SUPPORT NEW JERSEY COMMON CAUSE
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MEDIA RELEASES
Common Cause New Jersey Honors Key Reform Activist & Legislators, 9/20/06
Citizens' Campaign Calls on the Bergen County Freeholders to Adopt Strong Pay-to-Play Protections, 6/8/06
Written testimony in Support of S1662, 6/1/06
Inventory of NJ Political Party Seats Released, 3/20/06
Urbano Named Common Cause New Jersey Chair, 2/28/06
Advocates Applaud New Jersey Election Reforms, 9/6/05
COMMON CAUSE NEW JERSEY HONORS KEY REFORM ACTIVIST & LEGISLATORS 9/20/06 Lauren Skowronski, 732-548-9798, ext. 6
Elizabeth Mason, President of the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government received Suzanne Fremon Empowerment Civic Award for her leadership in advocating for the public's right of access and for increased government transparency at the state and local levels. In addition, as a founding member of People for Open Government, a Hoboken-based civic organization, she played a major role in the adoption of several Citizens' Campaign model reform ordinances. Among these reforms was the ban on contributions for professionals receiving contracts from the city.
Mason said, "Suzanne Fremon was a teacher, and she educated people about the importance of public participation and being knowledgable about what their government was doing. I believe we are quickly approaching a time where Government knows more about us than we know about our government. The words "privacy" and "terrorism" are used to frighten people into giving up their rights. And in the state of New Jersey the lack of transparency has created the atmosphere of distrust in our public officials and a sense of apathy. This award recognizes those who are encouraging the public that there is another way. That by working together we can change how business is done in our state.
Common Cause New Jersey also recognized Senator Loretta Weinberg & Senator Leonard Lance for their important reform initiatives in the New Jersey Legislature.
"Senator Loretta Weinberg has shown tremendous dedication in leveling the playing field for political participation at all levels of government, as an integral player in the passage of the Local Pay-to-Play Reform Law and a current sponsor of the Redevelopment Pay-to-Play Reform bill (S2076). Senator Weinberg and has been a source of inspiration for all women involved in the political arena," stated Common Cause NJ's Executive Director Lauren Skowronski.
"This event was most meaningful to me. To be singled out by the most important advocates for clean government is a distinct honor for an elected official like me. I appreciate the support," expressed Senator Weinberg.
Brian Urbano, Chair of Common Cause NJ said, "The Honorable Leonard Lance is a voice of progress in our state on reform issues, delivering his party's support for several of our legislative initiatives throughout the years. As Senate Minority Leader, he has been a relentless advocate in the promotion of comprehensive pay-to-play reform and expansion of government ethics for all levels of government."
Several current and former elected officials, as well as near one hundred and fifty reform activists were in attendance to celebrate the achievements of three of New Jersey's outstanding reformers, who have dedicated their lives to restoring integrity and openness to the political process in our state. - 30- CITIZENS CAMPAIGN CALLS ON THE BERGEN COUNTY FREEHOLDERS TO ADOPT STRONG PAY-TO-PLAY PROTECTIONS June 7, 2006 Heather Taylor, (732) 548-9798 x.1
HACKENSACK, NJ - Bergen County Citizens' Campaign members tonight called on the Bergen County Board of Freeholders to adopt a strong pay-to-play reform ordinance and end the all too common practice of large campaign contributions being traded for lucrative county contracts. This call to action was part of a citizen presentation urging the adoption of pay-to-play reform made at the Freeholder meeting during the public comment period.
Eleanore S. Nissley of Ridgewood, a Citizens' Campaign participant and a former Republican State Committeewoman representing Bergen County said, "We have a great opportunity tonight to go beyond the usual partisan rhetoric and tackle one of the biggest problems here in Bergen County. Now is the time to sever the link between campaign contributions and government contracts."
Harry Pozycki, Statewide Chairman of the Citizens' Campaign added, "Too often large political contributions inflate the price of government contracts. By putting an end to the wasteful practice of pay-to-play, County government can realize significant cost-savings that relieve the upward pressure on property taxes."
