Whenever I get my fill of whining about Government, I simply strap on my bitchboots, grab my videocamera and head to Trenton. Sometimes there's a juicy issue cooking that I want to follow. Like today.
This past Thursday was a busy day for many of us, but if one just read the mainstream press, you might not have realized it.
It was Women's Healthcare Week, and many of our women legislators decided to mark the occasion by protesting Governor Christie's wiping out all the dollars ($7.5million) in the Family Planning budget. As has been noted before, this money is earmarked for uninsured or underinsured men and women who get HIV testing, cervical cancer screening, family planning information and general reproductive health care through these centers. Joined by Assemblywomen Valerie Huttle, Linda Stender, Linda Greenstein, Elise Evans, Cleopatra Tucker, Pam Lampitt, Annette Quijano, Mila Jasey, Joan Voss, and Connie Wagner, we held a well attended press conference, that is except the press! Though, NJN did stop in for a brief moment or two. Apporximately 50 pink shirt supporters joined us bringing along hundreds of signed post cards protesting these cuts! The cards were delivered to the Governor's office. Do you think he'll read them? In my remarks, I suggested some cuts to other programs withinthe budget to transfer much needed funds to this program. Let's see if the Governor will look at these re-ordering of priorities, and we'll know if this budget cut is a matter of dollars or a matter of philosophy!
My next stop was the Senate State Government Committee meeting to speak for my bill giving the Governor veto power over the minutes of the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority and the North District Water Commission. These were the only two commissions we could find which were State appointments with no governor veto power. I reminded the committee, that I started on this road several years ago and first coined the description "shadow governments" to describe these authorities. In 2007 when Assembly colleagues Gordon Johnson, Valerie Huttle and I first took a look at the PVSA, we found that over a six year period, they spent more than $13 million on legal fees, and more than $3 million on consultants. Included in the consultant fees was $100,00 for a well connected flak to produce a children's coloring book called, "Messy Marvin". Makes Brian Christiansen look like one of the pikers of the hangers on at the PVSA. It's all so outrageous!
And as outrageous, is it took several years to get this bill posted in committee. Since Governor Christie has rightly made an issue of these "shadow governments" which spend millions of our tax dollars and user fees with very little accountability, this bill should pass both houses before the summer break.
Next was the Judiciary Committee meeting where we approved the nominations of Lori Grifa as the Commissioner of Community Affairs and Harold Wirths as the Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development. Acting Commissioner Wirths was closely questioned about his lack of experience (he has been a Republican county Freeholder) in the area of labor relations. I was concerned with his continuing in his Freeholder position while serving as an "acting commissioner". Asked OLS for an opinion on the subject, and they said it was important to get an Ethics Board ruling. It was claimed that such a ruling had been forthcoming last February which gave him permission as long he turned down his Freeholder salary. I still believe this could be a court challenge, but since he was resigning both his elected position and his service on a bank board with his confirmation, it became moot. Both nominees now move to the full Senate for a vote.
We all know we have a reduced statehouse press corps., and they were covering the Millionaire's Tax hearing and the Lesniak theater action for the voucher bill held on the statehouse lawn. Curious juxtaposition! Several hundred religious and private school students were brought to Trenton to support the Lesniak/Kean bill. I didn't hear anyone from the Governor's office refer to them as "Drug Mules" or denounce them as youngsters who had no idea why they were there. Don't get me wrong - I think it was great that these young people got to see their government in action! They probably learned more that day than they would in classrooms. I do, however, think the Governor's "double standard" is quite evident! Students who support Christie's initiatives can get the day off from school, but those students who disagree with his cuts to public schools deserve to be derided and insulted.
The prior Monday, I had the great pleasure of joining Senator Ray Lesniak for our book signing at Kean College for "What's Love Got to Do With it", about the fight for Marriage Equality in the New Jersey State Senate. It's a beautiful book with wonderful pictures and contains many of the words which were shared on January 7, 2010. There were more than 100 people who turned out for this event at the new Kean Human Rights Institute. My thanks to Ray for including me in this adventure. Yes I know: Lesniak & Weinberg - definitely an odd couple - but fun nevertheless!
So all this while the very much smaller group of print media folks were elsewhere. And how about Channel 12? Do they ever really cover New Jersey News live? Seems every time I turn them on they are doing the "Weather on the Ones" or the "Pet Doctor". We need to keep NJN. They are the only statewide New Jersey television news. I've written to the administration to try and find out if anyone has actually worked on a plan to transition NJN into a private company. And what happens to their state owned assets? Lots of unanswered questions here, but we must work to preserve this NJ television news.
Below is an alphabetical list of NJ pols who voted YES on medical marijuana. If you know -- or are rep'd by -- anyone on this list, take note. Hopefully you'll get a chance to thank them one day.
From the Senate (Republicans in bold):
Senate:
Baroni,
Bateman,
Beach,
Buono,
Ciesla,
Cunningham,
Gill,
Girgenti,
Gordon,
Kean,
Lesniak,
Pennacchio,
Ruiz,
Sacco,
Sarlo,
Scutari,
Singer,
Smith,
Stack,
Sweeney,
Turner,
Van Drew,
Vitale,
Weinberg, and
Whelan
When the NJ Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly passed a medical marijuana bill yesterday it put the Garden State in line to be the 14th state in the union to decriminalize cannabis for sick people.
Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll has the QOTD in this one for sure.
I've posted so many videos on this site and elsewhere I can't hardly remember them all, but this issue is possibly the most satisfying day I've has as an activist since the Obama/Alder double victory.
So take a minute to meet the heros of this battle.
Isnt that just the silliest thing you've heard this week ? Gordon Johnson, a TV star. But its true, sort of.
It was recently pointed out that Gordon Johnson did a print ad for Freight Rail Works, and that was a conflict of interest. Apparently on Jupiter, not Planet Earth.
The most nefarious charge was:
I am suspicious because if there were no conflict, why did he use the title he used (retired sheriff) instead of assemblyman or councilman?
(Trenton) -- I wanted to share some of the flavor from today's Inaugural festivities.Kinda like the Assembly itself, our latest Vlog is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.Enjoy!
I had a major video crash today and lost some great footage. Apologies to Grace Spencer and Wayne DeAngelo who were so kind to say hello.
(Note to self: when it comes to video you're NOBODY unless you've had your first painful crash.)
Congrats to Mayor Tim Driscoll, the voters of Bergenfield and the Real Bergen Democrats. Promoted from the diaries -- Juan
Just got back from the Celebration in Bergenfield, where WWII veteran, and brand new Mayor Tim Driscoll took the reins at his very first Reorganization meeting of the Governing Body of Bergenfield for 2008. Real Bergen Democrats Barry Doll and Bruce Carlson joined him on the dias. What a beautiful sight for ethics reform in NJ.
Everyone was there - by that I mean the "Merry Band of Reformers" Real Bergen Democrats, and their supporters including, Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Gordon Johnson, Carol Skiba, Paul Eisenmann, Nick Lento as well as all the press.
It was a long meeting, but the best part and most entertaining was watching Councilmen Mulligan and Lodato squirmily adjust to their new roles as the obstinate bullies who have been taken down a peg. Mulligan couldn't bring himself to vote YES to a different Borough attorney than Oury. You could see the calculations going on in that shiny head of his, as to how many DOLLARS he would lose for re-election if he voted YES to a Mayor Driscoll's choice, and you could see him calculate how many VOTES he would lose by ticking off the voters with a NO vote. So what do bullies do, when cornered? They vote to ABSTAIN. But they always give a speech while doing so. It reminded me of watching Scooby Doo as a child. I pictured him saying - "Drat! Foiled again! I would've got away with voting Dennis Oury in again, too - if it weren't for those meddling kids, I mean Real Bergen Democrats, and their ethics reform minded friends in the Assembly and Senate - Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle! " But my daydream disappeared in a poof as Mulligan waxed on about how he thinks Dennis Oury is the bestest Borough Attorney in the whole wide world. I had to resist the urge to cough disrupively into my hand and say "Liar" or break into cackles of hysterical laughter at the absurdity of the moment. Because Councilwoman Rabbit was absent (scared away perhaps) Lodato knew the writing was on the wall - he did not have enough votes to Vote NO. And with a long speech that seemd to be a public apology for his vote (kissing up to Oury) he stunned us with a YES vote.
The Room erupted into thunderous and enthusiastic applause when enough yes votes were taken to send the ubiqitous Mr. Oury packing. We were cheated of the sight of Oury himself packing his briefcase and making sure the door didn't hit his backside on the way out, but we got to see Renfield, or whatever the diminutive associate's name was who was filling in for Oury, slink away to the applause of nearly everyone in the room - except Mulligan and Lodato.
I smiled. It was a very good day in my hometown of Bergenfield.
The next and FINAL Clean Elections Debate for the Legislative seats in the 37th District will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2007
This one will be held at Bergen Community College in Paramus.
Doors open - 6:30pm
Debate begins - 7:00pm.
This one will be quite different than the last one. It will be sponsored by the RECORD newspaper as well as the League of Women Voters.
The moderator will be the famous Alfred Doblin, Editorial Page Editor of the Record.
Two well-known Record Columnists are rumored to be questioning the candidates. Charles Stile and Mary Ellen Schoonmaker are presumed to be the questioners.
The Assembly candidates will debate first. The Senate debate will follow the conclusion of the Assembly debate.
The questions will be asked first by the Record reporters, then the League of women voters will be reading written questions from the audience.
So, here's your last chance before the election to ask the Clean Elections candidates questions.
This probably won't come as news to anyone who reads Blue Jersey, but Tom Moran has a must-read column about the fight within the Democratic party to restore good government and end the fundamentally undemocratic abuses of power brokers and public office holders:
Democrats in Bergen County are fighting a civil war that pits a small band of reformers against one of the richest and most powerful machines in the state.
The surprise is that the reformers, led by Sen. Loretta Weinberg, are winning. They have survived every attempt by the machine to knock them off.
And now they are switching to offense by unmasking the greedy habits of their own party's leadership -- an insiders' club that is enriching itself with big public contracts. [...]
This, of course, is driving the machine Democrats insane. Weinberg and her merry band have turned from the barricades to fire backward at their own officers. It is a mutiny, plain and simple.
And let's hope the rebellion spreads, because it's probably the only hope for reform in this long-suffering state.
The Republican Party is an empty shell these days. So for now, change has to come from within the Democratic Party. [...]
So far, most Democrats are watching and waiting. Some whisper to Weinberg in the hallways of the Statehouse, encouraging her. But they won't stick out their own necks.
"Too many of them, their goal is to get re-elected," Weinberg says. "But there's got to be the next goal -- what do you do when you get there?"
Blue Jersey has long publicly opposed the trading of jobs for political loyalty or the rewarding of contracts for campaign contributions that is rampant in Bergen County (and other parts of the state). It's surprising (okay, not really) how often elected officials and other insiders will privately tell us they agree, but remain publicly silent. Many are simply not willing to risk their jobs to challenge what appears to be an unstoppable juggernaut. So while the "merry band" Moran talks about appears small, the support runs deeper than it looks, which may explain why they have been successful so far.
Any time the issue of corruption and good government is raised, the straw man that's always foisted up is that because the "reformers" aren't 100% squeaky clean, they can't possibly be fit to try to set the bar higher for good government. For example, though Moran seems to disagree, there is obvious hypocrisy in calling for an end to dual office-holding while remaining a dual office-holder yourself, as is the case with Assemblyman (and Englewood councilman) Gordon Johnson. Whether the conflict is real or perceived, Johnson should step down from one of his two elected offices, because when it comes to the public trust perception is reality.
While this is no doubt a struggle for power and control in Bergen County, for me, this isn't about Senator Weinberg or Assemblymembers Huttle and Johnson so much as it is about good government. And that is what they represent. They no doubt understand that if they take control and resort to the same undemocratic tactics abused by the current power brokers, they should expect another merry band to challenge them...and eventually win.
I was at the debate last night and these are my observations of the event:
The same few thoughts crossed my mind again and again. Clara Nibot is clueless. Simply Clueless. She and Woj were at the wrong debate. They should be running for Council, not Assembly and Senate. They had absolutely no idea that the things they said they are running for are things controlled by the Borough Council, NOT the State Legislature. It was so summed up by the moderator who at the end of the debate and to laughter all around said to the Republicans -"I'd like to thank the Republicans for RUNNING." Implied was a loss in their very near future.
However, to be fair, I will mention their positions on the questions asked:
8 Questions were asked and the positions stated were the following:
Question #1 Their view of the Clean Elections program:
Frank Cifarelli - is for the Clean Elections Program
Valerie Huttle - it increases women and minority participation in the process- increases voter participation.
Woj gave interesting excuses - answers as to why they couldn't get enough votes to qualify for the money that Ms. -Nibot now says is a travesty that the Weinberg team earned. He said that the 37th is a safe district for Democrats and that they had no BCRO chairman till late July He blamed voter apathy and that people were not familiar with the program as well as the fact that the ADS did not mention candidate names (even though there were several places on the internet you could easily find them).
Gordon Johnson said that the grassroots was already familiar with them so even though they started late - after the Primary, they were able to raise the contributions to qualify. He said it definitely keeps the special interests out of teh process. It is worth it.
Clara Nibot just came off as simply whiny. She said it wasn't hard for Loretta. The opponents had no name recognition. But she said was FOR Clean Elections, before she came out AGAINST it today.
Loretta Weinberg - money should be equalized across districts - District 37 will get LESS money than other Clean Elections Districts, but it will SAVE money in the long run. Public financing will have an impact on property taxes in the end.
Question # 2: Why should voters send Dems back to Trenton?
Huttle- The LD37 team have a proven record of good government and attention to social issues such as SCHIP, as well as a record of supporting clean government and fiscal responsibility. The LD37 team has stood up against Pay To PLay and has several bills on ethics reform in the Legislature currently.
Woj - the R's have honesty and integrity.
Johnson - The LD37 team serves the public first and can fight the machine to provide opportunity for all.
Cifarelli - taxes (what else)
All night the 3 Rs kept decrying high property taxes - which they did not understand were high in Bergenfield and Hackensack because of ethical lapses at the MUNICIPAL LEVEL. They were very misguided and ignorant on this point. They did not seem to even understand what Pay To Play really is and that to fight it in their towns they should have run for COUNCIL not ASSEMBLY AND SENATE.
Gordon - explained that property taxes are paid to the MUNICIPALITIES
Weinberg - Democrats provide better government, they helped get and increase in school funding. More than $25 million has been returned to District 37 because of efforts by the LD37 team.
Nibot - In a ridiculous rant, said that the LD37 team was not strong enough to withstand the power of Joe Ferriero's machine. (Hello????? Anybody home?????? She obviously has not been reading either the Record OR the Twin Boro news for the past two years). Nibot blamed the high taxes in Bergenfield on the LD37 team even though that is done on a MUNICIPAL level, not a state level. Clueless.
Weinberg:
The LD37 team actually ATTENDED Council Mtgs in Bergenfield to help residents there. They helped get residents an extended time to file their taxes by. They worked VERY hard to help any way they could. In fact, during the debate - the few applause moments belonged to the LD37 team when their efforts in Bergenfield were mentioned.
Question #3 Rebates - a Good Idea?
Johnson - The state does not recieve property taxes, rebates are a way the state can help alleviate this problem and give some relief.
Woj - the rebates were a bandaid - a gimmick - he says the LD37 team did nothing to help him with his property taxes.
Gordon: Again. Patiently as if to a child: The State legislature does not figure out MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAXES.
Huttle: Her opponent did accept AND CASH his rebate check.
$40 million in rebate checks were sent to residents in LD37 alone.
Weinberg:
Real property tax reform can't happen until bad government is cleaned up with ethics reform first.
Nibot: Says rebates are a gimmick and goes off on a tangent about taxes at the gym for rehabilitation for health reasons. Goes on a rant about folks are leaving NJ because it isn't affordable. Sounds like she's afraid we'll have ghost towns and tumbleweeds pretty soon. Her only point is that NJ is not affordable - no argument there.
Weinberg:
We are a corridor state, we have a diverse population, the state started the 4% cap on spending and are reining spending in to keep NJ affordable.
Question #4: Dual Office Holding
Woj tries to paint Gordon Johnson as a corrupt pension padder, and fails miserably.
Cifarelli - says compared to Joe Ferriero ANYONE else is a reformer. He gets the biggest laugh of the entire debate. He actually gets it the the LD37 team is trying to clean up corruption and commends them for it.
Huttle: Stated that she was a dual office holder for only 1 year. She is for the Dual Office Holding ban. She was involved in ending Christmas tree grants, as well as getting legislative voting records online and is working on banning contributions from developers.
Cifarelli: Is against no-bid contracts
Nibot: Dual office holding is at heart of Pay To Play. ( Now if she only knew what Pay to Play is.....)
Weinberg: Explained the Clean Up NJ initiative. A full time legislature would end the current practice of a legislator having 5 or 6 outside PUBLIC jobs which are often outside PAID jobs for government agencies.
Question #5 - Stem Cell Research Ballot Initiative
$450 Million to finance = 9 years - $50 million each year for research grants
Woj: Doubtful it would help the states budget. Does not think that the US could surpass the efforts of the European countries.
Johnson:
He is FOR it. It would be an "economic engine" for research and education in NJ. We will be in the forefront if we start now.
Cifarelli: Opposes Embryonic Stem cell research, but is for adult stem cell research. However that a good business environment is needed and it is the wrong time right now.
Huttle: FOR it. Mentioned it as and "economic engine". She pointed out we are known for our pharmaceuticval industry and biotechnology. It is a perfect fit. She also mentioned "You cannot put a price tag on a cure for cancer".
Cifarelli: For adult stem cell research
Nibot: Does not want to spend any money on stem cell reserach
Weinberg: Stem Cell Research is "One of the best investments the people of NJ can make". NJ is the perfect state to become a biotech center. It will creat jobs. There is a capital building section in the bond issue. "We must invest in what the new frontier of medical research is."
Question# 6 - Asset Monetization
Transforming state assets into cash.
Johnson: The plan has not been presented to the legislature yet, but it will be throroughly discussed at the local levels prior to the legislature voting on it.
Cifarelli: Bought the Republican party line that we will be SELLING The GSP and the Turnpike.
Woj: He said he has an open mind on it and that he is not a professional politician (no kidding - he definitely missed the class on not having a boring monotonous monotone and putting everyone to sleep).
Weinberg: She said she trusts that Jon Corzine would never sell a state asset. The Governor made clear that that is NOT part of the plan and that any emplyees would be protected. We will not be "selling any assets".
Nibot: just a nasty whiny rant that made no sense....(when she gets this way my notes simply say "clueless!")
Weinberg: There are still unanswered questions about this plan. The LD37 team will engage the local voters and will wait to see the plan.
Question #7 Civil Unions
Huttle: Would vote for same sex marriage. Has a bill in Legislature right now. She is pro-family and pro-marriage outside of religious institutions.
Cifarelli: Civil Unions are OK, needs a little work but it should be a public ballot question.
Woj: Complicated. Thinks it should be by referendum. Thinks only a small minority is actually for it. (Again shows lack of doing homework on this)
Johnson: FOR it. The people have already spoken - they want equal benefits. Employees have been having problems already with the civil unions law.
Weinberg: She stated that she knows loving families with children in longstanding relationships that lasted longer than heterosexual couples'. They should have the full benefits of civil marriage. "Words do matter" to all committed couples.
Nobot: It's a social issue and it would be a "big change". It should be a ballot initiative.
Weinberg: The courts have already spoken on it. We don;t have an initiative and referndum procedure in NJ, that's why we elect State Senators and Assemblymembers. (Again the LD37 team had to explain to their opponents how government works in NJ. So sad.)
Question #8 - School Aid Formula
Cifarelli: Current funding formula is unfair - only Garfield is an Abbott school district.
Johnson: The system is not perfect, but LD37 aid has gone UP.
Woj: School Construction is a problem and there are unaccounted for funds.
Nibot: Again talks about local problems in Bergenfield that are addressed at Municipal level, not state level. Clueless.
Cifarelli: Blamed local tax problems on the LD37 legislators (I need to remind folks here that Nibot and Woj are from Bergenfield - a Ferriero town steeped in Pay to Play, and that Cifarelli is from Hackensack, another town in need of Pay to Play housecleaning - their knowledge of taxes and what affects them needs a huge overhaul and education on how pay to play raises local taxes and that it is the County that affects that NOT the state legislators.)
Woj: nearly put me to sleep again. Recomended that the school funding should be based only on the # of children.
Weinberg:
School funding should follow the child and be based on the child's NEEDS. Hackensack got 11-1/2% MORE money thanks to the LD37 teams efforts and Bergenfield got 5% MORE. They passed a law to get the County School Superintendent to have oversight. They also voted to get rid of unfunded state mandates. 12 Boroughs in LD37 got MORE funds - from 3% to 13%.
Nibot: Pleased to hear that before she went into another rant about why are they worrying about this "now???!" Clueless. (She didn't even know it happened, how could she be expected to understand when they actually started working on it?)
Closing Arguments:
Weinberg: Proud of her record. She was a prime sponsor of the law to reduce the blood alcohol level for DWI.
Sponsored the Clean Indoor Air Act, the law to give new mothers more time in the hospital before being sent home, the law to have insurance cover mammograms for women under 40. She works hard to help children not just here but all over the state. It matters what happens to children in Newark as well as in the 37th.
Woj: He said we need a "change" (just what that means he didn't say). He talked about tax increases, no bid contracts, dual office holding, emminent domain, and school reforms.
Huttle: As a Funeral director she knows about compassion and she puts a human face on the issues of our district. She is a business owner with 2 daughters. She cares about children and has worked to change the way DYFS operates. She is concerned about saving the environment and quality of life in NJ.
Cifarelli:
He commended the LD37 team for getting more funding. He said we should directly elect the District Attorney and the State Comptroller. (If he only knew how difficult it is to have fair elections....)
Johnson:
When you support the LD37 team - you ARE supporting the reformers. To set the record straight he stated that the only pension he receives is from being a retired Police officer in Englewood. He feels that public service to his hometown of 50 years is very gratifying and it was because of that sense of service and duty that he ran for councilman while he was in the Assembly to try to clean up the Pay To Play corruption at the local level in Englewood.
Nibot: She is an ordinary citizen who is upset over property taxes and corruption. (like we aren't)
At an 11 am press conference today, the LD37 Legislators, Senator Loretta Weinberg & Assemblymembers Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson explained their findings after months of painstaking research of NJ corruption, and announced their plans to reform NJ ethics laws. Their approach is based firmly on the hard facts obtained that show clearly that the current laws are full of loopholes that allow literally MILLIONS of dollars to flow from the taxpayers to a few individuals. What they uncovered, they said was only "the tip of the iceberg".
They want to clean house and end the "Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Government":
1) "Shadow Governments" - like the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority and the Bergen County Improvement Authority. These public entities have absolutely no oversight and you need to be a detective to connect where the money goes. Also, the Governor has no veto power over their meeting minutes - which means he has no ability to stop an action taken by the body.
2) Part Time legislature - which can present conflict of interest issues.
3) Loopholes in State "Pay to Play" laws. Currently, there is not enough trransparency about where the money goes when PACs are involved. Also, Pay-to-Play laws don't stop redevelopers from seeking eminent domain to cash in.
4) Unfairness in political party operations. Selection of party officials and the review process used to fill legislative vacancies is currently not transparent. If you need a reminder, see my diaries on the BCDO.
5) Campaign financing. It currently allows Pay-to-Play to occur and removes the people from the process. Money gets funneled up down and all around the state.
6) Lack of Transparency in hiring lobbyists. Currently in places like the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, folks like Joe Ferriero (you knew he'd come up - didn't you?) who not only is a paid employee of the commission - (he makes $45,000 per year WITH pension and benefits) on top of running his own private law firm, earned an additional $719,000 in legal fees in 2006 ALONE. Nope, I didn't add an extra zero. He made over half a million in addition to his salary and benefits. If you count since 2001 - he has made $4.5 MILLION dollars in legal billings alone. That's taxpayer money, folks. YOUR Money. With NO oversight.
7) Loopholes in local government ethics laws. In non partisan elections, such as in Teaneck, local government officials don't need to submit financial disclosure statements until a year after they are sworn in. That's a long time. Talk about locking the barn door too late.
NJ Legislators have already brought some bills to the Legislature. Here is a rundown of each bill, by name:
S677/A1730 by Weinberg/Johnson/Voss
This would give the Governor veto power over the minutes of any commission as a check so that he can prevent the body from taking action or hiring a no show lobbyist or "consultant".
SCR122/ACR259 by Doria/Greenstein and Gusciora/Manzo/Johnson respectively
These bills would provide for a full time legislature. The difference in the two bills has to do with how the salaries are set - by either the legislature itself, or an independent commission.
S214/A4164 by Weinberg/Karcher/Buono/Johnson/Huttle
Would close loopholes in the current "Pay-To-Play" laws.
S1599/A4235 by Weinberg/Karcher/Johnson/Huttle
This would force even those running in non-partisan elections to file their financial records withoin 30 days of being sworn in instead of a year AFTER.
Senator Weinberg, when announcing these initiatives, collectively called "Clean Up New Jersey", stated that public service should once again be a "public mission & not a moneymaking machine for any one or any one group of people."
Assemblywoman Huttle stated that "The buck has to stop somewhere" while speaking about the use of a state comptroller who would perform an annual audit and act as check against the kind of abuse of the public trust in matters of financial responsibility.
