Cryan says dual office holding reform should be reconsidered, and Baroni says right now
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterNews that two of his colleagues in the Assembly - among others - had been indicted on corruption charges in federal court Thursday sounded like a leaden cymbal clash in the lead up to festivities at the Democratic State Conference at Bally’s in Atlantic City.
But State Democratic Chairman Assemblyman Joseph Cryan gave no indication he believes the party, as in the one he belongs to, shouldn’t go on, even as he acknowledged that the state needs stronger ethics reforms.
Meanwhile, a Republican outfit ridiculed for months as the most obvious institutional wreckage left over from a sagging Bush presidency, found an opening.
Cryan was grimly soldierly.
"I’m saddened and disappointed at today’s news, and I hope the people involved as they consider their future strongly consider the interests of the Democratic Party," the chairman said.
Across the aisle, Assemblyman Bill Baroni, a candidate for state Senate in the 14th District, sent up a trumpet blast for reform.
"There is no bigger crisis than what we are facing right now," said the Republican. "We need a ban on dual office holding. We need an end to wheeling. We need to ban pay-to-play."
In the wake of news that Assemblyman (and Orange Mayor) Mims Hackett and Assemblyman (and Passaic County Undersheriff) Alfred Steele were among those indicted in federal court Thursday, Baroni said he was drafting a letter to send to Gov. Jon Corzine on Friday, asking the governor to trigger his Constitutional powers and convene a special session of the Legislature to implement key reforms.
"(Mims Hackett) was on the state government committee; Alfred Steele was pushing ethics reform bills while he was being investigated," said Baroni, who is hoping Corzine morphs into Harry Truman circa 1948, when the president pushed nationwide reforms in a political season.
"We can come back next week to do this," Baroni said.
Both Baroni and Cryan noted the innocent until proven guilty factor. Neither saw any evidence of wrongdoing on the floor of the Assembly or in the halls of government when it came to Hackett and Steele.
To U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie’s comments regarding "blind eye" Legislative leadership appointing officials indicted today to important committee assignments, Cryan said, "I don’t see how anyone could have possibly seen this coming. Anyone in leadership would resent that. The suggestion that it’s reflective of Assembly leadership is ludicrous."
While speaking on the Assembly floor last June, Cryan questioned the legality of taking the vote away from citizens who had already selected a candidate with the knowledge that he or she was a dual office holder, favoring a grandfather clause in the Legislature, today nodded in the face of the indictments.
"The legislation we passed was different from the governor’s initial call for an all-out ban on dual office holding, and I think today’s events require that we revisit that legislation," said Cryan.
Baroni during the debate complained about the dual office holding legislation as presented by the majority party, but voted for it eventually, calling it better than nothing.
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Once again
The "reporting" on this site has gone downhill since its change over to new ownership. It continually gives examples of bias in favor of Democrats, and there are continual injections of the report's personal ideology in the reports.
"a Republican outfit ridiculed for months as the most obvious institutional wreckage left over from a sagging Bush presidency"
What does that have to do with the story, what does it add to the reporting, and why include such a statement. If the story is a "news" report stick to giving the facts, not the "reporter's" impressions or political analysis (as flawed as it may be).
Max Pizarro is just another "reporter" writing for Democrats and injecting his personal bias and opinions into stories. It is fine if that is what he wants to do; but don't try and push it off as a "news" report or story.
Look the other way? What? No!
Democrats looked the other way? No way! When Mimms Hacket (paid Mayor of Orange) gave $2,000,000 to his own town through the legislative slush fund (and Roberts allowed it) and complaints were filed by Lonegan, Democrats scoffed and dismissed the complaint so it couldn't be seriously considered. When Steel (Passaic Undersherrif) gave a couple hundred grand to Passaic County thorugh the legislative slush fund and complaints were filed by Lonegan, Democrats scoffed and dismissed the complaint so it couldn;t be seriously considered. When Wayne-o gave a couple hundred grand to his employers thorugh the legislative slush fund, Codey knew about it and looked the other way and his appointed chair of the Ethics Committee blabbed about complaints filed against him were stupid. When Jen Beck tried to amend a Roberts bill in Steele's committee to provide that legislators could not give money to their own employers, democrats scoffed and tabled her amendment. When legislators tried to make a dual office ban bill immediate in effect, democrats scoffed and tabled the amendments so people like Mimmsy could keep being two things at once. Codey continue to let Bryant and James exercise their powers (courtesy over prosecutor and judge appointments). Roberts has not replaced Steele as chairman of the committee that oversees ethics. You're right, democrat leadership doesn't just look the other way. They actively defend the status quo and their colleagues.
