Quote of the Day: "Despite blaring headlines..."

by: Jason Springer

Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 04:30:00 PM EST

"Despite blaring headlines that announce the most recent prosecution and conviction of a public official, we have yet to reach the point when it can be said that defending against a federal or state criminal indictment alleging corrupt practices is an 'ordinary' expense of holding public office,"

A shot across the bow

by: Adam L a/k/a clammyc

Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 12:52:39 PM EST

Personally, this is a great thing to see, as the Democratic Party (both on the local, state and national levels) have taken progressives for granted - using us as an ATM (or in this instance as coined by someone who I will certainly credit when I remember, a gAyTM) to elect their candidates because "the other party is worse" but then offering little in the way of real change.  

"Better than the alternative" has gotten real old real quick - we have had large majorities as well as the Governorship here in NJ for quite some time now - and a good number of progressive issues and causes have gotten little traction.  On the Federal level, this is the same story - first it was "we need a majority", then it was "we need a bigger House majority and 60 Senate seats", and even then it took a shitstorm to even get the repeal of DADT on the agenda.

The Democratic Party (again, here in NJ as well as on a national level) should see this as yet another sign of a wake up call.  No longer are progressives happy to work and donate to the party structure only to get pushed aside.  The rise of the national netroots has given progressives the ability to donate and promote individual candidates based on views, support of issues or to reward for "going to bat" for progressive causes.

Amazingly, equality is one that has to be pushed for over and over and over again - and is one that is pushed aside or given half-hearted "separate but equal" actions.

On the issue of marriage equality, AmericaBlog has already initiated a Don't Ask, Don't Give initiative, and as noted by Pam's House Blend (where you can also see the entire text of the resolution), this could lead to support for Republican Party candidates who support marriage equality.

National and State Democratic Party leaders should sit up and take notice - the progressive netroots and grassroots has been kicked around for long enough, and has been able to organize in one of the few ways that elected officials react to - money and donations.  The tired excuses and lack of support by those who made promises in order to gain support and election will most certainly come back and bite them over time.

It may not be this November, but you can bet this is more of a blueprint for future netroots and grassroots campaigns and less of an aberration.  The state and national Democratic Parties can ignore this or write it off, but they do so at their own peril.

NJ 4th Quarter House fundraising totals

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 02, 2010 at 10:30:00 AM EST

	Cash on Hand	Q4 Receipts	Q4 Disbursements
Andrews	$156,215.85	$97,076.03	$136,071.08
LoBiondo	$112,2460.53	$88,788.65	$143,491.17
Adler	$1,407,625.72	$279,742.68	$67,502.87
Smith	$225,195.42	$146,741.78	$47,638.52
Garrett	$391,496.09	$197,479.00	$73,569.74
Pallone	$3,917,859.89	$215,158.17	$310,216.65
Lance	$347,966.10	$96,643.00	$63,050.90
Pascrell	$1,414,842.60	$164,801.13	$123,279.39
Rothman	$1,803,385.44	$126,689.05	$83,146.07
Payne	$1,173,044.14	$63,097.49	$44,123.71
Frelinghuysen	$528,071.09	$119,190.58	$85,929.91
Holt	$635,138.30	$107,536.84	$63,106.40
Sires	$224,823.35	$59,430.11	$68,853.41

An additional NJ fundraising success story is New Jersey alum Jennifer May. After assisting state candidates, raising money for the Assembly Democrats and handling finance for John Adler's Congressional campaign in 2008, May moved on to Scott Murphy's race in NY's 20th district. Murphy is another frontline candidate for the DCCC and with May's help, Murphy comes in 2nd for total raised in the 4th quarter with over $400,000 raised.

The whole issue of candidate fundraising may become that much more significant this cycle in light of the recent Supreme Court Decision allowing corporate cash to flood the system even further.  

County party fundraising sees 28% drop

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jan 25, 2010 at 02:00:00 PM EST

"Fundraising by county committees has decreased by 28 percent since 2005, the last time there was an election for Governor and the General Assembly,'' said Jeff Brindle, Executive Director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Over the same period, expenditures were down 30 percent, he said.

County party committees raised $13.7 million in 2009, a $5.2 million reduction from the $18.9 million raised four years ago, he said. Spending dropped from $19 million to $13.3 million, a $5.7 million reduction.

Brindle said another local trend also could be curtailing amounts reported by county party officials. Several new political action committees have formed recently, some by county party members themselves, he said. "This activity may be drawing funds away from the county organizations,'' Brindle said.

Leadership Committee fundraising: NJ Republicans have more cash on hand than the NJ Democrats

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 07:26:11 PM EST

The Senate Republican Majority PAC started the filing period with $518,013, raised $232,907, spent $239,067 and now has $511,923.25 cash-on-hand.  

The Senate Democratic Majority {AC started the filing period with $987,869, raised $184,335, spent $694,266 and now has $457,937.65 cash-on hand.

The Assembly Republican Victory PAC started the filing period with $244,156, raised $520,536, spent $690,413 and now has $74,279 cash-on-hand.

The Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee Pac started the filing period with $803,605, raised $923,114, spent $1,690,804 and now has $35,946 cash-on-hand.

The Republican State Committee PAC started the filing period with $148,381, raised $1,186,184, spent $1,126,256 and now has $208,309 cash-on-hand.

The Democratic State Committee PAC started the filing period with $373,882, raised $2,935,817, spent $3,300,608 and now has $9,607 cash-on-hand.

Both the Senate and Assembly Republicans have more cash on hand than their Democratic counterparts and the fundraising landscape has changed. Republicans are the motivated party with a new Governor at the top to help lead those efforts. The Democrats are more depressed and a major funding source in the former Governor will not be there as a safety net for the party. The Democrats are going to need to go back to basics and build back up.

The party is also going to need to change the way it does fundraising. While people still point to gaps and holes in the system, the pay to play and contribution rules have been tightened significantly over the years:

Fundraising reports filed January 15 indicate that financial activity by the so-called "big six" committees has declined dramatically from four years ago, the last time there were campaigns for both the Governor's Office and the General Assembly.

Gross receipts reported by the "big six" were down 36 percent compared to similar reports for 2005. Spending showed a 34 percent decline from four years ago.

ELEC publishes municipal campaign donations online for first time

by: Jason Springer

Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 10:45:00 AM EST

Initially, more than $5.5 million donated to 377 different primary fundraising committees last spring can be analyzed electronically. More than $11.5 million in general election funding will become available early next year.

Jeffrey Brindle, ELEC's executive director, said the new tool is part of the office's mission to provide "the fullest possible disclosure of candidate fundraising."

"More complete disclosure of municipal and county donations will enhance enforcement of pay-to-play laws, laws that are intended to discourage undue influence by public contractors," Brindle said. "If someone receives a public contract, any citizen can simply key in the person's name and a list of his or her contributions will appear."

And eleven other places in the state saw over $100,000 raised for campaigns:

Location	Receipts	Disbursements
Ocean County	$183,269	$188,602
Englewood	$177,963	$163,162
Morristown	$160,981	$152,362
Atlantic County	$157,042	$124,185
Camden County	$152,874	$142,567
Plainfield	$129,128	$148,998
Burlington County	$124,300	$124,300
Gloucester County	$117,032	$97,463
Passaic County	$114,354	$86,837
Brick Township	$110,593	$29,095
Secaucus	$107,889	$106,561

ELEC says they are working to provide more information including general election numbers, school board, May and June Municipal races and fire commission in the near future. Safari and Firefox users are hoping fixes come for them too so they can find all this additional information. You can search for information about contributions, candidates and contributors by visiting ELEC's website.

ELEC reports 25% drop in fundraising, 32% drop in spending by Assembly candidates

by: Jason Springer

Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 10:15:00 AM EDT

Candidates for the General Assembly have raised $14.6 million and spent $10.2 million, according to 11-day pre-election reports  filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for the 2009 General Election.

"These figures represent an even more dramatic decrease in financial activity from four years ago than was reported at the 29-day reporting period," said Jeff Brindle, Executive Director of the Commission.

In 2005, the last time there were contests for Governor and Assembly, Assembly candidates had raised $19.4 million and spent $14.9 million by this time.

"What we have witnessed since Pay-to-Play laws were enacted and executive orders issued is a slowdown in campaign financial activity, culminating in the dramatic decrease at all levels this year," said Brindle.

"Potential donors are hesitant to give, fearing being in violation of the law, forfeiting a public contract, or being prohibited from negotiating and bidding on a contract."

