Watch Your Wallet
July 20, 2008 |
Politics
As reported by Charles Stile in the June 15 Bergen Record:
Scarinci, Hollenbeck is Bergen County Democratic Party Boss Joe Ferriero's firm.
That's some REACH!
Sorely abused New Jersey taxpayers now know that no matter what happens politically or economically, big donors to Scarinci, Hollenbeck partners can do one stop shopping for influence, no-bid contracts and a favor or three. As we have previously mentioned in The Englewood Report, that adds up to a lot of your money. Data released by the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission "...show that 669 firms that gave $15 million in political contributions received $5.17 billion in contracts from all levels of government. That's a return of $345 for every dollar donated." (Asbury Park Press, April 17. 2008) Getting 34,500% on investment is not a bad return, even if its side effect is to render our public sector as corrupt as a banana republic.
Councilman Drakeford and Mayor Wildes are part of this pay-to-play crew.
So, who among our politicians are defending us against these predations?
Unfortunately, Mr. Ferriero recently got the support of Congressman Rothman and Governor Corzine when he ran for re-election to the chairmanship of the BCDO. This, even after Ferriero was alleged to have dissed Rothman after preparing to join with Camden County Boss George Norcross to assist Congressman Rob Andrews' jumping of the Congressional queue to replace Senator Frank Lautenberg in the official Democratic Party column. Of course, the official column is controlled by the county bosses.
Quoting the April 3, 2008 Bergen Record ("Andrews Takes on Lautenberg for Senate Seat"):
It appears that Loretta Weinberg and company are among the very few leaders with the spine to confront the pay-to-play gangs. It also appears that our Governor and Congressman have little stomach for reform unless they themselves feel threatened.
Joseph W. Oxley, also a partner in the Lyndhurst-based Scarinci, Hollenbeck, was elected the Monmouth County Republican Party chairman on Tuesday. That means the firm now has two county chairmen on the payroll and one from each party.
Scarinci, Hollenbeck is Bergen County Democratic Party Boss Joe Ferriero's firm.
No one can question our bipartisan reach,'' Scarinci said, which is another way of saying that the firm now has a new GOP go-to contact who can get his phone calls returned when, or if, Republicans ever regain majority control in Trenton. (Record, June 15, 2008)
That's some REACH!
Sorely abused New Jersey taxpayers now know that no matter what happens politically or economically, big donors to Scarinci, Hollenbeck partners can do one stop shopping for influence, no-bid contracts and a favor or three. As we have previously mentioned in The Englewood Report, that adds up to a lot of your money. Data released by the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission "...show that 669 firms that gave $15 million in political contributions received $5.17 billion in contracts from all levels of government. That's a return of $345 for every dollar donated." (Asbury Park Press, April 17. 2008) Getting 34,500% on investment is not a bad return, even if its side effect is to render our public sector as corrupt as a banana republic.
Councilman Drakeford and Mayor Wildes are part of this pay-to-play crew.
So, who among our politicians are defending us against these predations?
Unfortunately, Mr. Ferriero recently got the support of Congressman Rothman and Governor Corzine when he ran for re-election to the chairmanship of the BCDO. This, even after Ferriero was alleged to have dissed Rothman after preparing to join with Camden County Boss George Norcross to assist Congressman Rob Andrews' jumping of the Congressional queue to replace Senator Frank Lautenberg in the official Democratic Party column. Of course, the official column is controlled by the county bosses.
Quoting the April 3, 2008 Bergen Record ("Andrews Takes on Lautenberg for Senate Seat"):
Rep. Steve Rothman of Fair Lawn told Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero that if Ferriero tried to put the county's organization behind Andrews, Rothman would field a slate of candidates in the primary for municipal Democratic committee that could lead to Ferriero's ouster.
It appears that Loretta Weinberg and company are among the very few leaders with the spine to confront the pay-to-play gangs. It also appears that our Governor and Congressman have little stomach for reform unless they themselves feel threatened.
