Governor Christie puts tough ethics rules on table

By: centraljersey.com
New Jersey government does not have the best reputation – for good reason.
The state has been beset by scandal after scandal, with high-profile politicians finding themselves behind bars or under indictment for everything from accepting bribes to influence peddling and theft of public money.
Efforts have been made to end the parade, to rein in the out-of-control behavior of the state’s politicians, but they have been somewhat inconsequential – watered down by elected officials who have little stomach for policing themselves.
Gov. Chris Christie is the latest governor to step into the muck. The former federal prosecutor, who was responsible for some of the higher-profile public corruption convictions, announced Tuesday that he wanted the Legislature to act by Christmas on a set of reforms that he says will enhance government transparency and accountability.
"When I became governor, I made a promise to the people of New Jersey that I would use every power and authority of this office and every ounce of my energy to make their lives better, bring accountability and responsibility to their government and give them hope for a better future in our state," he said during a town hall meeting in Wayne on Tuesday. "We have made great progress since January, but we can and must go further to fix our state. Today marks the next stage of our efforts to bring reform for a stronger New Jersey."
Tuesday’s speech in Wayne offered what The Star-Ledger called "broad themes" that would be fleshed out during four subsequent town halls (including one on Wednesday after our opinion page deadline). The governor said he was seeking legislation that would end dual-office holding for all public officials, limiting professionals to one salaried position and elected officials to one elected job.
In addition, according to the Ledger, the governor wants the Legislature to enact "stricter financial disclosure requirements" similar to those governing other public employees.
"It seems to me if they want to be equal partners in making the laws, they should be equal partners in disclosing everything they have," he said, according to the Ledger.
In their broadest outlines, the reforms appear to be the logical conclusion to a process started under Gov. Jon Corzine. But where his predecessor deferred to the state Legislature, which watered down the governor’s efforts, Gov. Christie is not likely to do so.
That’s because the governor is a natural brawler and enjoys the combative side of politics. There are times when this side of his political personality leaves him looking petty and vindictive (see his response to the Race to the Top flap); but there are times when it is necessary to push back.
That’s something that former Gov. Jon Corzine never learned and it’s why so many of his proposals – the state controller slot, his proposed ban on dual-office holding, the sales tax hike – ended up being watered down or otherwise changed.
The dual-office holding ban is a case in point. Gov. Corzine sought an outright ban, but saw the dozen or so members of the state Legislature who held more than one position threaten to withdraw their support. He backed down and existing dual-office holders – including Senate President Steven Sweeney, who serves as freeholder director in Gloucester county – were allowed to keep both of their jobs without any incentive to give one up.
While Sen. Sweeney plans to step down from his freeholder post at the end of the year, nine others continue to hold two jobs and remain beholden to two bosses. These include several powerful members of the Legislature: Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), mayor of Wood-Ridge; Senate Budget Committee Vice Chairman Brian Stack (D-Hudson), mayor of Union City; Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), mayor of North Bergen; Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chairman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), who also chairs the Financial Institutions and Insurance committee and is a city councilman in Passaic; Labor Committee Chairman Joseph Egan (D-Middlesex), a city councilman in New Brunswick; and Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chairman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), mayor of Paulsboro. The others are: Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean), a Lakewood Township Committeeman; Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), an Essex County freeholder; and Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-Ocean), mayor of Plumsted.
It is too soon to know if Gov. Christie’s proposals are workable or what may happen when his aggressive ethics reform agenda runs smack into a legislative brick wall. But it is not too soon to give the governor credit for keeping ethics reform on the table.
Hank Kalet is managing editor of the South Brunswick Post. E-mail, [email protected]www.kaletblog.comfacebook.com/hank.kalet.