Chamber Applauds Corzine Ethics Reform Announcements

At 2:30 p.m. today, the Governor will be signing an Executive Order on the steps of the State House dealing with ethics reform.

Specifically the Executive Order will:

• Ban political contributions by state redevelopers and their consultants
• Tighten the current ban on state-contractor contributions to include those made by partners of professional service firms
• Appoint a task force to study whether the Local Government Ethics Law should be changed to match state law
• Update financial disclosure rules for members of newly created boards and commissions
  

In addition, he will be pushing for legislation that will:

• Ban contributions by county government contractors to municipal candidates and ban contributions by municipal contractors to county candidates
• Ban contributions by developers seeking development approvals
• Ban contributions from audit firms and partners to audit clients
  

By signing today's Executive Order and by calling for stronger legislative initiatives designed to dissuade government corruption, he is improving our state's reputation to investors and restoring residents' faith in our government institutions and leaders.

As business advocates, we see this as an economic issue. Financial commitments are made to the state when investors know they are working with elected officials at all levels of government that they believe to be honest. When the credibility of public servants is called into question, investment is chilled and our reputation is forever damaged.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's Platform for Progress Government Reform Coalition applauds these initiatives. If nothing is done, the corruption stories that appear too often will only increase, as these activities become the norm - or the culture of the society.

What Do You Think of the New Transportation Proposal?

Yesterday, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's board requested that tolls be raised starting in 2009 to help pay for much needed transportation projects. The increases will go towards widening the New Jersey Turnpike (Exits 6 to 8A) and the Garden State Parkway (Exits 63 to 80 and around Atlantic City); providing $1.2 billion over 10 years to fund a mass transit rail tunnel into Manhattan; ensuring bridge safety; and increasing funding to New Jersey Transit.

Tolls on the Parkway would increase from 35 cents to 50 cents in 2009, 75 cents in 2012 and 85 cents in 2023. Drivers that today pay on average $1.20 on the Turnpike see tolls increase to $1.80 next year, $2.70 in 2012 and $3 in 2023.

While the State Chamber and the Platform Coalition have not taken an official position on the current proposal, the organization has supported the projects mentioned in order to improve our transportation infrastructure and boost our economy.

The last time Turnpike tolls increased was in 2000 and Parkway tolls have not gone up since 1989.

For the latest updates on this issue, when they become available, please visit www.njchamber.com.

Tell us what you think of this new proposal.

Click here to complete the survey.