Essex Co Political Machine
Ed Marable Jr. is also running against Mims Hackett for State Assembly as an Independent. As you know, the Essex Co political machine controls the Dem ballot and has protected Hackett on the local level for years. I have met both Ed Marable Jr.and Mark Meyerowitz and personally find both men of unquestioned integrity – something I cannot say of the rest of the Essex Co machine. "Corruption is not a partisan issue. Citizens of New Jersey have the right to expect all public servants, whether elected, appointed or hired, to act ethically, exercise fiscal responsibility and operate in a politically transparent manner. Our State government needs to be made up of true public servants, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents whose unquestioned ethics are springboards to good decision-making, not impediments to it." Ed Marable Jr. Running against the team of Mims Hackett and John Mckeon for State Assembly
Cryan is part of the problem
Democrats!! You all know he's a bum and should be sacked. Wake up, already.
Politicsnj bias
Everyone says that politicsnj is biased one way or another. However, I am most familiar with the 14th district and I will speak for the bias that is clearly evident in politicsnj's "reporting" there. It's obvious to me that Wally Edge and the rest of the editors on this site LOVE Bill Baroni. That intense passion for Bill Baroni results in lots of negative press about the Democrats in the 14th district. The 14th District Dems have been getting lampooned on this site since Baroni came on the scene. There is no disagreeing with this: It's clear that politicsnj is clearly biased in favor of Bill Baroni. Everything they write about the 14th should be taken with a grain of salt, rather than as the gospel.
The bottom line is that this is a gossip site, plain and simple. The editors play favorites and their "reporting" is suspect.
Alan Karcher
Aren't you deceased? That's the problem with the 14th. When Karcher was around a guy like Baroni would be discredited for the glad- handling baffoon that he is.
Some democrats are listening
Democrat politicians in NJ are one of a kind. I'm a democrat and hate the democartic party as it is in NJ. From personal experience, the level of cronyism and corruption in Monmouth County, it's court, the judicial, the ethics board, and the politically connected law firms, is unbelievable and disgusting. In power way too long IMO. The recent arrests are the little petty guys. Pay to play is one thing, but legistlative rethoric doesn't get rid of corruption. When was the last time the State of NJ arrested their own?. Let's cut to the chase, judicial immunity and selection, ethics board government, and law enforcement are the tools that enable all the cronies and the corruption. This State is run by crooked judges and lawyers, what does NJ expect?.
"bias"
enough with the bias complaints... everyone is whining because their candidate/party is not getting enough coverage... just get over it and talk about the important issues facing the state
Cryan crocodile tears
Enough already pretending that he didnt know what was going on. Now its time to go after the so called " Union Business agents" and their no show jobs
biggles, for that matter...
... "Wally Edge" is dead, as well, and I'm glad that you agree about PoliticsNJ.com's coverage, praising Baroni as though he were some sort of saint.
The party goes on.
What's ironic as while the Democrats ignore, downplay, rationalize and make excuses for the embedded corruption that exists all over the state and at every level of government, they are partying down in Atlantic City trying to unify the party around Hillary Clinton. You have county chairmen and there "yes" men seeking to overturn pay-for-play legislation sponsored by Democrats! You have a whole culture of lawyers and other so called professionals who view the government as a cottage industry for unregulated fees based on controlling those in office. Hundreds of appointed officals on local school boards, county and municpal agencies all appointing hundreds if not thousands of attorneys, engineers, architects and other "consultants" who suck the public till dry. You have lawyers and other so-called professionals who are now millionaires based strictly on raping public budgets mismanaged by part-time appointed and elected officials who have no idea how to provide responsble governance, so the lawyers take over and charge ridiculous fees while also adding themselves to the state payroll with salaries, health benefits and pensions no law firm would ever consider... This is the institutional corruption that exists. It's the so called, no-bid professional service contractors that truly have run government into the ground.