The Citizens' Campaign model ordinance proposed tonight bans contributions by professionals and vendors while they are under government contract to incumbent Freeholders and Freeholder candidates, as well as to the county political parties. It places limits on contributions by those seeking government contracts in the year prior to the contract period. Failure to abide by the law results in breach of contract. Bergen County currently has weak contribution disclosure requirements and pay-to-play protections including and an easily manipulated "fair and open process" for the selection of professionals who fall outside of state bidding requirements, such as attorneys and architects. No pay-to-play contribution limits are now in place.
The Citizens' Campaign urged that the Freeholders form a Joint Committee that included selected Freeholders and their designees, as well as key Bergen County Citizens' Campaign leaders to work towards the adoption of a strong pay-to-play reform law. They urged that the operations of the Joint Committee be transparent and a tight timeline be set for the Joint Committee to report back to the Freeholder Board.
Pay-to-play reform has been adopted in more than 60 municipalities in New Jersey, including Ramsey and Hillsdale in Bergen County. Mercer County also adopted strong pay-to-play reform. State Legislation enacted this past January enables counties to adopt strong pay-to-play protections.
A bi-partisan group of Bergen leaders in support of the adoption of strong county pay-to-play reform include Citizens' Campaign Bergen Co-Chair Alice Olick, State Senator Loretta Weinberg, Former Assemblyman Matthew Ahearn, Former Assemblywoman Joan M. Wright of Women Advocating for Good Government - New Jersey, Former State Senator Anthony Scardino, Jr., Ramsey Mayor Richard Muti, and Bergen Grassroots Chair Paul Eisenman. The Citizens' Campaign is group working statewide to expand the power of citizens and to restore accountability to government.
-30- NEW JERSEY HOUSE DELEGATION GETS MIXED GRADES FOR LOBBY REFORM June 1, 2006 Lauren Skowronski, (732) 548-9798 x6
As news of alleged bribery and other congressional scandals continue to come out of Washington D.C., Common Cause New Jersey is shining a light on the voting record of our U.S. House Members by releasing a report evaluating two key lobby reform votes taken this spring.
Lobbying Reform Votes of New Jersey Delegation
The votes evaluated here are on the Lobby Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (HR 4975), which Congress passed in response to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Both the House and Senate approved only weak reforms that are little more than window dressing and will do virtually nothing to change the pay-to-play culture flourishing in the nation's capital. A House-Senate conference committee is expected to begin reconciling the two versions of the bill in the next few weeks.
"With an even weaker bill expected back from the conference committee, it is imperative that Congress goes back to the drawing board and revisits meaningful lobbying reforms," said Lauren Skowronski, Executive Director of Common Cause New Jersey. "We've heard Members of Congress say that their constituents don't care about this stuff. Our members and public opinion polls show that's simply not true. The public understands that when money buys access and influence for special interests in Washington, citizens end up paying more for healthcare, energy costs and the like."
HR 4975, the legislation passed by Congress, does very little to address the central problems revealed by the Abramoff scandal. Privately funded congressional travel, for instance, will continue. Members of Congress and their staffs will likely continue to ignore the rules because the House Ethics Committees has not enforced them for years. Lobbyists like Abramoff will still organize fundraisers for members of Congress and even serve as their official treasurers, continuing the mutually beneficial and often questionable back scratching that has become the way of Washington.
-30- Written testimony in Support of S1662
As citizens are getting more and more of their political information online, the internet has become a widely used tool for increasing accountability and spurring citizen participation.
THE NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH THE HONORABLE CHRISTOPHER CHRISTIE May 16, 2006 Heather Taylor, 732-548-9798 x1.
METUCHEN - The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG), the state's premier government watchdog organization, announces its annual gathering of open government advocates. This year, NJFOG is honored to host the US Attorney Christopher Christie before a sell-out crowd at the Borough Improvement League on May 22 at 6:30 PM. Chris Christie has been recognized as "raising the ethical bar in New Jersey".
-30- CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN RELEASES INVENTORY OF NJ POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEE SEATS March 20,2006 Heather Taylor, 732-548-9798 x1
Over 6,000 seats vacant statewide.
The Citizens' Campaign today unveiled the results of a statewide inventory of the number of unfilled neighborhood-level, elected party committee seats. According to the survey, more than one-in-four of these politically powerful county committee seats are vacant. Over 6,000 of the existing 24,000 county committee seats do not have an occupant.
