Stop "Wheeling" or Disclose It!

Hmmm... (0.00 / 0)

"For example, the Middlesex County Republican Party could "wheel" money to the Warren County Republican Party, which could then contribute those funds to candidates running for local office in a Warren County municipality. As a result, the Middlesex County Republican Party curries favor with Warren County and the municipal candidates, thus creating alliances. How about a political action committee run by a developer that contributes funds to the Middlesex County Democratic Party which, in turn, gives the money to a municipal Democratic Party? The developer then goes before the Council of that same municipality seeking a variance or seeking to build a new housing development. Suddenly, the political contributions that are being "wheeled" are potentially inappropriately influencing governmental decision-making.?

Well, that explains a whole lot of questions. Add to that all the expensive consultants and lawyers we have out here, and it is no wonder that this is a one-party county.

For all intents and purposes.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 19:28:58 PM UTC

Banning wheeling (0.00 / 0)

It did not bode well that Gov. Corzine's call Tuesday for a ban on wheeling and pay-to-play at all levels of government was greeted by quite a few legislators on stage openly giggling, rolling their eyes, and whispering to each other.

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 20:14:01 PM UTC

Wheelers and Dealers are Criminals and Should Be Introduced To... (0.00 / 0)

...long stretches of high security prison time spent with the general prison population.  That will take the smirks off their faces and stop the giggling.

What is now commonplace needs to be made illegal.  And the penalties need to be extreme.

You take a bribe, sell out the public trust; you go to jail for twenty years no parole.

These people are smart; they would be deterred.  Most of em wouldn't even want to be in public office if they were forced to be ligit and there were NO corrupt perks.

Unfortunately, it's not likely that the people now in office would ever make the kinds of common sense changes required to clean up the legalized bribery.

I would LOVE to be proven wrong!  Time will tell, eh?

Entrenched corrupt pols (and their owners/paymasters)  are relying primarily on cynicism, passivity, ignorance, and complacency to retain their power.

Twenty years from now New Jerseyans will look back on the current status quo the way we look back on Mayor Frank Hague  of Jersey City.  YOU/WE have the power to help manifest that future.  If EVERYONE reading this committed to it; this State could be thoroughly cleaned up within 6 years...a big "if", eh?

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by: Nick Lento @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 22:46:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This happens in Union County too. (0.00 / 0)

In fact, it is extremely wide-spread here.  I wonder how/if Corzine will "clean" this up, considering the Dems involved helped HIM get elected!!!

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by: krose @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 22:43:36 PM UTC

It's Called Biting The Hand That Tried To Buy You... (0.00 / 0)

Corzine had no need of more money...if his lust for power is so overwhelming that he allowed it to supercede his good instincts/intentions to serve the public interest; then he would be no better than the dirtiest pol in the State.

Corzine owes these people NOTHING! 

I believe Corzine is doing a far better job than Forester would have done, he's a decent governor.  Unfortunately, the times/circumstances of the present political moment demand a GREAT Governor willing and able to put it all on the line, to truly lead the people of this state into a radically cleaned up future. 

BTW...If he REALLY went for it, and pulled it off; the guy would deserve a shot at the Presidency to do the same for the nation, eh? 

It's all really up to us!

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by: Nick Lento @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 22:56:47 PM UTC

here's the problem (0.00 / 0)

Every time someone gets money from the state party, it's the same idea.  The state party raises money from people that contribute to them b/c they have contracts with the state or hope that the state will pass favorable legislation, or at least refrain from passing unfavorable legislation.  Then the state party puts that money in races where it is most needed and will do the most good. 

If we didn't have wheeling, it would be nearly impossible to run a serious challenge to an incumbent.  Think about the NJEA, an organization that almost always endorses incumbents and gives money and resources to incumbents regardless of their record or party affiliation.  Challengers are at a serious disadvantage just b/c they are challengers.  Wheeling of money to challengers in those races puts them on more equal footing.  This is especially true in places like Morris County where the county organization's fundraising is pathetic. 

As long as we don't have publicly financed campaigns, I'm unwilling to say that wheeling should be made illegal.  Ending wheeling benefits only safe incumbents.  Further, I don't agree that the feeling of being indebted in some way extends that far down the line.  In Morris, municipal candidates don't know where the county's money comes from and they feel indebted to nobody. 

The real problem is party bossism...when a party boss distributes money to people handpicked to do their bidding.  1) b/c they're picking people that are not going to stand up to them and 2) b/c the party boss makes that lexus between the contribution and the election clear.  There's a reason that people that do manage to get elected in Morris County don't feel indebted and part of that is b/c Lew Candura, a man of integrity, would never put anyone in that position.  The party boss problem can be solved with a very simple piece of legislation...mandate open primaries. 

For those 37th district fans out there, you should know that Valerie Huttle is a co-sponsor on a bill to do just that (with (groan) Assm. Merkt).  The bill won't go anywhere, but it is another reason to support the courageous legislators in the 37th.

*end rant*

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by: morrisdem @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 02:12:08 AM UTC

but at the same time (0.00 / 0)

ending wheeling would certainly help the progressive movement in terms of winning primaries against entrenched, non-progressive incumbent Democrats.  It just wouldn't help us at all when it comes to entrenched, crazy, right-wing Republicans. 

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by: morrisdem @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 02:23:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]