State of New Jersey Archives: on Government Reform
Barbara Buono:
Making voting more difficult does not win elections
Gov. Christie vetoed a bill that would allow early voting at polling places, calling a proposal to let voters cast ballots at designated polling places during a 15-day period before Election Day "hasty, counterproductive and less reliable" than the
current system. "I support responsible and cost-efficient election reform that increases voter participation because democracy works best when the most people vote," Christie said in the veto message. "But this bill risks the integrity and orderly
administration of our elections by introducing a new voting method and process."Christie, who is seeking re-election, raised the ire of unions and the Democratic Governors Association, who are backing his
likely opponent, state Sen. Barbara Buono. "Governor Christie's veto is yet another example of Republican politicians taking the cynical view that making voting more difficult will win them more elections," Buono said.
Source: Newark Star Ledger on 2013 N.J. governor debates
May 9, 2013
Chris Christie:
10-point plan to punish criminal officeholders
Unveiling a 10-point plan he said would punish criminal officeholders and cut down on conflicts of interest, Christie blamed Corzine's "failure of leadership" for allowing corruption to fester. He said the governor has put politics ahead of principles an
failed to implement strong ethics laws that Corzine himself campaigned on in 2005. "If the governor had the will to lead, some of the things on this list would be done," Christie said. "He always feels great despair after people are arrested, and he's
willing to stand up and fight--and then the minute the political bosses and his patrons in the Legislature push back, he falls back on his back."Corzine's campaign hit back with the latest in a series of television advertisements designed to undermine
Christie's own ethics. The ad highlights Christie's past as a fundraiser for former President George W. Bush, who appointed Christie as US Attorney. The ad labels that pay-to-play, a practice Christie and Corzine have pledged to crack down on.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial debates
Aug 5, 2009
Chris Christie:
Vetoes expanded early-voting system; no side-by-side systems
Christie vetoed a bill that would allow early voting at polling places, calling a proposal to let voters cast ballots at designated polling places during a 15-day period before Election Day "hasty, counterproductive and less reliable" than the current
system. "I support responsible and cost-efficient election reform that increases voter participation because democracy works best when the most people vote," Christie said in the veto message. "But this bill risks the integrity and orderly administration
of our elections by introducing a new voting method and process."Christie said the expanded early voting system envisioned by the Legislature would create a side-by-side voting process, noting it would cost the state $23 million in the
first year and $2 million each year after that. He also questioned the security of transporting paper ballots around the state during the early voting period and the call for a quick setup before July 1.
Source: Newark Star Ledger on 2013 N.J. governor debates
May 9, 2013
Chris Christie:
Consolidate duplicative town governments into single towns
We have worked with the Senate to try to pass real consolidation and civil service reform. We haven't gotten it done in the Assembly. [We should] provide local government with the authority to run their governments like a business: consolidate, share
services, cut duplication and ultimately actually reduce property taxes.Look at what happened last year in Princeton. Princeton Borough and Princeton Township consolidated into a single government. Not two tax departments, two police forces, two
offices answering the phone. The savings in one year: $3 million. That's on a budget of $64 million, a 4.7% savings. And the citizens of Princeton got this: more services, despite a smaller budget, and a reduction in municipal taxes.
This is not just
my opinion--the local Reorganization & Consolidation Commission said that civil service seniority rules topped the list of barriers to shared services. Let's help our towns clear away arcane rules that stand between them and lower property taxes.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to N.J. Legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Chris Christie:
There's no solid evidence that 2020 election was stolen
Even if he doesn't formally concede, we need to stop talking about the fact that the election was stolen, when, as I lay out in the book, there's really no solid evidence that it was.
And talking about this now is defeating for the Republican Party. You know, voters always want the next election, Bret, to be about the future, not about the past.
Source: Fox News Sunday 2021 interview of N.J. Governor
Nov 21, 2021
Jeff Bell:
Higher campaign contributions will help non-incumbents
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter limits on political campaign funds"?
A: Oppose. The $2,600 limit on individual contributions should be increased to allow for non-incumbents without a pre-existing donor base to have a more realistic opportunity to run for federal office.
Source: Email interview for 2014 N.J. Senate race with OnTheIssues
Jul 1, 2014
Joe Kyrillos:
Cut spending, taxes and job-killing regulations
The federal government should follow Trenton's example, Kyrillos said, by cutting spending, taxes and "job-killing regulations.""We're making all the wrong decisions in Washington, D.C.," he said.
Menendez emphasized his efforts to help the middle
class grow and prosper, listing New Jersey's biotechnology and solar industries as areas that he helped to promote.
Both candidates indicated that failing to avoid the impending "fiscal cliff"--a set of large spending cuts and tax increases set
to take effect in January unless Congress takes action--would be unacceptable.
Menendez promised Congress would find a way to meet this challenge. "There will be no tax increases on New Jerseyans or Americans in January," he said.
Kyrillos attacked
Menendez and the Congress for waiting until the last minute to respond. "I'm not sure he understands what's at stake. I can't believe that they allow the uncertainty to exist out there," Kyrillos said. "Why can't they get their act together?"
Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate
Oct 14, 2012
Joe Pennacchio:
Limit all types of contributions, but not spending
Q: Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates: Individual?A: Yes.
Q: PAC?
A: Yes.
Q: ?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Parties?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information??
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns? ?
A: No.
