"Green" Pay-to-Play Legislation Proposed

Brian Unger, the Green Party Candidate for Freeholder up in Monmouth County, has researched, written and proposed a Pay-to-Play Law for that county known as the "Public Accountability in Contracting Act". I would propose that my fellow Green's fine work become the basis for similar Pay-to-Play legislation here in Gloucester County, which like Monmouth has no such law at present.

The article which follows was a Press Release which appeared in the Atlantic Highlands Herald for August 25, 2005.

Charles Woodrow
Candidate for Gloucester County Freeholder



UNGER PROPOSES PAY-TO-PLAY LAW FOR COUNTY FREEHOLDERS

Calls for public bids on all contracts to cut spending

FREEHOLD, NJ — County Freeholder candidate Brian Unger delivered his campaign finance reform and pay-to-play legislative proposal to the Monmouth County Freeholders Thursday, Aug. 18 at an afternoon workshop session.

The proposal, which he terms the "Public Accountability in Contracting Act," or PACA, eliminates no-bid contracts of any sort and forbids granting any contracts over $10,000 to any individual or business that contributes more than $400 to the political campaign of any county officeholder who has influence over the award of contracts. It forbids current contractors from contributing to the campaigns of incumbent officeholders, and it also bans county contracts with any business or individual who make such contributions for a period of four years.

"The time for slick rhetoric has truly passed," said Unger today in Freehold at the County Courthouse. "Belmar has acted, Long Branch has acted, dozens of towns throughout the state have acted. Monmouth County is the center of the biggest corruption and government waste scandal in New Jersey. Let’s have the toughest pay-to-play legislation now. Let’s have the toughest ban on wheeling now. Let’s ban double-dipping, job tacking, unnecessary free cars and gasoline for county employees, let’s enact a hiring freeze now, at the next freeholders meeting," declared Unger.

In Unger’s plan, contributions no higher than $400 to an individual campaign, or $2,400 countywide to candidates, political committees and PACs would be permissible.

Unger said that well-established constitutional rights protected political donations as
free speech but that limitations were up to local legislatures.

Unger’s proposed ban includes municipal, county, or state committees that ‘wheel’ money into Monmouth County from the outside. The measure would weaken the influence of powerful political bosses who have boasted that they control governors and gubernatorial candidates. New Jersey’s political chieftains dole out lucrative contracts and jobs to themselves and their political allies, fueling government spending with highly paid no-show and low-show jobs and wasteful no-bid service contracts.

For the first time in county history, Unger’s plan would establish a transparent, open public bidding and contracting process with bidders disclosing up front all previous campaign contributions to elected officials’ political war chests.

For the first time, every contract awarded by the county for professional services, without exception, could be awarded only after a competitive contracting process as defined in federal standards at Title 40A:11-4.1, et seq.

""Why not stop the no-bid contracts and excessive patronage now," Unger asked in a prepared statement. "Let’s slash the 269 free cars, free gas, and free car insurance in half, now. Let’s legislate an end to double-dipping, job tacking, pension padding, and nepotism now; because the taxpayers in Rumson, Asbury Park, Belmar, Spring Lake, Matawan, Bradley Beach and all the towns can’t wait for a tax roll-back they expect and deserve from Monmouth County government."

Unger’s legislation forces the county freeholders to commit to a public on-line database for county bids and contractual documents, including all requests for proposals, bids, work projects, professional services, and related correspondence, documentation and executed contracts. All the information would be available to any member of the public or the media for easy examination on the county website.

Unger said that after job cuts and a hiring freeze, he would recommend the creation of a non-political, non-partisan Inspector General for Campaign Donation Compliance ("IGCDC") to provide the public and the media any information requested regarding campaign financing or county contracts.

"This position would not and could not have any taint of political affiliation," said Unger. "It cannot be an elected or appointed official, functionary, representative, employee, or legal, political or communications counsel of any candidate, any party, or any political organization," said Unger. "I would like to see this position come from a respected and well-educated member of the clergy, the non-profit world, the world of advocacy, public service, academia, or business, with no functioning ties to any political party or organization whatsoever."

"In an April 14 commentary to a local newspaper, Freeholder Amy Handlin said we must "analyze" what has happened in Monmouth County with all this corruption, bid rigging and ridiculous over-spending," stated Unger. "Today I say to Amy Handlin, William Barham and the other freeholders, "Analyze this! What are you doing? Why are you not doing what you should be doing now, right now?"

"When does the rhetoric and posturing stop; when does this freeholder board enact real pay-to-play legislation? When do you move from words to action? For how long do you put off the voters saying you are waiting for our state legislature, the most corrupt body of politicians in the region, exceeded only by New York State’s infamous legislative body?"

Unger said several local attorneys assisted with the research and writing of his proposed PACA legislation.