These posts, which often go unnoticed in the June primary, represent an easily accessible and powerful position with significant influence in major party decisions including candidate endorsements.
For every neighborhood of 700-1000 people, a man and woman from each party are elected to represent the area for the political parties. Once elected, county committeepeople elect a political party chairman, decide which candidates to endorse, and fill vacancies in the New Jersey Legislature.
This June, more than 9,000 county committee seats are on the ballot. Committee seats in both parties are up for election in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset.
A person can obtain a nominating petition from their municipal clerk. In most districts very few signatures are required. The filing deadline to place one's name on the primary ballot is Monday, April 10th.
The Citizens' Campaign will be offering several trainings on running for County Committee for individuals interested in participating in the political parties. To schedule a meeting or attend one, please contact Rachel Pittard at (732) 548-9798 x.7.
The inventory, which was done by the non-partisan Citizens' Campaign, is designed to highlight one of the main avenues for regular citizens to gain decision-making power over party platforms, candidate endorsements, and other major party decisions.
Harry Pozycki, Chair of the Citizens' Campaign, said, 'The results of this inventory highlight the broad access to political party power available to regular citizens.'
Information for this inventory was collected from county clerks and political party officials.
The Citizens' Campaign is a non-partisan, organized force of private citizens that works to expand opportunities for citizen leadership in the arena of political and governmental decision-making.
-30- CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN UNVEILS REDEVELOPMENT REFORM AND PAY-TO-PLAY PROTECTION ACT KARCHER NAMED AS PRIME SPONSOR March 7, 2006 Heather Taylor, 732-548-9798 x1
The Citizens' Campaign, together with Senator Ellen Karcher (D-12), today unveiled state legislation that provides far reaching reforms of New Jersey's redevelopment laws.
The legislation curbs the influence of pay-to-play contributions in the redevelopment arena and creates greater accountability to citizens with respect to redevelopment decisions.
The legislation is a high priority, according to Citizens' Campaign leaders, because a rapidly increasing amount of development in New Jersey is occurring through the use of the state redevelopment laws. These large scale projects are magnets for pay-to-play cash with redevelopment decisions made with broad discretion and a lack of citizen oversight.
State and local governments are now granted nearly unchecked power to condemn existing properties to further redevelopment projects. The proposed legislation would bring needed transparency and accountability to the redevelopment process.
Citizens' Campaign Chair Harry Pozycki said, "For people that live in areas marked for redevelopment and for communities as a whole, there is much at stake. It is our obligation to ensure that the process is fair, open, transparent and beyond the influence of pay-to-play cash."
Senator Ellen Karcher said, "Redevelopment decisions should reflect the interests of all of our citizens and not just a select few campaign contributors. That is why I will work hard for the passage of this legislation."
Components The seven major components of the proposed state legislation, the Redevelopment Reform and Pay-to-Play Protection Act, are summarized below:
· Ban pay-to-play contributions by the Redeveloper's consultants-i.e. attorney's, engineers and political consultants, while working on redevelopment projects.
· Eliminate the "Smart Growth" basis for authorizing the designation of an "Area in Need of Redevelopment" and for use of the Eminent Domain power.
· Expand transparency of the redevelopment process with expansion of the public notice requirements covering citizens outside the boundaries in the area of prospective redevelopment.
· Increase accountability in the redevelopment process by creating earlier and expanded opportunities for public questions and input at Planning Board and Council meetings to consider redevelopment decisions.
· Require annual disclosure by Redevelopers to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
· Application of this law would be comprehensive as it governs redevelopment projects at the state, county and local level, including the Meadowlands Commission and all independent authorities.
Background Senator Ellen Karcher will serve as the prime Senator sponsor for the proposed legislation. Republican and Assembly sponsors will be announced shortly.
URBANO NAMED COMMON CAUSE NEW JERSEY CHAIR February 28, 2006 Lauren Skowronski, 732-548-9798 x6
Urbano, 33, "will bring new energy and proven commitment to reform to the post," said Executive Director Lauren Skowronski.
Brian has served on the Citizens' Campaign Legal Task Force supporting state and local reform efforts. He also helped lead a successful campaign to adopt strong pay-to-play reform in his hometown of Hoboken by initiative and referendum.
