March 30, 2007

O’TOOLE AND RUSSO SAY SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION MAY BE ONLY WAY TO END IMPASSE ON ETHICS REFORM

Calling on Governor Corzine to Force the Legislature To Convene and Enact Tough Anti-Corruption Package

In response to the unprecedented flurry of subpoenas, arrests and indictment of public officials this week, Assemblymen Kevin J. O’Toole and David C. Russo are calling on Governor Jon S. Corzine to convene a special session of the Legislature to deal with ethics reform.

“Even by New Jersey standards, the events of the last several days are a major embarrassment,” said O’Toole, R-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. “The time to pull the trip wire and halt the cavalcade of corruption in New Jersey is already long overdue.”

“How much more evidence is needed to convince the Democrats who control the legislative agenda in Trenton that dramatic action must be taken immediately to repair the damage and begin the process of restoring public confidence in their elected representatives?” asked Russo, also R-Bergen, Essex and Passaic.

For nearly three-and-a-half years, O’Toole and Russo have led the fight in the Assembly to achieve meaningful and permanent ethics reform. On numerous occasions, they have tried to force a vote on legislation that would ban pay-to-play and implement a multitude of other government reforms only to blocked time and again by legislative Democrats.

O’Toole and Russo said they fear the only way end the paralysis that has prevented passage of tough anti-corruption measures, such as a ban on pay-to-play, wheeling and dual office holding, is for Corzine to exercise his power to bring the Legislature back for a special session on ethics reform.

“It was the only way to get the Democrats to begin a dialogue on property tax reform last summer,” O’Toole said. “The governor may have to travel this road again.”

“The irony is there are more than enough members of both political parties who are more than ready and willing to vote for strong ethics reforms to ensure passage,” Russo added. “All we need is an opportunity to vote.”

Both lawmakers agreed that the special legislative session on property tax reform didn’t deliver nearly enough relief to ease the growing property tax burden that is pushing middle class families out of the state. But it ended the long-standing logjam that prevented anything from getting done.

“This just may be the way we need to ago again to deal with ethics reform,” O’Toole said.

“If handled right, we can reach a bipartisan consensus on a plan to clean up politics and government in New Jersey,” Russo added.

March 30, 2007

BIONDI: BYRANT INDICTMENT YET ANOTHER WAKE-UP CALL FOR SWEEPING ETHICS REFORM

Assembly Republican Conference Leader Peter Biondi said today that the federal indictment of State Senator Wayne Bryant on 20 counts of public corruption sends a clear message to the Legislature that it can no longer continue to drag its feet on approving a comprehensive and sweeping ethics reform package.

Biondi, R-Somerset and Morris, said Assembly Republicans have been pushing for action on a collection of the best reform bills sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats since September. While Democrats have passed some ethics legislation, Biondi noted that it isn’t nearly enough to put a stop to New Jersey’s culture of corruption.

“The few bills that have been passed just don’t have the necessary provisions to prevent the blatant corruption that has enveloped government in New Jersey,” explained Biondi. “Senator Bryant’s indictment unequivocally demonstrates that the way business has been done in Trenton for the past five years is illegal and it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to put into place legislation to end it and end it now.”

Assembly Republicans have developed an 11-point “Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey,” which incorporates reform ideas presented in the more than 40 ethics reform bills introduced by Republican legislators in the General Assembly. The plan includes a top-to-bottom pay-to-play ban, an end to dual office holding, an end to pension boosting and tacking and tough new penalties for public officials accused or convicted of political corruption and criminal activity.

“Look, it doesn’t do any of us any good to pass ethics legislation that is riddled with loopholes,” said Biondi.  “The indictment of more than 200 other public officials during the past few years was a wake-up call, which obviously went unheeded. We now have federal subpoenas being handed out at the statehouse like Santa hands out toys. The message is clear – we must stop the party politics and work together to pass a tough and comprehensive ethics reform package.”

