Eclectic bunch targets Codey
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The announcement that an eclectic group of lawmakers have introduced a bill to require legislators to disclose their person income from public sources was a direct shot at Senate President Richard Codey. The proposed law would force legislators, their spouses and their dependent children to report direct and indirect financial stakes in no-bid public contracts -- something Codey has been strongly opposed to. The bill has the backing of Gov. Jon Corzine, South Jersey Democrats allied with party leader George Norcross, Bergen County Democrats opposed to indicted County Chairman Joseph Ferriero, and several key Republican Senators.
The feud between Codey and Norcross is well-known, and Norcross' support of campaign finance and ethics reform legislation appears to be backing the Senate President into a corner. Proposals to limit contributions to legislative leadership PAC's and heightened attention to an alleged slush fund for selected legislators during the time Codey served as both Acting Governor and Senate President make these tough times for the state's most popular Democrat -- especially if Corzine wants to leave office early to accept a post in a new administration.
One other point: while State Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson are listed as sponsors of the Legislators Financial Transparency and Accountability Act, but their running mate, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, is not. Huttle's absence could be easily explained: her husband, Frank Huttle, is a partner at DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Wisler, a powerful North Jersey law firm that won't be anxious to see information about the firm appear on any public financial disclosure report.
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Syndicate
This is more conspiracy theory than fact...
I'm sorry... I just don't buy it. Norcross might have a personal ax to grind, but it's gotta be bad for business when you go after the most popular guy in your own party. This story wreaks of conspiracy theory... Hasn't this bill been out there for a little while now?
Just curious... Would this also apply to the contracts held by O'Toole's legal firm? Can't have it both ways, boys...
Codey will remain popular until he is checked out
When Codey became governor, he was a shining beacon of change from the dog days of McGreevey and nobody had the stomache for DiFrancesco style revelations. If Codey decides to make a run for the only statewide elected post, however, somebody is going to delve into his 30-plus years in politics. I do not know what sklelatons will be unearthed, but I dare say ruling over the $40 million slush fund in 2005 is just one of many offenses. Standing in the way of ethic reform is no way to rebound from what Juan Melli called, "The Codey Cop-Out."