SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 103

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 18, 1996

By Senator MacINNES

A Concurrent Resolution directing the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to investigate all aspects of campaign financing and to make recommendations for campaign financing reform.

Whereas, Campaign financing has been an issue before the Legislature for many years; and

Whereas, The last comprehensive effort to reform campaign financing, P.L.1993, c.65, failed to establish a system in which the public can have trust and confidence; and

Whereas, Public suspicion regarding the role of money in politics continues unabated; and

Whereas, The perceived connection between campaign contributions and the operation of the Legislature raises the specter of conflicts of interest; and

Whereas, This specter is damaging not only to the integrity of the Legislature but also to the integrity of the political process in general; and

Whereas, The Legislature cannot allow this situation to continue without taking remedial action; and

Whereas, To ensure the public's trust in any legislative action, the most appropriate body to investigate all aspects of campaign financing and to make recommendations for campaign financing reform is the bipartisan Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

    1. The Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards is directed to investigate all aspects of campaign financing, including the effect of campaign contributions on the legislative process, and to make recommendations for campaign financing reform.

    2. The joint committee is entitled to call upon the services of any State, county or municipal department, board, commission or agency, as may be available to it for these purposes, and to incur such traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary for the proper execution of its duties and as may be within the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for these purposes.

    3. The joint committee may meet and hold hearings at such places as it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.

    4. The joint committee shall report its preliminary findings and recommendations no later than July 1, 1997.

STATEMENT

    Although the Legislature has tried many times to reform campaign financing, public suspicion regarding campaign financing and the role of money in politics continues unabated. The perceived connection between campaign contributions and the operation of the Legislature raises the specter of conflicts of interest which damages not only the integrity of the Legislature but also the integrity of the entire political process. The Legislature cannot allow this situation to continue without taking remedial action.

    To ensure the public's trust in any legislative action, the most appropriate body to investigate all aspects of campaign financing, including the effect of campaign contributions on the legislative process, and to make recommendations for campaign financing reform is the bipartisan Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards. This concurrent resolution directs the joint committee to make such an investigation and to make recommendations for campaign financing reform. The joint committee is entitled to call upon the services of any State, county or municipal department, board, commission or agency, as may be available to it for these purposes, and to incur such traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary for the proper execution of its duties and as may be within the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for these purposes.

    The joint committee shall report its preliminary findings and recommendations no later than July 1, 1997.

Directs Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to investigate campaign financing and to make recommendations for reform.