Dear Mayor:
The League of Municipalities supports the Assembly Committee
Substitute for A-3013 and A-3421 (ACS for A-3013) and S-1698.
These bills permit counties and municipalities to impose
limits on political contributions made by business entities
that receive contracts; and they require disclosure of political
contributions by certain business entities.
In our testimony
on the Pay-to-play reforms that were enacted last Spring,
the League cautioned the Legislature to delete provisions
that purported to authorize local governments to adopt
any local ethics standards. Such language would, we cautioned
the Legislature, invalidate carefully crafted municipal
ordinances already in place. And we asked our lawmakers
to permit local governments to adopt or retain standards
stricter than those imposed by the State. Sadly, the bill
that was passed DID NOT takes these concerns into account.
Now, remedial legislation is needed so that the over 25
municipalities that have tougher "pay-to-play"
standards than the State can enforce those restrictions.
The Assembly
acted on this issue over four months ago. Now, the Senate
needs to vote.
Accordingly,
we urge you to contact your State Senator. Please urge
the members of the State Senate to pass these bills as
soon as possible.
For a copy
of the legislation, please contact Suzanne DeLany at 609-695-3481,
ext. 14. If you have any questions, call Jon Moran at
ext. 21.
