ROBERTS: FEDERAL CLEAN ELECTIONS BILL HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR NJ TO CONTINUE PUSH FOR PUBLIC FINANCING
Published March 27th, 2007 in New Jersey General AssemblyBy: Speaker Joseph Roberts
“New Jersey stands at the forefront of a growing national movement to remove the influence of money from electoral politics,” said Roberts (D-Camden). “We were the first state to have legislatively enacted clean elections. Now, as this issue takes center stage in Washington, DC, it is imperative that we do not take a step backwards.”
Roberts was lead sponsor of recently passed bipartisan legislation (A-100) to reauthorize, reform, and strengthen New Jersey’s pilot clean elections program. The bill currently is awaiting Governor Corzine’s signature.
On Tuesday, US Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) unveiled the federal “Fair Elections Now Act” to establish a system of publicly financed election campaigns for qualified Senate candidates.
A House companion bill was introduced by Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.). The first page of the Senate legislation (S. 936) states “the current system of privately financed campaigns … has the capacity, and is often perceived by the public, to undermine democracy.”
“Clean elections is the ultimate campaign finance reform measure,” said Roberts. “After years of the status quo, with a system in which candidates are forced to dial for dollars rather than talk to constituents, we have an opportunity to revolutionize the way campaigns are financed. As Congress prepares to take up this issue, New Jersey would be foolish to give up its national leadership position.”
Roberts said he is confident Governor Corzine will sign the reauthorization measure in the very near future so state election watchdogs can finalize the necessary rules and regulations and candidates can prepare to qualify for public financing under the program.
The Speaker urged New Jerseyans supportive of the clean elections concept to sign an Internet petition organized by the national election watchdog Public Campaign urging Congressional support for the Durbin/Specter measure. The petition can be accessed at www.publicampaign.org.
“We must show our national leaders that New Jersey is committed to making clean elections work at all levels,” said Roberts. “As our state prepares to renew its worthwhile experiment in clean elections, we must let Senators Durbin and Specter know that their efforts to rid Congress of the influence of campaign cash has our full support.”
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