SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 105

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 19, 1996

By Senators MacINNES and CONNORS

A Concurrent Resolution directing the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to review 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, Previous campaign financing reforms have not completely established a system in which the public can have trust and confidence; and

Whereas, Public concerns regarding the role of campaign contributions in politics continue; and

Whereas, The public perceives a possible connection between campaign contributions and the political process which raises questions about conflicts of interest; and

Whereas, These questions and concerns are damaging to the integrity of the Legislature and to the integrity of the political process in general; and

Whereas, The Legislature should not allow this situation to continue without taking remedial action and addressing the concerns of the citizens of New Jersey; and

Whereas, To ensure the public's trust in any legislative action, the most appropriate body to review 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 review 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

    The Legislature has attempted campaign financing reform in the past, but public concerns and questions regarding the role of campaign financing in politics continue. The perception of a possible connection between campaign contributions and the political process raises concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of the Legislature. The Legislature should not allow this situation to continue without taking remedial action.

    To ensure the public's trust in any legislative action, the most appropriate body to review 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 a review 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 review campaign financing and to make recommendations for reform.