"It is safe to say that Pay-to-Play laws are working with regard to reducing the amount in contributions going directly to candidates," he said.

Democratic candidates raised $10 million, spent $7.2 million and have $2.8 million cashon-hand. Republican candidates have raised $4.5 million, spent $2.9 million and have cash-onhand totaling $1.5 million. Independents have reported $118,081 raised and $60,971 in expenditures. Cash-on-hand for Independents amounts to $56,929.

A Money Story of Campaign 2009

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 07:19:00 PM EDT

The three major candidates, Governor Jon S. Corzine, Republican Candidate Christopher J. Christie, and Independent Candidate Christopher J. Daggett, have raised 10 percent less and spent 20 percent less than candidates Corzine and Forrester did at the 29-day reporting deadline in 2005.

Brindle pegs the difference on the fact that both candidates in 2005 - Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester - opted out of public campaign financing, and largely paid for their campaigns themselves. The public's sharper understanding of pay-to-play laws may be making potential donors hesitant, says Brindle, and the country's overall economic conditions may also be contributing. Or, not contributing, as it were.

The campaigns are hardly austere, even given the decline in spending. The report - a financial snapshot of the campaigns 29 days out from Election Day - show Corzine, Christie, and Daggett have raised $27.5 million and spent $23.1 million. In 2005, the two major candidates had reported raising $30.7 million and spending $28.9 million in that 29-day report. Combined, all the other independent govy candidates raised $28,582 and spent $12,227.

Of course, the Republicans started spinning this pronto. Witness two competing headlines at pnj; the factual report by staffer Matt Friedman and then the spin quote from Christie campaign manager Bill Stepian. H/t huntsu for that little nugget.  

2nd Quarter House Fundraising

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 01:15:00 PM EDT

Congressman Adler raised the most money in the 2nd quarter with over $518K, followed by Congressman Pallone and then Garrett.

Congressman Pallone has the most Cash on Hand by far and away with over $3.7 million. He has twice as much as the next member, Congressman Rothman who is followed by Pascrell and then Lobiondo.

Congressman Adler raised the most form individuals at over $267K, followed by Pallone, Garrett and then Rothman.

Congressman Adler raised the most from PAC's at over 250K, followed by Pallone, Lance and Frelinghuysen.

The members of the NJ delegation that raised more from PAC's than individuals were Congressmen Andrews, Payne, LoBiondo, Frelinghuysen, Pallone and Lance.

Congressman Adler raised more than any Frontline Democrats across the country.

		Total Contrib	COH	Indiv	PAC
1.	Andrews	$151,500	$173,442	$66,050	$85,450
2.	LoBiondo	$95,025	$1,167,179	$33,725	$61,300
3.	Adler	$518,563	$869,275	$267,918	$250,448
4.	Smith	$66,658	$117,494	$35,708	$30,950
5.	Garrett	$252,211	$228,888	$134,211	$118,000
6.	Pallone	$379,381	$3,770,842	$159,331	$220,050
7.	Lance	$201,868	$263,807	$56,156	$145,712
8.	Pascrell	$209,725	$1,316,328	$106,625	$103,100
9.	Rothman	$175,650	$1,858,569	$128,150	$47,500
10.	Payne	$90,731	$1,148,992	$21,725	$68,006
11.	Frelinghuysen	$133,801	$484,226	$61,945	$133,801
12.	Holt	$116,360	$509,221	$64,660	$51,700
13.	Sires	$179,050	$263,494	$103,050	$76,000

Why did Chris Christie decide not to go to Evesham?

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 02:00:00 PM EDT

The only difference between last week when his appearance was confirmed and the swearing in yesterday were the campaign finance allegations that became public earlier this week. I wrote about it on Monday and an article appeared in the Courier Post on Tuesday.

Christie turned up swearing in the Mayor in Robbinsville. In Christie's absence, State Senator Phil Haines swore in the new candidates. You can see how last minute that decision was, because if you go to the Township website now for the most current agenda, it doesn't have anyone listed as swearing the candidates in. So what changed that Christie ended up in Robbinsville instead of Evesham?

Allegations of campaign finance violations fly in Evesham

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jun 29, 2009 at 10:00:00 AM EDT

A June 10 story in the Burlington County Times prompted Evesham Councilman Mike Schmidt, who lost his re-election bid, to call for an investigation into whether recently elected Republicans Kurt Croft, Joe Howarth and Deb Hackman violated laws which prevent "purposely concealing campaign donations."

