Ethics Reform

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.

(more…)

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. 

After years of promising reform, Governor Corzine has finally introduced an ethics package worthy of bipartisan support. But it doesn't do nearly enough to address the corressive effects of money on state politics. Republican Leader Tom Kean has introduced a bill that limits the money the politically powerful can spend to influence Trenton. 

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't.
-- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll