CODEY SIGNS BILL
FREEZING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR COUNTY AND STATE POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS
(TRENTON) – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today
signed S-27, a bill that will freeze campaign contribution limits to State and
county political organizations and to leadership political action committees at
their current levels.
The new law – which was co-sponsored by Codey as
Senate President and by Senator Ellen Karcher, and in the Assembly by
Assemblyman Alfred E. Steele and Assemblyman Mims Hackett Jr. – is another step
in Acting Governor Codey’s effort to restore the public’s trust in government
and eliminate the influence of money on State officials.
“We cannot talk about government reform if we’re not
doing everything possible to eliminate the influence of money,” Acting Governor
Codey said. “There is already too much money in politics.”
“We actually have a law that requires contribution
limits to go up every four years. It’s absurd. Social Security checks should get
a cost of living adjustment, not campaign contributions,” the Acting Governor
continued.
Prior to enactment of the new law, existing law
required the Election Law Enforcement Commission to adjust campaign contribution
limits by December 1 on years that precede a gubernatorial election. The
adjustments were based on a formula that measured the increase in the cost of
campaigning over the previous four years.
The new law ends the automatic four-year adjustment by
ELEC, and freezes contribution limits at their current levels. The new law
requires ELEC to issue a report to the Legislature every four years, with
recommendations for contribution limit adjustments. The Legislature could then
adopt part or all of the recommended adjustments through
legislation.
“Jerry Fitzgerald English, the Chair of ELEC, has
thanked me for this proposal. Even the people at ELEC don’t want to be forced,
every four years, to order us to raise contribution limits,” Acting Governor
Codey said.
The new law excludes a freeze on campaign contribution
limits to individual candidate committees, because such contributions help
create a larger field of candidates, and boost candidates’
independence.
Today’s action is part of Acting
Governor Codey’s broader effort to rebuild public trust in government.
In addition to today’s bill
signing, Acting Governor Codey:
- On
December 6 signed an Executive Order banning the State, including its
departments, agencies and independent authorities, from hiring bond
underwriting firms that pay contingency fees to consultants. That Executive
Order broadens an existing law – sponsored by Codey as Senate President – that
bans contingency fees for lobbyists. The Executive Order and law help prevent
the influence of money on government officials.
- On
November 29 made New Jersey only the ninth State with a statewide office of
Inspector General – a position with a broad, powerful mandate to
seek out waste, mismanagement and fraud in Government spending. The
Inspector General will review procurements and public contracts; receive
complaints and perform investigations; and recommend ways the State can save
money.
- Created
on November 17, his second day as Acting Governor, Special Counsel for
Ethics Reform. The Special Counsel will conduct a thorough audit of all
ethics rules that apply to Executive Branch and authorities employees; and
will develop a mandatory ethics training program for employees.
- Is
co-sponsoring a bill to let municipalities, counties and school boards enact
stronger pay-to-play bans.
- Is
working to codify into law former Governor McGreevey’s Executive Order banning
contributions from vendors that do business with State agencies.
Announced
he will go further than State law requires, by banning contributions from State
vendors to his Senate leadership PAC and individual campaign committee while he
serves as Acting Governor.
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Photos
and audio and video clips from Acting Governor Codey's public events are
available
in
the Acting Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page,
http://www.nj.gov/gov_newsroom.html.
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