As part of the initiative, Assemblywoman Huttle spoke of a new process whereby taxpayers could get online access to see exactly how many lobbyists are employed by a public entity.
New bills will be announced on October 16 jointly with the Citizen's Campaign. Further measures include limiting contibutions from those doing business with public entities. and also to limit contributions by developers in discussions with public entities. Keeping money in the district in which it is raised is one way they hope to limit the influence of PACS as well as limiting the # of PACS one individual can manage.
Gordon Johnson said that Clean Elections financing is part of the whole effort and puts "Democracy back in the people's hands". It gets the average voter much more involved in the whole process. While Clean Elections still needs a little tweaking paper-workwise, the LD37 team said that they hoped the rest of the state would use Clean Elections as it clearly worked. They pointed out that Dems in clearly R districts earned their Clean Elections funds.
And now, all is clear. I get it. I totally understand why Joe Ferriero and Dennis Oury spent 4 million of BCDO money on the race for the County Executive in Bergen County. You see, the County gets to appoint the folks to these "shadow governments" with the ability to spend your money like drunken sailors WITHOUT having to ask you or even EXPLAIN it to you. You have to control the County appointments in order to control these money making machines. Joe Ferriero doesn't care about Hillary, or even Scott Garrett, which is why he spent so little to win the 5th seat. It would not have affected his secret ATM the way that losing the County Executive seat would have. Here is the explanation of what has been nagging me for so long. It isn't about politics, or even government, it is solely about greed and personal gain for a few people.
Now, this works the same ALL OVER THE STATE apparently, so if you are in South Jersey too, take heed. Get your legislators on the phone and tell them you want to "Clean Up New Jersey" and that you want them to pass these initiatives or you will NOT vote for them this November. The power is in the hands of the Counties, and to keep the money flowing, folks like Joe Ferriero will do whatever they can, to keep control of the Party Organizations and the County government in their hands for the reasons, your LD37 team outlined today. And, they will do ANYTHING to control state legislative seats that could potentially pass laws to stop their gravy train. The reason the Senate seats are the most valuable is because of Senatorial Courtesy which can prevent an honest judicial appointee from investigating what the folks in the shadows want to keep secret.
If NJ folks are still wondering why living here costs so much after this explanation, they aren't paying attention. Wake them up.
P.S. This took a lot of homework, but no Clean Elections money was used in this act of selfless pure public service, and according to elec, it would have been allowed ANYWAY, Ms. Nibot.
LD37 Incumbents, Senator Loretta Weinberg and her running mates, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle qualify for more Clean Elections campaign funds. And once again, Ms. Nibot from Bergenfield and her running mates do not.
You could almost pity poor Ms. Nibot according to this Stiles column in the Record. Tsk. Tsk. Actually bribing elderly ladies with the promise of a free dinner if they would be her 400th contributor. Sad. So sad.
However, hold your pity for a moment. Bergenfield does wierd things to folks lately........
Without the slightest sense of even understanding the irony of it all, Nibot has asked the ELEC to look into how Loretta Weinberg is spending her Clean Elections money. After campaigning as the Clean Elections candidate up until the bitter end, while actually never being certified an OFFICIAL NJ Clean Elections candidate (talk about misleading packaging), Ms, Nibot has the raw unadulterated chutzpah to challenge Senator Weinberg about how she spends her newly acquired campaign funds. I feel like Jon Stewart when he rubs his eyes furiously with his palms, shakes his head, looks up wide eyed and says Whaaaaaaa?
Come again, Ms. Nibot? If anyone is a Clean Candidate it is Senator Weinberg. It is certainly not you. According to ELEC, I have the proof. You didn't QUALIFY. You will just have to accept funds from folks like Joe Ferriero, Councilman Mulligan, or whoever else is funding your misleading campaign against our incumbent Senator.
As for Ms. Nibot's indignation that Senator Weinberg is looking into how our public utilities are run, whether for ideas on how to improve them or to root out corruption, what the heck is wrong with that? As a voter in NJ, I'd be happy to know that our Senator is looking after our interests everywhere - especially in expensive places and under rocks we often don't think to look. I hate to tell Ms. Nibot,"It ain't all about you, sweetheart." Just because you don't think a candidate should do any research except to learn all about your failings, doesn't mean Senator Weinberg is doing anything illegal or even unethical. It just tells me, you have more issues than a newstand. I don't know if I care to figure out what they all are before November 6 and I don't know if the voters have the time or inclination either.
See below for more links and articles explaining the real ways campaign money corrupts the political process. After reading them, tell me how a desperate Republican like Ms. Nibot can attack a popular honest Democratic State Senator like Loretta Weinberg who has just persuaded over 800 District 37 voters to give her 10$ each. Tell me that Niibot is the clean candidate when she can't even stay above the kind of nasty smears and innuendos that characterize the dirtiest of politics.
Ms. Nibot, it is you who needs to "come clean" and stop advertising yourself as the Clean Candidate when you are NOT.
UPDATE: Assemblyman Whelan seems well on his way to the Senate, with a campaign of ethics reform, and strong support of labor. A great pickup opportunity, and a great guest.
