Casagrande was introduced in January and referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee.

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WEINBERG WELCOMES ASSEMBLYMAN RUMANA TO THE REFORM PARTY

Senator Says She Has Been Pushing for Governor Veto Power over Authorities for Years

TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg, a leading champion of ethics reform in the State Legislature, today congratulated Assemblyman Scott Rumana for joining the ethics reform movement, saying that his calls for reform at the State’s quasi-governmental authorities echo many of the initiatives she’s tried to push through in the last few legislative sessions.

“With the ethics reform movement, we typically take all comers, and it’s always been the more the merrier in my book,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “Whether it’s deathbed conversions, reform for the sake of political expediency, or an honest-to-goodness epiphany, anything that moves us closer to the goal of more ethical government is a welcome development. I look forward to working with legislators and policymakers across the political spectrum – including our new Governor – to reduce government waste and give the taxpayers of New Jersey a government they can be proud of.”

Senate Budget Committee member Steve Oroho, R-Sussex and Hunterdon, said it's disgraceful that the Corzine administration approved a grant of $12 million today under the so-called Special Municipal Aid program without producing the performance audits required by law.

Governor Corzine says we don't need new laws to fight corruption. Is it any wonder that his ethics package has gone no where in the state Legislature? Or that commonsense ethics bills aren't even being considered?

         Hamilton, August 12,2009– Saying their opponents and the incumbent party in Trenton have done little more than pay lip-service to real ethics and pay-to-play reform, successful businessmen and GOP Assembly candidates Rob Calabro and Bill Harvey today outlined a comprehensive good government reform plan committed to improving our state’s tarnished reputation and restoring citizens' faith in government.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT: Chris Pordon

Friday, August 7, 2009                                          (609) 651-0748

 ETHICS REFORM BEGINS WITH ENDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Twenty seventh District State Assembly candidate Barry Funt today called on Mayor/Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey to renounce their endorsement by the NJEA...

Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, Jr. and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande today sent letters to every State Legislator requesting support and sponsorship of two bills that will address the existing loophole, which allows public officials convicted of corruption crimes to receive pensions for public positions they held that were unrelated to the crime committed.

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CALABRO & HARVEY: NEW JERSEY CAN’T HAVE MORE BROKEN PROMISES ON ETHICS REFORM 

Hamilton, NJ- Fourteenth District Assembly candidates Rob Calabro and Bill Harvey welcomed the tough comprehensive ethics proposal unveiled today by Republican Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie. 

Even with the promise of bipartisan support, this governor has failed to get his package or any meaningful ethics legislation through the Legislature. It's no wonder voters are questioning whether the governor really wants reform or if his September announcement was merely an attempt to pander to the polls in an election year.

New reports indicate Sharpe James is directing political contributions from his jail cell. Kean and Baroni are preparing legislation that will ban politicians convicted of corruption from using their campaign accounts to influence elections or public policy in New Jersey.