March 30, 2007

DeCROCE AND BARONI CALL FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ENACT STRONG ETHICS REFORMS

Call On Democrats To Support Bipartisan Proposals in the Assembly Republican ‘Blueprint For A Corrupt-Free New Jersey’

In the wake of yesterday’s indictment of Democrat power broker and state Senator Wayne Bryant, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce and Assemblyman Bill Baroni today called on Governor Jon Corzine to use all the powers afforded him under the state constitution and call a special session of the Legislature to consider much needed ethics reforms that have been blocked from advancing.

“As a result of this scandal, all eyes are on the Legislature right now, and by passing comprehensive ethics reform next week we can send a message to the public that we are as appalled as they are by these allegations of corruption,” DeCroce said. “I am hoping to have strong bipartisan support for this effort, and I believe Governor Corzine will help us to achieve that goal.”

DeCroce urged Democrat legislators to join with Republicans in order to form a bipartisan coalition to pass ethics reforms bills contained in the Assembly Republican Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey – a reform agenda that Republicans introduced last year which has languished without legislative action.

“We have reached a critical mass of corruption,” said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. “Our United States Attorney has shown time after time what happens when public officials ignore the public trust now is the time for us to act to clean up this culture of corruption that is New Jersey government.”

For the past three years Republicans have made numerous floor motions to force the General Assembly take action on a comprehensive ethics reform program, but those motions have been repeatedly blocked by the Democrat majority.

The Assembly Republican Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey would:

1. §         Impose a sweeping ban on dual office-holding;
2. §         Stop pension boosting and tacking by public officials;
3. §         Suspend indicted public officials without pay;
4. §         Require jail time for convicted public officials;
5. §         Require full pension forfeiture for convicted public officials;
6. §         Empower the public by reforming the ethics complaint process, and
7. §         Turn control of the Legislature’s ethics committee over to private citizens.
8. §         Revisions to the Legislative Code of Ethics, including provisions to prevent the future abuse of grant funds.

DeCroce said that the ethical violations taking place in government are creating a corruption tax on New Jersey citizens by unnecessarily driving up the cost of government. By eliminating public corruption, the state can also save taxpayer dollars that are now being abused by corrupt officials.

“I hope the events of the past several days will finally convince our Democrat colleagues that the ethics reform issue must be taken seriously,” he said. “The public wants action – not words.”

March 29, 2007

MALONE BLASTS AS SCC AS INCOMPETENT

RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF EXTREME COST OVERRUNS AT ONE SCHOOL AND POOR OVERSIGHT OF CONSTRUCTION AT ANOTHER

Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone today called the School Construction Corporation obscenely irresponsible following published reports that the costs for a new high school they are building have soared to $187 million, $12 million more than the State budgeted for the revitalization of the entire City of Camden, and that another new school, still incomplete, would have to be torn down and reconstructed due to a major mold problem.

“Words can’t describe my disgust,” said Assemblyman Malone, (R-Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean).  “Is somebody at the SCC out of their mind?  This isn’t a computer game; this isn’t ‘Sim City,’ where if your plans don’t work-out, you get a do-over.”

Assemblyman Malone was referring to a popular computer game in which the player takes on an executive role and attempts to husband the resources of his metropolis in judicious and sound ways.  However, if the player runs too much of a deficit, the voters reject him and the game ends.  A player’s only recourse is to try again in a subsequent game.

“There are no do-overs with the taxpayers money.  Perhaps with the recent news stories surrounding the corruption that has seeped into and overwhelmed the budget process, the SCC missed the announcement that New Jersey is in the midst of a fiscal crisis,” Malone said.  “New Jersey can’t afford to spend $187 million on one high school.  Nor can it afford to throw-away $10 million in the partial construction of a school only to tear it down because a major mold problem overtook it.”

Malone went on to ask how a ‘major’ mold problem could be allowed to develop in a brand new building.  “Someone has to be held accountable,” he concluded.