In addition to the story, which talked about how the GOP outspent the Democrats, Schmidt pointed to a fundraising solicitation for the Croft, Howarth, and Hackman team which requests donors to make contributions to any or all of four continuing PAC's, the Evesham Republican Club, the Evesham Municipal Committee, the Evesham Federation of Republican Women and the Evesham Young Republicans. But there were clear instructions on what you could give and to whom:

*Checks to each account should not exceed $300.

"Furthermore, $300 is the maximum contribution a candidate for office in Evesham can accept from individuals looking to receive contracts from our government.  Therefore, an individual who donated $250 to all four PAC's would be in violation of our local pay to play law.  The fact that they specifically asked donors to keep the donation under the reporting limit shows a blatant attempt to conceal the nature of their fundraising efforts."

1st Quarter State Party fundraising

by: Jason Springer

Fri May 01, 2009 at 03:30:00 PM EDT

The RSC raised $50,753, spent $53,898 and ended March with $18,052 in the bank. Factoring in its debts, the party actually began April in a $118,297 hole. (For comparison purposes, the Democratic State Committee raised $720,757, spent $306,331, had $436,902 on hand and a net worth of $314,965.)

Of the $50,753 raised, $14,415 came in small donations of $300 or less that don?t have to be itemized in the campaign reports filed with the state. Another $36,300 was in larger donations ? and all but $3,300 of that was actually just redirected money contributed up the chain by Republican state lawmakers from their own campaign accounts. And $1,300 of that $3,300 came from either a former GOP lawmaker or a former GOP county chairman.

Menendez solicits for DSCC before deadline

by: Jason Springer

Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EDT

The DSCC's grassroots have been the driving force behind 14 Democratic pick-ups over the last four years.  But for all of our victories, it's clear now that Senate Republicans will force us to find 60 votes to pass every last piece of President Obama's vital agenda for change.

A filibuster-proof majority has never been more important, and we need the grassroots to be stronger than ever to win that final, 60th seat.  It's going to take all of us to lay the organizational foundation and recruit the best candidates to win in 2010.

That's why I'm asking for your help to raise the last $74,863 to meet our quarterly fundraising goal in the next 36 hours.

I know how the winds of history blow.  The President's party often loses Senate seats during midterm elections.  But the pundits have doubted us before and we shattered their misconceptions.  We're going to do it again in 2010 because the map looks strong for our candidates once again.

Five Republican incumbents have already retired, rather than defend their party's record of failure.  We have already begun the recruitment process for what promises to be some of the biggest races of 2010.

The Republicans will be singularly focused on winning Senate seats so they can deny President Obama's bold agenda.  Winning that filibuster-proof majority will not be easy.

But the DSCC has proven that we know how to win that one extra seat.  All that's missing is your generous support before tomorrow's midnight deadline.  Remember, give right now, and a group of my Senate colleagues will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar.

$150,000,000 in September Donations

by: huntsu

Sun Oct 19, 2008 at 08:28:27 AM EDT

Wow.

David Plouffe tells you about it on the Obama website.

Bruce and Billy to play for Barack

by: Hopeful

Tue Sep 30, 2008 at 05:48:26 PM EDT

Join us for CHANGE ROCKS at The Hammerstein Ballroom
featuring Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen & Friends.  
Thursday, October 16 @ 8:30 PM

That form asks $2,500 for a Premier Seat, but the NYT says you can get in balcony for a mere $500 contribution.

Update: Atrios points out there is also a free Springsteen concert in Philly.  They are looking for volunteers there.

Time to pull the plug on the stadium expansion

by: Hopeful

Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 02:07:58 AM EDT

According to state and university officials, the fundraising drive encountered obstacles that were not quite so obvious when Corzine and Lesniak first announced the stadium campaign this past winter. They cited a series of unexpected hurdles, among them a national recession that hurt all types of fund-raising, and the whirlwind presidential election that has swallowed up hundreds of millions in donations that might otherwise have gone to universities or athletics. At the same time, restrictions imposed by Corzine's ethics advisers out of concern for the propriety of a governor asking for cash further complicated the effort.

