Dear ,
Amidst all the scary stuff happening, there are good news in New Jersey: we have a good-government Senator who is in constant touch with GGCNJ, and all over the state efforts to fight against corruption and for good government are on the rise, from the Comptroller's office and from other, new, organizations. We are excited to share all these with you after the midterm elections.
BUT: Our state legislature is at it again, fast tracking a bill to decrease transparency and accountability in New Jersey, and doing it while we’re all distracted with the upcoming midterms. Ugh!
You may remember the volatile hearing last year, when Senator Andy Kim, State Attorney General Matt Platkin, and State Comptroller Kevin Walsh appeared in the statehouse to testify in opposition to a bill to severely weaken the Comptroller’s office oversight powers. That time the bill was introduced just before Thanksgiving, with the hearing a few days later. The egregious conduct of Senator Jim Beach in requiring these dignitaries to wait four hours to testify, and allow them only 3 minutes to do so, is what dashed the state legislator’s hopes for this to pass under the radar. The bill was withdrawn after loud opposition from good government and grassroots groups.