Payola in the Garden State
Tuesday, January 25th, 2005Anyone who knows anything about NJ politics knows there are three big issues in the Garden State: High property taxes, High auto insurance, and "Pay-to-Play" corruption. Pay-to-Play is when businesses give contributions to canidates for elections in return for government contracts when they win. One of the last thing McGreevy did before stepping down as Governor was sign an executive order banning the practice. The federal court has stepped in.
TRENTON — The federal government won a court battle yesterday against New Jersey, saying the state’s ban on "pay-to-play" practices restricts competition by barring campaign donors from winning contracts for state work.
The state went into U.S. District Court in Trenton seeking an injunction against the federal government for its decision to withhold highway funding, but the judge refused to override the federal government’s position.
The federal government had filed documents Thursday, saying New Jersey’s anti-pay-to-play executive order, issued last September by then-Gov. James E. McGreevey, limited who could bid on state work.
And that, said lawyers for the federal government, violated federal guidelines for awarding highway contracts. The lawyers said businesses and individuals seeking government contracts have a right to make political contributions.
Says who ?!?!?!
If you ask me (if you are reading this you did) keeping the politcal system fair and honest trumps individual rights to bid on contracts. We talk about all of the money being put political campaigns. Where is this cash coming from ? This is America, the largest capitalist system on the planet. Everything is for sale. Everything is a sale of some sort. Contributors are buying somthing. If small and medium size business can influence govnerment to get there hands on public money, with contributions what do you think is going to happen as gloabalization sets in ?