I'm sorry, but since donations to Presidential candidates are limited to $2,300 ($4,600 with General), I don't buy this story.  Furthermore, here are the total New Jersey political donations in Presidential years:

2000: $60,341,819
2004: $58,165,634
2008: $45,018,637 (so far)

So we can see that blaming this fiasco on Obama and Clinton is just spin.

The bottom line is that Rutgers finally has a decent college football program, and that is nice, but this stadium expansion is just too much. We now face the prospects of serious damage to the academic program.  Some states -- yes, I'm thinking of the South -- have a kind of right-wing socialism where sports entertainment is provided by state funds and corrupt rich patrons.  But New Jerseyans have three professional football teams to follow, even if they are named after cities just over the border, and so funding this stadium further is irresponsible.  

Warning: Your Train is on a Dirt Road

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 12:30:37 PM EDT

They should be happy that they don't run state elections until next year.  But this also exposes a real problem for the GOP.  It's one thing to ask a Presidential candidate for help in campaigning - that's business as usual pretty much everywhere.  It is quite another to ask a candidate to help raise money to keep your professional staff from becoming your volunteer staff.

If there were any doubt that the NJGOP is out of touch with the people of our state, this should lay it to rest.  People support political organizations that fight for them.  With a truly contested primary for US Senate winding down, the NJ GOP should be flush with cash - instead, it looks like they may be considering Murray Sabrin's fundraising approach (play the ponies, hope for the best).  If the state party can't pay its payroll, then they are either blowing through too much money on luxuries or they are just not representing their constituents.

A political party serves much the same function as rails do for a locomotive - they give it a means to get where it wants to go.  If you tear up the rails, though, your locomotive is left sitting on the dirt - and those trains tend to run much more slowly.

NJ House races: 1st Quarter Fundraising

by: Scott Weingart

Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 11:27:33 AM EDT

Stender Raises $430K in Q1

by: Juan Melli

Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 11:22:45 AM EDT

Her campaign had $840,000 cash on hand as of March 31.

Stender said "The people of New Jersey's 7th District have sent a message that they're tired of the failed policies of the Bush Administration and want real, lasting change."

Why is Jim Saxton's fundraising down this cycle?

by: SaxtonWatch

Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 01:40:05 PM EDT

With many speculating that Jim Saxton will be facing his toughest and most well-funded challenger in years, one would think that he would be doing everything in his power to raise as much money to defend his seat as possible.  While he still has a large amount of Cash On Hand, he hasn't exactly been shaking down the money tree making record deposits in the bank this cycle...

Filing	Raised this Quarter	Raised this Cycle
Apr-03	$53,100	$59,280
Apr-05	$38,265.50	$44,065.50
Apr-07	$14,896	$19,174
Jul-03	$122,444	$181,724
Jul-05	$228,058	$272,123
Jul-07	$144,568	$163,742
Oct-03	$190,545	$372,269
Oct-05	$140,942	$413,066
Oct-07	$97,085	$207,857

Maybe Saxton thinks he already has enough money in the bank and can just relax.  Maybe he doesn't think the challenge and climate he is facing are truly a threat.  Possibly, being a member of the minority with that prospect unlikely to change, he doesn't have the influence he once did and isn't the sound investment he once was.  Or then again, he might be getting ready to surf the GOP retirement wave.  Let's see how other GOP members facing tough re-elections have faired this cycle with their fundraising efforts...

GOP Incumbent	Raised this Quarter	Raised this Cycle
Mike Ferguson(NJ-7)	$238,362	$1,046,319
Robin Hayes (NC-8)	$353,236	$851,790
Vern Buchanan (Fl-13)	$411,844	$1,254,533
Mark Kirk (Il-10)	$526,065	$1,789,499
Jim Saxton (NJ-3)	$97,085	$207,857
Randy Kuhl (NY-29)	$170,244	$341,485
Jim Gerlach (Pa-6)	$236,936	$887,496
Charlie Dent (PA-15)	$157,000	$566,886
Dave Reichert (WA-8)	$306,234	$714,034
Chris Shays (CT-4)	$360,307	$850,145
Jim Walsh (NY-25)	$194,145	$621,484

So why is Jim Saxton's fundraising down this cycle, given how hard many in a similar situation facing a tough re-election bid are working? Maybe he agrees with us that it's time for a change.