CHANGING THE WAY TRENTON WORKS

The goal of elected officials across New Jersey should be to raise the publics trust in government. To reach this goal, elected officials must conduct themselves ethically to set an example. HMMM! That goal is being made more difficult to attain by the seemingly endless news flowing from Trenton regarding the practices of some of the appointees, employees, friends, supporters and confidants of this State’s Governor.

It is hard to believe that so much scandal can follow one person. Governor James E. McGreevey must have the worst luck, or maybe he just is a very poor judge of character or worse. Consider all of the people closely connected to him, and the trouble they have brought:

Gary Taffet, his first chief of staff, and Paul Levinsohn, his first legal counsel. Both are under investigation for using their connection with McGreevey to close a very lucrative deal selling billboards they had constructed in south Jersey.

Golan Cipel, the Israeli national, and poet, that McGreevey installed as the homeland security advisor. When the federal officials stated that they would not deal with a person who had no experience, and was not a citizen, McGreevey gave him a $110,000 position for which there was no description.

Don’t forget Joseph Santiago, McGreevey’s first state police head, who resigned under a cloud.

David D’Amaino a major fund raiser for McGreevey, who allegedly too $40,000 from a New Jersey farmer to help him preserve his land.

Rev. William D. Watley, the head of the state’s commerce commission. He and his chief of staff, Lesly Devereaux, are under scrutiny for incomplete disclosure forms and consulting jobs for relatives. Hopefully, Red Bank resident Ginny Bauer, the Governor’s designee will restore the integrity of this important commission.

Last, but not least, there is Charles Kushner, McGreevey’s top campaign contributor. He was kind enough to plot a videotaping of his brother-in-law with a call girl, hat Kushner hired, and send the tape to his sister. All just to encourage them to keep quiet during the federal probe into Kushner’s campaign contributions. Hollywood would have rejected such a script as “too hard to believe.”

While we are examining this sad state of affair’s, let’s consider what McGreevey himself has done to change it. Admirably, Governor McGreevey announced at his inauguration that “he would change the way Trenton works” meaning, I assumed, a more efficient, honest, transparent and accountable state government. When the Governor demanded that a new pay-to-play reform law include all levels of government, not just the executive branch, I assumed again that he meant that as well. Unfortunately after months of stonewalling by the Democrat majority in the General Assembly, where I serve, endless attempts by my Republican colleagues to vote on the comprehensive “pay-to-play” reform bill unanimously passed by the State Senate, was blocked. Notable exceptions to the partisan reform blockade in Monmouth County were Assemblymen Panter and Morgan, both Democrats. What did become law was a watered down “swiss cheese” reform bill that doesn’t take effect until after the next Gubernatorial election – 2006.

Compounding this ethical morass is the State’s new budget. The 2005 budget is 17% greater than the previous year’s 9% increased budget. There being no end to this story – the budget is balanced by utilizing sales of $2.7 billion bonds secured by cigarette revenues for the next 26 years.

Yes, the way Trenton works has surely changed. It is more detached, murky and continuing to fail to address the important issue of unaffordable property tax increases, a failing transportations system, high tuition costs and suburban sprawl.

For any other information regarding the State budget, please contact my office at 732-708-0900 or asmcocodemus@njleg.org