March 29, 2007

McHOSE PRESSES EDUCATION COMMISSIONER ON ARBITRARY DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS

ARGUES REAL PROPERTY TAX REFORM HINGES ON A RESPONSIBLE AND FAIR GRANT PROCESS AND A NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose today questioned Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davy on the State’s lopsided school funding formula and the Department’s propensity to award grants to select school districts around the state in an apparently arbitrary manner.

“We all know that the State is just barely treading water financially.  The taxpayers are suffocating to the point that they’re fleeing the State in droves for other states with less oppressive tax structures,” said McHose, (R-Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon).  “The people can’t afford this spendthrift mentality.”

Assemblywoman McHose pressed Commissioner Davy on her Department’s methods for distributing grants.  Noting that it wasn’t until the 1980s that the budget began to include specific line item allocations for certain politically-favored or politically-connected school districts, McHose urged the Commissioner to create a grant system whereby every district would be given advance knowledge that funds would be available as well as the chance to apply for them.

“We know that Lawnside received $700,000 for a capital improvement project budgeted to cost only $600,000.  We’re told Clayton received $100,000 for no apparent reason.  Project Oasis, a politically-connected charter school, was awarded a grant of $125,000.  Who’s accountable for these grants.  Who’s calling the shots?”  Why weren’t other districts considered?” McHose asked.

“A merit-based system is the only fair way of distributing grant monies to school districts,” McHose maintained.  “Now is the time for the Governor to adopt such a policy in the Department of Education.  It would reflect a real willingness to reform the grant process across the board and at the same time dovetail wonderfully with his and Senator Codey’s promises to reform the practice of inserting grants into the budget at the last minute without oversight or debate.”

March 29, 2007

BECK SAYS INDICTMENT OF BRYANT CONCLUDES ANOTHER SAD CHAPTER IN NEW JERSEY’S GROWING HISTORY OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION

DEMANDS THAT LEGISLATURE ACT ON TOUGH PENSION FORFEITURE BILL

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, who last September was among the first state legislators to publicly call for State Senator Wayne Bryant to be expelled from the State Senate, called today’s indictment of Bryant a day of mixed emotions for New Jersey citizens and demanded that Bryant be required to forfeit his public pension.

“New Jersey taxpayers should be glad that we have an aggressive U.S. Attorney who is having success at cracking down on pervasive public corruption as evidenced by today’s indictment,” said Beck, R-Monmouth and Mercer. “But we all should be disgusted that this corruption and gross abuse of tax dollars has taken place, yet again, in our state.”

Beck sent a letter calling for Bryant’s removal to Senate President Richard Codey last September, just days after a federal monitor’s report accused Bryant of pressuring University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) officials to create a $38,220 no-show job allowing him to “lobby himself” for taxpayer funds.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie today announced a 20-count indictment of Bryant on a number of public corruption charges including the no-show job he took at UMDNJ allegedly in return for steering state funds to the institution.

“The public has become justifiably cynical about their elected officials, and today’s indictment will do nothing to change that negative impression,” Beck said. “The Legislature needs to take bold steps to demonstrate that we will not tolerate this behavior among our own members – or any other public official.”

Beck said that the General Assembly should take up an aggressive ethics reform agenda including bills in the “Assembly Republican Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey,” that will restore the public’s confidence in government.

She specifically mentioned legislation she has sponsored that would force public officials convicted on corruption charges to forfeit their public pensions, and a constitutional amendment she has introduced extending the period of time during which a Legislature can impeach a public official to ten years after they leave office – which would bar that official from ever holding another public office.

Beck has also introduced legislation to ban dual office-holding.

March 29, 2007

KEAN TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CALLING FOR COMMISSION TO REVIEW MOTOR VEHICLE PENALTY SYSTEM

Assemblyman Sean Kean announced today he will be introducing legislation to create a study commission to review the state’s motor vehicle penalty system following a recent fatal crash in Neptune involving three drivers with extensive motor vehicle violations.

