State of New Jersey Archives: on Government Reform

Phil Murphy: Automatic voter registration, online, and same-day

• 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.

Jeff Bell: Higher campaign contributions will help non-incumbents

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.

Murray Sabrin: Government that governs least governs best

1. a bigger welfare state
2. the federal government's gross violations of our civil liberties
3. the health care nightmare known as ObamaCare
4. the Federal Reserve's Wall Street bailouts and crony capitalism and
5. a foreign policy based on nation building (the permanent security state/ permanent war).

Chris Christie: Consolidate duplicative town governments into single towns

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.

Barbara Buono: Making voting more difficult does not win elections

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.

Chris Christie: Vetoes expanded early-voting system; no side-by-side systems

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.

Joe Kyrillos: Cut 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?"

Chris Christie: 10-point plan to punish criminal officeholders

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.

Jon Corzine: Crack down on "pay-to-play"

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.

Joe Pennacchio: Limit all types of contributions, but not spending

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.

Robert Menendez: Keep the Senate filibuster rules, to encourage debate

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.

Robert Menendez: Allow dual-office holding for politicians, if voters choose

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.

Thomas Kean Jr.: Keep the Senate filibuster rules, to encourage negotiation

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.

Thomas Kean Jr.: Disallow dual-office holding for politicians

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.