EXTRA SPECIAL SURPRISE BONUS: Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle calls in to wish her colleague well, and of course, makes our day.
Thanks to both!
Saturday morning can only mean one thing: live radio with your calls, 10:30a-11. In addition to the best coffeetalk in town, Jeff and I will be joined by Jim Whelan who's running for state senate in Atlantic County. A Whelan victory would flip the 2nd district blue and how cool would that be?
Live radio with your calls! (646) 652-2773
In the meantime, in case you missed it, you can still catch last week's show with Senator Loretta Weinberg:
And when you're finished, you can surf through ALL our shows on our BlogTalkRadio page. Or download them all here:
To Joe Ferriero, organized democratic protest = intimidation and legalized bribery = democracy. The jokes almost write themselves. Promoted from the diaries -- Juan
Well, it's official. The MSM thinks we have an actual "army" of Democratic Grassroots activists against Pay to Play. Good.
The funny thing is it is really more like - "A Word to the Wise is Sufficient". There is such excellent communication between our Legislators in the 37th District and our voters, and a genuine dialog between the rank and file Dems and the LD37th team - that news travels at light speed. That's all. When an internet savvy activist simply hears what is going on in their name - they are used to logging on, plugging in, and mobilizing others who care what their party is up to and need to know. Blackberries and text messages are even faster than the internet. There is no ordering around, there is only communication.
I'm going to be standing outside 50 Main street as it is my right to do to express my displeasure at the actions of my Party Chairman and the BCDO attorney. If all the friends I have made since the Dean campaign and on Blue Jersey here feel like standing out there with me, I won't turn them away. We'll be nice but we won't be silent.
I am not trying to intimidate my fellow Committee members, I am trying to awaken their consciences. I am trying to free the County Employees who can't speak up. I don't think they are bad people. I think they are terrified to rock the boat. That's why I'm happy to do it for them.
Big Update [Sept 10, 2:35pm]: Joe Ferriero has called off tonight's meeting. Instead, he is forming a "platform committee" to consider the issue. This is not over, but consider this battle won.
Bergen County boss Joe Ferriero, who runs the county by routinely trading jobs for loyalty and contracts for campaign contributions, wants BCDO lawyer Dennis Oury to sue the state to strike down pay-to-play laws threatening his patronage mill.
But why now? Why time this to coincide with election season? He almost pulled a similar stunt last year, but was talked out of it. Some think he's pressing the issue at this politically awkward time to pressure Codey and Roberts to pony up their leadership PAC money.
Since 37th district legislators Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson objected to his decision, he decided to call a meeting of the BCDO executive committee for this Monday at 5pm to take a vote on the issue. Presumably, he wouldn't have called the meeting if he didn't have the votes. Bergen County rank and file Democrats are expected to stage a protest outside the meeting to express their disapproval of this latest power grab.
Those eligible to vote include elected officials in Bergen County. The legislators in the 37th district have already made their views known, but how will Senators Paul Sarlo and Joe Coniglio and Assemblypersons Robert Gordon and Joan Voss vote?
There are several other candidates from Bergen County who could find themselves in a similar position if they win in November, and we deserve to know how they would vote: Joseph Ariyan, Esther Fletcher, Carl Manna, Zonie LeSane and Lisa Sciancalepore. Do they agree with Joe Ferriero that the pay-to-play laws should be struck down? I'll post updates here as we learn where they stand.
Here comes Round 2, folks! The Clean Elections Candidates - (all the Dems anyway) did great in Round 1 and they will get "Clean Elections" next to their names on the ballot. But they still need your help. Tell every registered voter you know in the Clean Elections districts - regardless of their party - to send contributions to their candidates.
The hard deadline is September 30, which is when all the paperwork must be in to the state. Don't make things harder for your candidates. Get your contributions to your candidates by September 15, which will give them enough time to verify and get their paperwork to the state.
Meeting this second deadline will get them more clean elections funds to spend on their campaigns. Only two more months to go before the election.
We can do this. If you already gave your $10 to each candidate you CAN'T give again. But you CAN urge your fellow registered voters who haven't contributed to send in $10. Tell them if we get clean elections to work right this time - you won't be hitting them up for a $250 dollar donation next election season. What a bargain!!!
To Recap - these are the towns involved:
DISTRICT #14: Mercer: Hamilton, West Windsor Middlesex: Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro & S. Brunswick
DISTRICT #24: Hunterdon: Califon, Tewksbury Morris: Chester Boro, Chester Twp, Mt. Olive, Netcong Boro, Washington & Sussex County
DISTRICT #37: Bergen: Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Rochelle Park, Teaneck & Tenafly
No matter what you read on other blogs, Loretta Weinberg's team is Clean Elections CERTIFIED so far, her Republican opponents are not. The Republicans could not get even 400 contributions.
On August 28, 2007 the Record's Charles Stile wrote an article about the Ferriero Bergen Democratic organization's intention to challenge the state's pay-to-play laws that included an interview with BCDO attorney Dennis Oury.
In response, Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle wrote the following letter and sent it to Chairman Joseph A. Ferriero.
August 28, 2007
Joseph A. Ferriero, Chairman
Bergen County Democratic Organization
50 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Dear Joe,
We were quite amazed to read the Charles Stile Record article, "Lawyer asks: What's wrong with pay-to-play? http://www.northjers...