“This incident that claimed the lives of three young men is an indictment of the glaring deficiencies in the state’s current motor vehicle penalty laws,” said Kean, R-Monmouth. “The three drivers involved had amassed an astounding number of motor vehicle violations, including 35 (motor vehicle) points against two of them. It’s obvious the system isn’t working and major changes are needed in order to protect law-abiding citizens.”

On March 14, 2007, Neptune resident Nelson Villanueva, 19, was racing Neptune residents Carlos Ortiz, 24, and Miguel Marrero, 22, on Route 33. Villanueva crashed into a fourth car whose driver was making a legal left turn. Three of four passengers in Villanueva’s car were instantly killed.

An investigation revealed that although Villanueva never obtained a valid driver’s license, he somehow had been charged with more than three dozen motor vehicle violations and suspensions, including speeding, driving while unlicensed, operating a vehicle while his license was suspended, failure to pay fines and surcharges, and failure to appear in court. He also has a criminal record.

Ortiz, who has lost his license five times, has more than 23 active points on his license for a host of moving vehicle violations, including driving 105 mph in a 65 mph zone. Marrero’s license has been suspended nine times during the past two years.

While Kean said he realizes authorities cannot stop repeat offenders from getting behind the wheel, he said it’s the responsibility of state lawmakers to do what they can within their power to protect innocent citizens.

“Obviously, we can’t legislate away all bad drivers, especially those with such egregious violations as those compiled by these three young drivers,” he said. “But it is incumbent upon us, as lawmakers, to take a long, hard and thorough look at our motor vehicle penalty laws and do what we can to keep such drivers off the road as best we can.”

March 29, 2007

DeCROCE AND BIONDI CALL FOR A STRONG LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST FOLLOWING CORRUPTION INDICTMENTS

The two highest ranking Republican leaders in the Assembly today urged members of both political parties to unite and move swiftly to help restore public confidence in their elected officials by passing a bipartisan package of anti-corruption initiatives.

“This has to be one of the saddest days in New Jersey politics,” said Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic, following the U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s announcement of more political corruption indictments.

“Since Monday, we have seen a sitting state senator indicted, two senators and one assemblyman subpoenaed in connection with a federal corruption probe,” DeCroce noted. “We watched the FBI round up 14 current and former public officials from Paterson and Passaic and charged in connection with a bribery probe. We learned that a former governor and several of his top aids have been subpoenaed to testify in court about the early release of a reputed mobster.

“Even by New Jersey standards, this has been an extraordinary four days,” DeCroce said.

“New Jersey is being suffocated by a cloud of political corruption, and there is no indication that it will dissipate anytime soon” added Assembly Republican Conference Leader Peter J. Biondi, R-Somerset and Morris. “People are sick of the corruption and ethics scandals. They think the system is broken, and who can blame them? The only way to regain their trust is to show – not by words, but by actions – that we are serious about cleaning up government and coming down hard on political corruption.”

Since September, Assembly Republicans have been pushing for action on an 11-point Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey, a collection of the best reform bills sponsored by Republicans and Democrats including a top-to-bottom pay-to-play ban, an end to dual office holding and tough new penalties for public officials accused or convicted of political corruption and criminal activity.

“This crisis of confidence transcends politics,” DeCroce said. “We should begin a bipartisan dialogue now and keep at it until we have a consensus on a comprehensive agenda for change.”

“There is no reason why the Assembly and Senate can’t make time to address this matter during the budget break,” Biondi added. “Waiting any longer will only inflict more damage to New Jersey’s reputation, further undermine the Legislature’s credibility and cost the taxpayers even more money.”

Major elements of the Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey include:

1. Mandatory jail time for convicted public officials;
2. Suspension of salaries for indicted public officials;
3. Loss of pension and health benefits for convicted public officials;
4. Automatic forfeiture of office for any public official convicted of accepting illegal campaign contributions;
5. A reconstituted Legislative Ethics Committee controlled by public citizens, not elected officials;
6. A streamlined process for citizens wishing to file ethics complaints against public officials;
7. A tougher Legislative Code of Ethics;
8. An end to pension boosting and tacking;
9. An expanded and stronger anti-nepotism law;
10. A ban on dual office holding;
11. An end to “pay-to-play,” otherwise known as the “corruption tax,” at all levels of government, and
12. A ban on political money laundering, a practice also known as “wheeling.”