Brian Urbano said, "One of my priorities will be getting more young professionals involved in Common Cause. It is time for my generation to advance the cause of reform."
Urbano is currently an attorney in the Litigation Department at the international law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Prior to his work at Paul Weiss, he clerked for New Jersey Supreme Court Justices Daniel J. O'Hern and James R. Zazzali. He received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Virginia and Georgetown University respectively.
-30- ADVOCATES APPLAUD NEW JERSEY ELECTION REFORMS Tuesday, September 6, 2005 Renée Steinhagen, Appleseed, 973.735.0523, Sandy Matsen, LWV, 908-236-6847, Glenn Magpantay, AALDEF, 212.966.5932x206
Newark, NJ … A coalition of civil rights, civic, and community organizations applauded the State Legislature's adoption of a package of bills that will make voting easier and more secure in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Citizens' Coalition on HAVA Implementation has been working on a number of election reforms over the past two years regarding the State's implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act, which was passed in response to some of the problems that emerged during the 2000 presidential election. In 2004, coalition members also collaborated on an extensive Election Protection Project and found that voters faced an array of barriers that prevented them from exercising their right to vote. The groups were delighted to see many of their recommendation enacted into state law. The attachments summarize the bills and list Coalition members.
Renée Steinhagen, executive director of NJ Appleseed, commented on a bill that will provide voter verified paper trails of all ballots cast, "New Jersey has made a first step toward ensuring that voters can feel secure that their votes will go to the candidates whom they selected. Now, we need to establish an audit system that will guarantee that the required paper record will be used to catch malfunctions - accidental or intended." Another bill will use provisional ballots to correct voter registration errors. Problems occur when some voters have data entry errors in their names or addresses or their forms are lost entirely. Now, through the use of provisional ballots, voters will be able to correct their information at their polling site when they vote.
According to Glenn D. Magpantay, staff attorney at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, "When voters have taken all the necessary steps to register to vote, but some error prevented their ballots from being counted, this measure will remedy this problem in future elections."
In addition, local election boards must now report on the total number of provisional ballots used in any election. This requirement will help determine how many votes were potentially lost through administrative error.
AALDEF also praised the new law that will provide translated postings of Voters' Bill of Rights. The new law requires the postings in languages that are spoken by 10% or more of the registered voters in the election district. Although the law falls short of the Coalition's objectives to translate ballots and voting instructions, the new law will help voters know their rights.
Another new law addresses the need for better poll worker training. Now, local election boards must develop training manuals for poll workers and instructions on how to use voting machines for voters with guidelines provided by the State. Sandra Matsen, past president of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, said, "We are still seeking poll workers to be certified on an annual basis with uniform trainings across the state, nevertheless, the new law is a step in the right direction."
Finally, the Coalition praised another recently passed law that requires all polling sites beginning on January 1, 2006 to include at least one accessible voting machine for voters with disabilities. It is time that election officials understand that accessibility means accessible voting machines as well as accessible polling places.
Keith Jones, president of the NAACP of New Jersey, stated in reference to the latest round of voting legislation, "Earlier this month we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act. We now have another reason to celebrate."
Anne Barron, ACLU-NJ Ex-Offender Voting Rights project director, said, "The Coalition will monitor the implementation of these new laws and continue to monitor elections in New Jersey. We certainly hope that the problems we documented in the 2004 election will have been solved by some of these new laws."
Lauren Skowronski, Executive Director of Common Cause New Jersey stated that the bills that extend the voter registration deadline; using provisional ballot for voter registration, and using voter registration forms to declare party affiliation, "will help to make the registration and voting process easier and more accessible for voters throughout New Jersey. Anything that will increase voter turnout is a good thing!"
The Coalition intends this Fall to also press for improvements in the statewide voter data base to protect voters from exclusion due to administrative errors, regulations to ensure that counties will comply with current laws regarding the enfranchisement of citizens with prior convictions, and other legislation. They seek to (i) enable provisional ballots to be counted as valid across county lines, (ii) revamp the machine certification process, and (iii) establish an audit system to ensure that paper records are consistent with machine tallies.
