| "Groups like Reform Jersey Now are simply fronts for their political parties. They should be subject to the state's financial disclosure laws. And they should have to live by the same pay-to-play laws that political parties do." - Sen. President Sweeney (July 7, 2010)
It was in June when we first heard about Reform Jersey Now (RJN). On the airwaves it called for Speaker Oliver to hold a vote on Christie's then 2.5% cap on property tax increases. This 501 (C) (4) organization went on to solicit $25,000 donations from persons to attend events featuring Governor Christie. It also set up its own website to accept contributions. Yet little is known about this shadow operation.
Luminaries and big time Christie donors appear on the website as members of the Advisory Board. From information on the site and the AG's Charitable Registration Section additional names can be unearthed. As with other 501 (C) (4) groups it was possible to dig into specific records. Some statements on RJN's site seem at odds with reality. As a (501 (C) (4) it can do extensive lobbying, engage in political campaign activity, and accept donations from any source - corporate, individual, or foreign - in unlimited amounts, including from state contractors, without disclosing the names of its donors.
RJN on its website says it is "not affiliated with any political group or committee." However, it supports only Republican causes and Governor Christie in particular. Its Advisory Board consists of Chuck Shotmeyer, President, (a recent Christie nominee to a state commission), former Governors Whitman and DiFrancesco, former Congressman Mike Ferguson (Christie advisor), William J. Palatucci, Esq. (Christie advisor and Sr. V.P. for Community Education Centers which does extensive business with the State), and other noted fundraisers, advisors and donors: Joseph Buckelew, Mitchell Modell, David Norcross, and Candace Straight. The contact address on the website using reverse White Pages turns out to be the home of John Visconi, who previously worked on Republican Bill Baroni's election campaign, has specialties in election law and campaign finance, and has served as Law Clerk at Michael J. Lunga, Esq., LLC.
The RJN website unsurprisingly features photos and videos of Christie and promotes his policies. In the donation section the site says recent contributions were "dedicated to its public policy purpose." It also indicates, "Information filed with the Attorney General concerning this solicitation and the percentage of contributions received may be obtained from the N. J. Attorney General." However, RJN's AG file (Charity Registration Number: CH3286200) indicates no reported income nor expenses. The file does provide an RJN address which turns out to be the home of Ronald Gravino, another nominee for a state commission, who served as Treasurer for Christie's campaign. Further checking with N. J. Election Law Enforcement Committee's campaign financing and lobbying disclosure site and Guidestar's IRS data site provided no reporting of financials nor any records for RJN.
The above sheds more light on this shadow group, but indicates it still operates in almost darkness. As Sen. Barbara Buono said, "Groups like Reform Jersey Now need to live up to a higher ethical standard." Democratic State Party Chairman Wisniewski has stated, "Any Republicans that claim interest in reform should immediately demand that Reform Jersey Now release its donors and expenditures." In addition to federal action on 501 (C) (4)'s, it's time for the NJ legislature to shine a spotlight on this organization, which by its secrecy is deforming rather than reforming Jersey. |
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