March 29, 2007

O’TOOLE DEMANDS GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN HEAVILY FUNDED ABBOTT DISTRICTS

ASKS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF SPENDING PRACTICES IN ALL ABBOTT DISTRICTS

Citing a need for greater accountability, Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole urged Education Commissioner Lucille Davy at today’s Assembly Budget Committee hearing to have her department conduct an audit of every Abbott District after an audit of four selected districts earlier this year uncovered rampant waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

“While suburban school districts have suffered under an unfair school funding formula, Abbott Districts have reaped a financial windfall,” O’Toole said. “But while we have asked the majority of the schools in this state to do without additional funding, we have sat by while tax dollars were grossly mismanaged and wasted in many of the Abbott Districts.”

O’Toole also said that along with any new funding formula to be unveiled later this year there needs to be a system of accountability put in place for the state’s Abbott Districts where rampant waste and abuse of tax dollars have been uncovered in recent years even as test scores have remained below acceptable levels.

Pointing to a recent audit of four of the 31 Abbott Districts that uncovered more than $15 million of waste at schools in Jersey City , Camden , Newark and Paterson, O’Toole called on the commissioner to launch an audit of all the remaining Abbott Districts.

The reports uncovered more than $15 million in wasteful spending including some of the following:

• ·        Camden and Newark paying a combined $640,000 to 38 employees who had been dead for years. One employee who died in 1974 has been issued $130,000 in checks since that time. This report has since been disputed, but it is clear that there were widespread record-keeping errors.
• ·        In Newark, a $1,795 jukebox – for purposes not exactly clear – and a $29,995 Jeep Grand Cherokee with leather interior for the superintendent.
• ·        966 instances of the Camden school district overpaying vendors on purchase order amounts, including paying $953,000 for photocopying equipment with a purchase order price of $55,000.
• ·        $9,300 to defend a former superintendent from a state criminal investigation.           

 “There needs to be some system of accountability in place to ensure that tax dollars aren’t being wasted and that the money is actually helping to improve student performance,” O’Toole concluded. “If schools are failing the students they serve we need to take drastic steps to reorganize those schools and put in place a system that will work.”

March 29, 2007

MALONE SAYS SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA CONTINUES TO FAIL HIGH GROWTH DISTRICTS

CITES JACKSON, WASHINGTON AND HOWELL AS EXAMPLES

Saying that a lack of adequate state funding has harmed property taxpayers and students Assemblyman Joseph Malone today called on Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy to develop a school funding formula that will provide relief for school districts that have experienced high enrollment growth over the past several years.

“For five years now these school districts have seen explosive growth in enrollment while the state has frozen school aid,” said Assemblyman Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer. “It should be no surprise that property taxes have soared in these high enrollment districts and that the schools in those districts are struggling to provide adequate services to students.”

Davy came before the Assembly Budget Committee Thursday to testify on the Department of Education’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2008 and to discuss a variety of educational funding issues the state is facing.

Malone noted that while this year’s budget does provide for a three percent aid increase in most districts – with higher amounts in some other districts – the overall lack of state funding for education in recent years will mean that the impact of this year’s increases will be marginal at best.

He cited Jackson, Washington and Howell Townships in his legislative district as some  examples of school districts that have had high enrollment growth and little help from the state. All three towns will only get a three percent increase this year.

“We need to come up with a sustainable, equitable funding formula that is going to provide the support these high enrollment growth districts desperately need,” Malone said. “If we do not do so, property taxes will continue to climb and we will see more and more student services and programs cut back.”