-30- COMMON CAUSE URGES CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN CLEAN ELECTIONS PILOT PROGRAM / ANNOUNCES CITIZEN TRAININGS TO BE HELD IN PILOT PROJECT DISTRICTS August 3, 2005 Lauren Skowronski, 732-548-9798, ext.6
COMMON CAUSE TASK FORCE ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH REFORM RECOMMENDS MEASURES TO BETTER COMBAT CORRUPTION AND TO SAFEGUARD THE GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT January 5, 2005 Lauren Skowronski, 732-548-9798, ext. 6
Common Cause New Jersey's Task Force on Executive Branch Reform today released its recommendations. Taken together, the 5 recommendations advocated by the Task Force are designed to better combat corruption, safeguard the Gubernatorial appointment process, and improve the ethical standards throughout the Executive Branch of New Jersey government. Executive Branch scandals have become all too common in New Jersey in recent years.
Harry Pozycki, Chair of Common Cause said, "Our recommendations provide the tools and safeguards needed to better combat corruption and ensure merit in Gubernatorial appointments. They point the way to improving ethics in the Executive Branch for the long-term."
Major Recommendations:
1. All citizen enforcement of executive branch ethics
In order to eliminate over-lapping responsibilities, the Office of Government Integrity should be dismantled and its $4 million budget transferred to the Office of Inspector General; while the State Auditor be released of its statutorily mandated audits and its resources focused on auditing where waste and corruption are suspected, as well as conducting performance evaluations of programs receiving state funds.
The Task Force analyzed models from other states and received expert testimonies by various governmental and law enforcement experts including: former Governor Jim Florio, Robert Del Tufo, former Attorney General, W. Cary Edwards, Chairman of the State Commission of Investigation, former Public Advocate Stanley Van Ness, Alan Rockoff, Executive Director of the State Commission of Investigation, Richard Fair, State Auditor, and Jeff Tittel, Executive Director of NJ Sierra Club.
The Task Force is chaired by Common Cause New Jersey board members, Jim Dowden and Barbara Cannnon. Dowden is the former Mayor of Bridgewater and Cannon is the former Mayor of Old Bridge. The other Task Force members are Ray Bateman, a former Republican State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate, Don Linky, former Counsel to Governor Byrne, Kathi Cupano, former President of the New Brunswick City Council and former Middlesex County Freeholder, and David Gruol, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Common Cause New Jersey.
Dowden and Cannon said, "We plan to advance these proposals through talking with key elected officials and Gubernatorial staff members and conducting an aggressive public education campaign."
COMMON CAUSE TASK FORCE ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH REFORM HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON GOVERNMNET CORRUPTION AND ETHICS November 4, 2004 Lauren Skowronski, 732-548-9798, ext. 6
Common Cause has formed a task force to examine in-depth reform options for the Executive Branch of New Jersey government and to issue concrete and comprehensive recommendations.
A public hearing was held by the Task Force today at the State House. Expert testimonies were given by Stanley Van Ness, former Public Advocate, Robert Del Tufo, former Attorney General, Alan Rockoff, Executive Director of the State Commission of Investigation, Richard Fair, State Auditor, and Jeff Tittel, Executive Director of NJ Sierra Club.
Among the questions the Task Force addressed were public and executive branch corruption enforcement, the procedures for Gubernatorial appointments, and executive branch ethics. The Task Force will analyze models from other states and continue to solicit expert testimony. The Task Force is aiming to complete its work by mid-November and submit its recommendations to Governor Codey and legislative leaders.
The Task Force is chaired by Common Cause New Jersey board members, Jim Dowden and Barbara Cannon. Dowden is the former Mayor of Bridgewater and Cannon is the former Mayor of Old Bridge. The other Task Force members are Ray Bateman, a former Republican State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate, Don Linky, former Counsel to Governor Byrne, Kathi Cupano, former President of the New Brunswick City Council and former Middlesex County Freeholder, and David Gruol, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Common Cause New Jersey.
Common Cause Chair Harry Pozycki said, "The serious question of how to reform the Executive Branch of New Jersey government given the recent appointment and succession controversies, requires a thoughtful and comprehensive response. That is why we have formed this Task Force.'
Jim Dowden said, "While it is critical to reform the Executive Branch, New Jersey doesn't need just any reforms; our state needs the right reforms. That will be the mission of this Task Force."
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