Source: N.J. Gubernatorial 2007-2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 2, 2007
Jon Corzine:
Crack down on "pay-to-play"
Unveiling a 10-point plan he said would punish criminal officeholders and cut down on conflicts of interest, Christie blamed Corzine's "failure of leadership" for allowing corruption to fester. He said the governor has put politics ahead of principles an
failed to implement strong ethics laws that Corzine himself campaigned on in 2005. "If the governor had the will to lead, some of the things on this list would be done," Christie said. "He always feels great despair after people are arrested, and he's
willing to stand up and fight--and then the minute the political bosses and his patrons in the Legislature push back, he falls back on his back."Corzine's campaign hit back with the latest in a series of television advertisements designed to undermine
Christie's own ethics. The ad highlights Christie's past as a fundraiser for former President George W. Bush, who appointed Christie as US Attorney. The ad labels that pay-to-play, a practice Christie and Corzine have pledged to crack down on.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial debates
Aug 5, 2009
Murray Sabrin:
Government that governs least governs best
A Sabrin-Booker U.S. Senate race will give voters in New Jersey--and around the country--an opportunity to hear two distinct visions for America: My views are that a government that governs least governs best, that you should keep more of your hard
earned money, that your privacy must not be trampled by the federal government, that federal government spending must be reduced and that healthcare is too important to be managed by government bureaucrats, that the Federal Reserve should no longer
manipulate interest rates and debase our money, and that we should not--I repeat, must not--be the world's policeman. This is in contrast to Cory Booker, who supports- a bigger welfare state
- the federal government's gross violations of our
civil liberties
- the health care nightmare known as ObamaCare
- the Federal Reserve's Wall Street bailouts and crony capitalism and
- a foreign policy based on nation building (the permanent security state/ permanent war).
Source: Sabrin Op-Ed in PolitickerNJ: on 2014 N.J. Senate race
Feb 23, 2014
Phil Murphy:
Automatic voter registration, online, and same-day
Across the nation, Republicans have systematically tried to disenfranchise voters. Phil Murphy will empower voters and increase participation by:- Automatic voter registration: Five states have automatic voter registration at their Motor Vehicle
Commissions (MVC), unless they opt out. Governor Christie vetoed a law that would make NJ the sixth such empowering state.
- Online voter registration: There is no reason why our residents should be able to bank and shop online, but not register
to vote, like in 38 states.
- Same-day voter registration: 16 states have authorized voters to register the day of elections. NJ requires that our residents register 21 days before an election--Phil believes we should eliminate this requirement.
-
Allowing early voting: 21 states allow residents to vote early at the polls prior to election day.
- Allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by election day, which 24 states allow.
Source: 2017 N.J. gubernatorial campaign website, Murphy4NJ.com
Jun 6, 2017
Robert Menendez:
Keep the Senate filibuster rules, to encourage debate
Q: Do you think there should be a change in the Senate rules governing the filibuster? KEAN: No. Negotiation and compromise under the current rules are the best means to success and promotes bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges.
MENENDEZ: Under Bush, Washington has become too partisan and divided. Senate rules are meant to overcome that by encouraging debate and compromise. They should be preserved.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean)
Sep 24, 2006
Robert Menendez:
Allow dual-office holding for politicians, if voters choose
Q: Should public officials in New Jersey be allowed to hold more than one public office? KEAN: I sponsored legislation to prohibit dual-office holding. It undermines the integrity and honesty of government. Regrettably, Bob Menendez was a dual-office
holder.
MENENDEZ: Voters have the final say in who represents them in government. If the electorate votes you into office, that is the will of the electorate.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean)
Sep 24, 2006
Thomas Kean Jr.:
Keep the Senate filibuster rules, to encourage negotiation
Q: Do you think there should be a change in the Senate rules governing the filibuster? KEAN: No. Negotiation and compromise under the current rules are the best means to success and promotes bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges.
MENENDEZ: Under Bush, Washington has become too partisan and divided. Senate rules are meant to overcome that by encouraging debate and compromise. They should be preserved.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate
Sep 24, 2006
Thomas Kean Jr.:
Disallow dual-office holding for politicians
Q: Should public officials in New Jersey be allowed to hold more than one public office? KEAN: I sponsored legislation to prohibit dual-office holding. It undermines the integrity and honesty of government. Regrettably, Bob Menendez was a dual-office
holder.
MENENDEZ: Voters have the final say in who represents them in government. If the electorate votes you into office, that is the will of the electorate.
Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate
Sep 24, 2006
Tammy Murphy:
Proud of NJ's role in fight for women's suffrage
To mark Women’s Equality Day, the New Jersey Historical Commission announces that New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy will serve as co-chair of "NJ Women Vote: The 19th Amendment at 100", a multi-faceted programming initiative marking 100 years of
women's suffrage. The centennial of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, will occur on August 26, 2020.[The event] seeks to mark the centennial of women’s suffrage while acknowledging its inequities and
the challenges New Jersey women of all backgrounds have faced and continue to confront from 1920 to the present day. "I could not be prouder of New Jersey's historical role in the fight for women's suffrage," said First Lady Tammy Murphy. "The stories
of far too many women have gone unheard, and their fight continues to this day. I look forward to the vital work that NJ Women Vote will do to bring the movement into the 21st century and bring so many inspiring stories into the light."
Source: N.J. Historical Commission press release: "Suffrage 2020"
Aug 23, 2019
Phil Murphy:
I support same-day voter registration in New Jersey
We have implemented automatic voter registration. Instituted early in-person voting. Established online voter registration. And restored voting rights to more than 80,000 of our neighbors on probation or parole.
I continue to support passing same-day voter registration in New Jersey. Nobody should ever be denied access to the ballot box because they missed a deadline or forgot to send in paperwork. Same-day voter registration will help prevent that.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the N.J. legislature
Jan 9, 2024
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026