September 1, 2009

O’SCANLON – CASAGRANDE SAY CONIGLIO SENTENCING IS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT REFORM IS NEEDED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN ’08 WOULD PROHIBIT LAWMAKERS FROM DIRECTING STATE FUNDS TO EMPLOYER/CLIENT

As former state Senator Joseph Coniglio was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today for using his influence to direct over $1 million in state funding to Hackensack University Medical Center, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, both R-Monmouth, said the latest incarceration of a corrupt politician demonstrates the urgency to address ethics reform.

Casagrande and O’Scanlon are primary sponsors of legislation introduced last November that would prohibit any member of the Legislature from seeking grants or loans through the appropriations process for their employer or client, or any other entity with which they have a business association. Senators Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, and Kevin O’Toole, R-Essex, are the bill’s primary sponsors in the senate.

“It is unfortunate that some New Jersey officials, who are elected to serve the public, place their self-interest above their sworn duty,” said Casagrande. “Governor Corzine’s stance that we do not need to enact reforms that address a process that is fraught with abuse is absolutely wrong. Leaving loopholes in the system that allows legislators to use their employer as a pass-through for personal profit is what the governor accomplished by leaving this provision out of his own ethics proposal in 2007.

“The legislation that awaits consideration would preempt officials from unduly using their influence to benefit their employers and themselves,” continued Casagrande. “How many prison terms need to be handed out before the governor acknowledges that the temptation for personal profit needs to be removed?”

Both legislators questioned why the governor has not exerted his influence to have the ethics reforms introduced last fall and throughout the course of the current legislative cycle considered.

“The recent revelations of corruption rightfully make the public cynical of what happens in Trenton,” said O’Scanlon. “Our legislation would curtail potential conflicts of interest that some elected officials violate and impose appropriate penalties for those who think they are entitled to benefit from their position.

“Senator Coniglio received a fair trial and is the most recent example of an elected official who betrayed the public trust,” commented O’Scanlon. “Unless something is done to prevent politicians from using their power for personal profit, we will continue to witness more occasions where a judge doles out a prison sentence.”

Casagrande and O’Scanlon called on the governor to support their legislation,
A-3431, and require the Legislature to reconvene and focus on the various ethics reform proposals that have been introduced.