March 29, 2007

O’TOOLE CALLS FOR EQUITY AND FAIRNESS IN NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA

EQUITABLE SCHOOL AID AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF LINKED

At today’s Assembly Budget Committee hearing, Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole said New Jersey taxpayers cannot afford to continue waiting on a new school funding formula, noting that the recently announced school aid figures will provide little relief to most school districts who have seen their state aid frozen for five years.

“After five years of frozen aid these three percent increases, while surely a move in the right direction, will have little impact,” said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic and Bergen. “We need a new school funding formula that will be fair and equitable and that will be based on legitimate factors such as enrollment growth, special needs, and academic performance.”

O’Toole said that most suburban and rural school districts have been flat-funded for five straight years and, as a result, the three percent state aid increase proposed in Governor Corzine’s budget will do little to help ease the building fiscal pressures in those districts that have led to the explosive growth in property tax rates.

Education Commissioner Lucille Davy testified at today’s hearing that the new funding formula is expected to be released in September. O’Toole said that will be too late to undo the damage of the past five years and questioned why it is that the state couldn’t provide additional aid in recent years.

O’Toole noted that the last time the CEIFA education aid formula was fully funded the total state budget was $22.5 billion, but that during the past five years that school aid was frozen the budget increased to $33.3 billion.

“For the state budget to increase by nearly $10 billion, without any additional aid going to suburban and rural school districts is mind boggling,” said O’Toole. “Cleary this is an example of misplaced priorities in this state’s recent spending history. Hopefully the new funding formula will be adhered to and will be structured in a way that is fair to all districts.”

March 28, 2007

WOLFE SAYS ABBOTT DISTRICT REQUESTS FOR INCREASED STATE AID ARE ‘ABSURD;’ CITES CAMDEN DEFICIT AS CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WASTE

Republicans Say Governor Should Practice What He Preaches

Assemblyman David Wolfe today said that requests for additional funding by Abbott school district superintendents above and beyond the average 3 percent increase proposed by Governor Jon Corzine in his 2008 Fiscal Year budget is “absurd” given that recent audits of several of the state’s poorest communities revealed widespread fiscal abuse and mismanagement that borders on the criminal.

“It’s absolutely mind boggling that Abbott district officials would even have the nerve to ask the state to increase funding beyond what the Governor has proposed given their track record of financial waste and abuse,” said Wolfe, R-Ocean and Monmouth. “For years, the state has poured billions of taxpayer dollars into these school districts and we have nothing to show for it. What’s really pathetic and sad is that it’s the students who have lost the most.”

Wolfe cited an outside audit report released last week of the Camden school district, which operates under close state scrutiny, that revealed a gapping $10.5 million deficit along with little oversight in its accounts payable, payroll, purchasing and transportation departments.

A state audit, conducted earlier this year, of four state-operated Abbott school districts, including Camden, showed 966 instances of the Camden school district overpaying vendors on purchase order amounts, including a $953,000 payment for photocopying equipment with a purchase order price of $55,000. State auditors also found that the school district made payments to 10 employees after their recorded dates of death.

“The Camden school district, which supposedly operates under the watchful eye of state officials, is facing a $10.5 million deficit, yet earlier this week we had 13 Abbott district superintendents come to Trenton with their hands open begging for more taxpayer money. It’s utter lunacy,” said Wolfe, a member of the Assembly Education Committee. “We all know the waste and abuse that’s rampant in Camden is not exclusive to Camden.

Wolfe, who served as a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform, again reiterated the need for a new state school funding formula.

“For the past five years, the lion’s share of state funding for public education was funneled to the state’s 31 poorest districts, yet not only has the money been wasted, but students’ test scores in those districts show no notable improvement,” he noted. “It’s obvious the funding formula is severely flawed and a new, equitable one is desperately needed. Hopefully, the Governor will realize the urgency of this matter and give it the priority it deserves.”

