According to the Associated Press, Governor Jon Corzine is set to enact a significant new campaign finance and ethics reform package by both executive order and through the introduction of new legislation addressing, among other items, the long-criticized practice of wheeling contributions between political and campaign committees. The Associated Press story outlines the pre-released proposal.
DOCUMENTS RELEASED AT 2:30 Press Conference Today:
The Overall Plan and Statement outling the Governor's executive orders that are intended to be codified into law and proposed legislation.
State Vendor Contribution Prohibition Expanded To Legislative Leadership and Municipal Party Committees
Executive Order 117 expands P.L. 2005, c. 51 (originally McGreevey E.O. 134) to further restrict contributions made by state vendors, and equity holding partners or members of such business entities, regardless of their equity interests, to provide a complete ban on reportable contributions ($300+) to legislative leadership committees and municipal political party committees. Such entities, or partners with 10% or more equity interests, are already banned from making such contributions to state political party committees, county political party committees and gubernatorial candidates pursuant to Chapter 51. This executive order also extends the gubernatorial candidate contribution ban to candidates for Lieutenant Governor who will be running for the first time next year. This order becomes effective November 15, 2008.
State Vendor Contribution Prohibition Expanded To Redevelopers
Executive Order 118 extends the Chapter 51 reportable contribution ban to redevelopers and their lobbyists or agents. No redevelopment agreements may be entered by state entities if the redeveloper has violated the contribution ban. This order appears to include redevelopment agreements required to secure state financing from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority and New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, similar to the financing procured for the EnCap project that this order specifically intends to address. This order becomes effective November 15, 2008.
Local Government Ethics Task Force
Executive Order 119 creates a Local Government Ethics Task Force to determine whether changes need to be made to the 1991 Local Government Ethics Law and whether responsibility for enforcement of it should be removed from Local Finance Boards to some other entity focused on ethics. The Task Force will consist of eleven members appointed by the Governor, four of which will be at the recommendation of the legislative leadership from both parties. Upon formation, it must issue a report within ten months with its recommendations. This order is effective immediately.
Expansion of Personal Financial Disclosures
Executive Order 120 expands upon Governor Corzine's Executive Order No. 1 (2006), which required all personal financial disclosures from all executive branch officials and others serving on various state boards and commissions.
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