Because large political contributions from those seeking to or performing business with a municipality or its affiliated bodies raises reasonable concerns on the part of taxpayers and residents as to their trust in government contracts, we strongly urge the City of Atlanta to adopt our model Pay-to-Play restrictive ordinance derived from the New Jersey based reform organization Citizens’ Campaign, whose model has been used to implement similar reform in over seventy cities and counties in that state.
Highlights of the proposed ordinance:
· Purchasing departments for all City-related procurement would add additional criteria for awarding contracts.
· Vendors entering into agreement with the City or its agencies would certify that they had not contributed cash or in-kind services to any candidate for Mayor or City Council during the previous twelve months.
· Restrictions on contributions would extend to the employees of the potential vendor business entity as well as the immediate families of the principals.
· Small contributions in amounts up to $250 in aggregate would be allowed.
· Contributions made prior to the effective date of the law will not be counted against the potential vendor.
· Sworn statements from the vendor will be required before final awarding of the contract. Once the contract is awarded, the vendor must continue to certify that they have abided by the terms of the pay-to-play contribution restrictions. Failure to comply would result in loss of the contract.
· Vendors who have been determined by the City procurement officials to have deliberately funneled contributions through other sources in violation of the contracting provisions will also lose their eligibility.