N.J. Democrats fast-tracking bill critics say will gut independent election watchdog
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/n-j-democrats-fast-tracking-bill-critics-say-will-gut-independent-election-watchdog-is-it-politics/ar-AA17VjSjDemocratic lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill opponents say would take the teeth out of an independent state agency that monitors and enforces campaign finance rules in New Jersey.
The bill, revamped at the last minute on Thursday and up for votes in the Senate and the Assembly on Monday, is drawing controversy.
Republicans say last-minute changes will weaken critical oversight of political campaigns by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. And the attorney for the commission’s executive director has charged the real reason the move is being made is the Murphy administration wants the official removed because of alleged anti-gay comments made in an email.
The election watchdog, commonly known as ELEC, would lose a significant amount of independence if the proposal is passed by the Democratic-controlled state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy.
That includes measures allowing the governor to directly appoint an executive director to the commission and limit the number of years it could investigate cases.
Currently, ELEC’s commissioners appoint the executive director. The commissioners are appointed by the governor, but by law there can’t be more than two members of the same political party on the commission.
The changes would give governors the ability to appoint the leader of a commission in charge of enforcing election finance laws for any public office in the state, including ones run by their political party and their own campaigns. The updated bill calls for the state Senate to sign off on the gubernatorial appointee, but the person could serve in the role in an acting capacity if the Senate does not approve.