According to this article, Dennis Oury will be going into court on behalf of the Bergen County Democratic Organization to strike down the state's landmark pay-to-play legislation.
As sponsors of this "landmark legislation" and as members of the Bergen County Democratic Legislative Delegation, all of whom voted for it, we wondered if we missed the Executive Committee meeting that authorized Mr. Oury to go into court on behalf of our organization?
Again, according to the article, "Pay-to-play is a myth, manufactured by the press and government do-gooders who never ran a race for dogcatcher, let alone a costly street fight for a county freeholder seat." As three people who have run races in primaries and general elections from our district and county-wide, and as card carrying members of the "government do-gooders", we wonder what experience Mr. Oury has in any of these areas?
We are particularly concerned about our party taking a stand on this issue without the input of our leadership and rank and file. It is bad government, bad politics and bad timing just before an election.
Mr. Oury is entitled to do anything he wishes as a private citizen. However, as the party's lawyer and Chair of its Bylaws Committee, he has no right to take action on our behalf without full discussion.
We know that our constituents are concerned about important issues like property taxes, health care and the war in Iraq. We also know that pay-to-play adds to the increased cost of running government and our constituents know that too. For example, more than 2,000 Teaneck residents signed a petition to put a banning pay-to-play ordinance on the ballot this November. The Teaneck Council is now deciding whether to follow the leadership of their constituents.
Before this lawsuit progresses any further, we are requesting a full discussion within our party regarding this important issue.
Sincerely,
Loretta Weinberg, Senator, LD37
Gordon M. Johnson, Assemblyman, LD37
Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Assemblywoman, LD37
REAL DEMOCRATS. REALLY HELPING PEOPLE.
cc: Members of the Bergen County Democratic Organization
The LD37 team of Weinberg, Huttle, and Johnson need your help in participating in the Clean Elections program. They need to EACH get one check for 10$ - (total of $30) from 400 registered voters IN LD37 to participate.
If you live in one of the following towns - you are in Legislative District 37 and can participate in this historic election:
Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Rochelle Park, Teaneck and Tenafly.
I was mailed the forms but you can download them here:
At the top of each form (you'll need one for each candidate) -write in:
Clean Election Fund of Loretta Weinberg for Senate
Clean Election Fund of Gordon M. Johnson for Assembly
Clean Election Fund of Valerie Vaineiri Huttle for Assembly
Fill out and sign all 3 forms.
Make out 3 SEPARATE checks to
1) Clean Election Fund of Loretta Weinberg
2) Clean Election Fund of Gordon M. Johnson
3) Clean Election Fund of Valerie Huttle
Mail all 3 forms and 3 checks (snailmail) to:
P.O. Box 3392, Teaneck, NJ 07666
USE 2 STAMPS
The GOOD NEWS:
You only need to send in $10 for each candidate.
You don't have to be a registered Democrat to participate.
The BAD NEWS:
You can only send in $10 per candidate.
You must be a REGISTERED VOTER in LD 37.
DEADLINES:
August 10th - The first 400 contributions to each candidate in by this deadline allows the candidates to have the name "Clean Elections Candidate" printed on the ballot alongside of each candidate's name with an accompanying 250 word candidate statement. - it's like free advertising right in the voting booth. That first 400 donors for each candidate, also gets each candidate the first $50,000 installment of Clean Elections campaign grant money.
September 30 - A total of 800 separate $10 donations to each candidate must be in and completed in order to fully qualify for the entire $100,000 in campaign grant money for each candidate.
The Assembly Telecom and Utilities Committee is hearing arguments for and against A-3301 (aka the "Global Warming Response Act.")
This bill would establish ambitious goals of greenhouse gas omissions cuts by 2020. And pending a favorable vote later, would be released to the full Assembly.
The bill's sponsor, Linda Stender is currently in the hot seat and luckily she's an articulate spokesperson for the cause. The primary co-sponsors are Valerie Huttle and Reed Gusciora. I am sure it's no small coincidence that the friends of the planet are also friends of Blue Jersey.
Update: Assemblywoman Huttle weighs in:
Global Warming is one of the most pressing issues that the world faces today. I think NJ can be a leader for the entire nation. Our goal is to cut global warming pollution and emissions by 20 percent below current levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. This not only protects our environment but also our economy. Investments in clean energy and energy efficiency will certainly provide economic stimulus.
A new caucus is being formed by Reed Gusciora called the Green Caucus, I am honored to be a member and look forward to addressing these issues to help make NJ Green.
Well, I just heard the latest. The county and local Real Bergen Democrats will all be together in column 1 on the ballot. The BCDO candidates will appear in Column 2, headed by Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblywoman Valerie Vanieri Huttle, and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson.
This means our Real Bergen Democrats candidates including Tenafly's very own Shama Haider and candidates Mike Lattif, Pat Rouse, and Joe McDermott are all in Column 1. Also in Column 1: Timothy Driscoll and the Real Bergen Dems in Bergenfield, as well as Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen of Englewood.
In a stunning turn of sweet ballot irony, the Real Bergen Democrats will have the Column 1 advantage over the powerful Party Boss-endorsed candidates who are now in Column 2. Only in NJ............
