WEINBERG-JOHNSON-HUTTLE ANNOUNCE MAJOR ETHICS REFORM INITIATIVE: CLEAN UP NEW JERSEY

WEINBERG, JOHNSON AND HUTTLE ANNOUNCE MAJOR ETHICS REFORM INITIATIVE: CLEAN UP NEW JERSEY

(TEANECK)- The 37th District Real Democrats Clean Elections Team- Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle announced a major new ethics reform plan called "Clean Up New Jersey".

"It's no secret that politics in New Jersey is pretty dirty. That's why we are proposing 'Clean Up New Jersey', a comprehensive plan to change the old politics and take government back from the special interests and political insiders," Senator Loretta Weinberg announced in Teaneck on Tuesday morning.

"Clean Up New Jersey tackles everything from public financing of all legislative campaigns to campaign finance reform to increasing governmental transparency and accountability," Assemblyman Gordon Johnson noted in his overview of the plan.

"It's this simple- people must have confidence that the government they pay for is working for them- not the special interests or connected political insiders. Clean Up New Jersey is the cure for the old politics," Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle pointed out.

Here are the main initiatives in Clean Up New Jersey:

The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Government:

1. Shadow Governments - Require more transparency and oversight of "shadow governments" including the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission and the Bergen County Improvement Authority.

2. Part-time Legislature - A fulltime legislature to eliminate dual job holding and any outside employment.

3. Loopholes in State "Pay-to-Play" Laws - Close loopholes, end wheeling and provide more transparency on the transfer or "movement" of money from PAC to PAC. Pass pay-to-play laws for redevelopers and those seeking eminent domain, etc.

4. Unfairness in Political Party Operations - Review laws governing selection of party officials and the review process used to fill legislative vacancies to make sure the process is open, inclusive and fair.

5. Campaign Financing - Public financing for legislative elections.

6. Lack of Transparency in Hiring of Lobbyists - Regulate and make public the hiring of lobbyists by public entities. Require public agencies to post contract information online.

7. Loopholes in Local Government Ethics Law - Require local government officers to submit financial disclosure statements within 30 days of taking office.

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