March 28, 2007

IF CORZINE BELIEVES IN ‘CLEAN’ ELECTIONS, ROONEY AND VANDERVALK SAY HE SHOULD END WHEELING

Republicans Say Governor Should Practice What He Preaches

On the same day Governor Jon S. Corzine signed into law a bill that extends the “Clean Elections” pilot project, Assembly members John Rooney and Charlotte Vandervalk challenged the governor to strike a significant blow for truly “clean” elections by ending the “wheeling” of campaign cash to influence the outcome of legislative campaigns.

“The governor should not only end ‘wheeling,’ he should stop using his own deep pockets to aid and abet the practice,” asserted Rooney, R-Bergen. “How can he claim to champion the cause of reform when he is personally subsidizing the activities of political bosses and cronies? The governor’s personal actions, and his public inaction, belie his promise to the people to reform the political system.”

“When he took the oath of office, Jon Corzine promised his highest priority would be ethics reform,” noted Vandervalk, also R-Bergen. “He said it is essential that we ‘earn back the people’s confidence’ by ending the ‘toxic mix’ of politics and money. Yet in all this time, the governor has not even tried to use his considerable power or influence to keep his campaign promise to end ‘wheeling.’ But he has used his considerable personal wealth to keep the party bosses – who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo – happy.”

According to published reports, in 2006 the governor personally donated $1.2 million to Democrats. Rooney and Vandervalk also criticized Corzine for failing to push hard enough to ban the practice of  “pay to play.” They cited a column by Tom Moran in today’s Star-Ledger that noted another beneficiary of Corzine’s largesse was Joseph Ferriero, the Democrat chairman in Bergen County, who got a check for the legal maximum of $37,000 last year.

“Think of Ferriero as the high priest of pay-to-play in New Jersey,” Moran wrote. “He collects campaign contributions from the businessmen who want contracts with county and local governments in Bergen. And, presto, they somehow land fresh contracts.”

Moran pointed out that Corzine also sent the maximum to Camden County as well, “where boss George Norcross casts his dark spells,” and to Hudson County, “the place where reforms go to die.”

Moran said the governor defends his contributions as "party building."

“But it's much more destructive than that,” Moran wrote. “It sends the message that you can sabotage the reform effort and the governor won't punish you a bit.”

Rooney and Vandervalk said Corzine should heed the columnist’s advice and  reach out across the political aisle for Republican help. “On ethics issues like pay-to-play and dual office holding, they are far more supportive of the governor's position than Democrats are,” Moran wrote.

“All Corzine has to do is convince just a handful of Democrats in the Assembly and Senate to join Republicans and a ban on ‘pay to play’ and ‘wheeling’ would be a reality,” Rooney said.

“This is an opportunity for the governor to show real leadership,” Vandervalk added.

March 28, 2007

MERKT: HOLD OFF ON BASS LEVIN PORT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENT UNTIL DCA GRANT INVESTIGATION IS RESOLVED

BASS LEVIN RUMORED TO BE HEADED TO POST AT PORT AUTHORITY DESPITE DCA GRANT PROBE

Assemblyman Richard Merkt today urged Governor Jon Corzine to hold off on the rumored port authority appointment of Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Susan Bass Levin until an investigation is completed into the awarding of taxpayer-funded grants and the role she played with respect to those grant distributions.

“Under Susan Bass Levin’s leadership we saw the unprecedented politicization of the grant process,” said Merkt, R-Morris. “The grant awards that are the focus of this latest investigation are just a symptom of what was a widespread problem at DCA.”

The rumor in Trenton, as reported on Politicsnj.com, is that Susan Bass Levin will become the new Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with retiring Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny succeeding her as DCA Commissioner.

The U.S. Attorney has issued subpoenas looking into all grant programs in the state budget during the last several years.

A review in 2005 of the $9 million in “livable communities” grants distributed by the DCA indicated that only $600,000 – less than 7 percent of the total – went to municipalities in Republican legislative districts and that some districts represented by Republicans got no grant money. Of these funds, $1.2 million went to legislative districts with dual office-holding legislators.

