pay to play

The governor's surrogates have been full of bluster and hyperpole about the evils of hiring politically connected law firms. Yet Governor Corzine, who hasn't managed to push an ethics reform package through a Legislature controlled by his own party, has never suggested that his administration stop hiring politically connected law firms, or that the Legislature ban lawyers from donating to campaigns. The governor should make his rhetoric match his actions, rather than pointing fingers at others.

ORADELL, NJ – Mayor Steve Lonegan, the conservative Republican candidate for Governor, responded today with disbelief upon hearing that his opponent Chris Christie is employing the exact type of questionable ethics that he has vowed to stop if elected governor.  Once again his close association with John P. Inglesino shows not only a lack of judgment but also points out Christie’s blatant hypocrisy.

Two Republican state senators renew their call for immediate pension hearings by a bipartisan commission with the power to subpoena witnesses. New Jersey taxpayers, firefighter, teachers and public employees need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the same politically connected Wall Street financiers that preyed on New York and other state pension funds didn't exploit New Jersey's pension system as well.

Legislation Would Strengthen Current Pay-to-Play Law

Senator Bill Baroni (R-Mercer, Middlesex) and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R- Monmouth, Middlesex) announced today that they are introducing legislation that would amend the current pay-to-play laws to include all federally-funded state contracts, that will stem from the recently passed stimulus package.

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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.

“The last few weeks have made clear that Chris Christie has plenty of ethics problems of his own that he should deal with before coming up with new legislation that prevents some of his own supporters and good conservatives from running for office.”

“Every dollar raised by Ferriero is tainted by his arm-twisting tactics and paid for by taxpayers in the form of no bid government contracts.”

The New Jersey Supreme Court has tentatively scheduled oral arguments in the Appeal by Earle Asphalt Co., which is challenging New Jersey's pay to play laws on November.  The matter involves a contribution made to the Monmouth County Republican Committee by Walter Earle III, the owner of Earle Asphalt, which later barred his firm from winning state contracts.  Upon finding out that his contributuion (made at the request of former Co-Senate President John Bennett) would violate pay to play laws, Earle asked for his money back.  Still, the state invalidated the award of a state Department of Transportation contract -- on which Earle Asphalt was the lowest bidder.  New Jersey prohibits the award of public contracts of more than $17,500 to any business that has contributed more than $300 to certain candidates and party organizatons.

Democrats should stop leaking information about a few grants and reveal all grants and which Democrats decided where the money would go. The Treasurer has all these facts. The Governor should order him to put it on the Governor's Web site immediately. 

Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero and I don’t agree on a lot of things, but he’s right on the money in his criticism of the silly “pay-to-play” laws proposed by publicity seeking politicians as a “cure” for political corruption and high taxes in our state.