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Critics blast Bergen County freeholders’ revised pay-to-play ordinance
ronsaari.com
Critics blast Bergen County freeholders’ revised pay-to-play ordinance
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
A proposed revision to Bergen County’s pay-to-play law was blasted Thursday by critics that contend the changes would gut a reform measure intended to limit campaign contributions by contractors and bring greater transparency to government.
But the freeholder who introduced the measure says it simply limits the scope of the law to what the county has the legal right to regulate: campaigns for the county offices of freeholder, clerk, surrogate and sheriff.
Bergen County is one of three counties in New Jersey with a pay-to-play ordinance, which is aimed at removing the influence of big money in local government by making it harder for companies to win lucrative no-bid contracts in exchange for making large donations to political parties and candidates. Opponents contend the law adopted by the freeholders in December is unconstitutional and has made it difficult for political parties and individuals to raise the funds needed to run a campaign.