In 2005 the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards launched an investigation into the award by an assistant DCA commissioner of three grants totaling $65,000 to groups with connections to her relatives. The three grants were given final approval by Bass Levin according to news reports.

The DCA grants are to be used to support municipal needs, capital projects, and community programs benefiting seniors, children, and families living in these towns. The DCA is supposed to follow a grant approval process that awards grants based on the social merits of the projects.

“Clearly there was a major problem with the way grants were distributed at DCA under Bass Levin’s leadership,” Merkt said. “Before she is rewarded for her work there with an appointment to the Port Authority, it would be prudent to see what the results are of the ongoing federal investigation into grants distributed by DCA on her watch.”

March 27, 2007

O’TOOLE QUESTIONS DEP COMMISSIONER ON STATUS OF RINGWOOD CLEAN-UP AND CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS

RAISES ISSUE AT DEPARTMENT’S ASSEMBLY BUDGET HEARING

Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole questioned Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson at Tuesday’s Assembly Budget Committee hearing on the progress of clean-up efforts at the former Ringwood Mines Superfund site and on what steps may be taken to compensate area residents who have seen their property values harmed by the pollution.

“We need to know what the timeline is for addressing the most recently found contamination and how the state intends to move forward with these actions,” said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic, and Bergen. “There are also still serious questions remaining about how and why this site was taken off the Superfund list, and whether it is time to place it back on that list.”

Ringwood Mines was once a Superfund site where Ford Motor Company had previously disposed of toxic waste from its Mahwah manufacturing plant. The EPA declared the site clean and removed it from the Superfund list in 1994, but there have been numerous reports of chronic health problems by Ringwood residents.

According to the EPA, additional pockets of paint sludge were discovered at the site in 1995, 1998 and in 2004, prompting further cleanup actions. Ford, under EPA direction, was ordered to excavate the paint sludge.

Last year a joint federal and state report indicated that the site might still be hazardous and early this year the state DEP warned residents that lead contaminated deer and squirrels had been collected from the area.

O’Toole who has had a number of meetings with the DEP and EPA calling for action, offered to work with Commissioner Jackson on meeting with residents in Ringwood to find out how they best feel these problems can be addressed.

“We not only need to figure out what needs to be done to eliminate the health threat posed by this contamination, but also to address other concerns residents have,” O’Toole said. “Whatever action is taken – or not taken – may have a significant impact on property values and quality of life in Ringwood and those issues need to be given serious consideration.”

March 27, 2007

O’TOOLE QUESTIONS KOLLURI ON THE $30 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT NEWARK ARENA

DOT COMMISSIONER ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole today questioned Department of Transportation Commissioner (DOT) Kris Kolluri about $30 million in infrastructure funding for the Newark Arena project that may have been used for purposes other than those designated infrastructure improvements.

“It is time to separate fact from fiction,” said O’Toole, R-Essex, Passaic, and Bergen. “The taxpayers of this state have a right to know who was responsible for this funding and how these dollars were spent – or misspent, as some have alleged.”

O’Toole questioned Kolluri as to how the $30 million was to be distributed, how it was placed in the budget, what purposes it was to be used for, and how it was eventually spent.

Kolluri responded that the funding was supposed to be $6 million per year for five years for infrastructure purposes. When questioned as to whether they were used for those purposes, Kolluri responded that he could not answer that question and that the documents related to the funding have been requested as part of an investigation by the Attorney General.

Commissioner Kolluri pledged that pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation, all documents related to this funding would be provided to the Assembly Budget Committee.

“We need to have transparency and accountability with all state dollars, so that taxpayers can be sure that their hard-earned dollars are not being wasted,” O’Toole said. “In the past few years we have seen too many examples of rampant waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars whether it be in the school funding process, grant programs, or now projects such as the Newark Arena.”

“This waste and abuse has to stop, and it is only when officials are willing to ask these questions and exercise proper oversight that we can eliminate this waste.”