TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher that would regulate campaign contributions made to state committees, political action committees, and state and county political organizations received final legislative approval today in the Assembly.
“These guidelines will help ensure ethical elections in New Jersey politics,” said Senator Karcher, D-Mercer and Monmouth. “The State’s elected officials have an obligation to maintain integrity when representing the citizens of New Jersey, and this measure will help them do just that.”
Senator Karcher’s measure, S-27, which she co-sponsored with Senate President and Acting Governor Richard J. Codey, would freeze campaign contribution limits at their current levels, and also end the automatic four-year adjustments that the Election Law Enforcement Commission ( ELEC) is required by law to make.
The bill would require ELEC to report to the legislature every four years with any campaign contribution limit recommendations.
Current law requires ELEC to automatically adjust campaign contribution limits for candidates running for office by December 1 of the year preceding a gubernatorial election. Adjustments are made using a formula that measures cost increases of campaigning from year to year.
“The money being put into politics in this state needs to be closely monitored.” Karcher said. “The residents of New Jersey are tired of moneyed interests having undue influence in state government. This bill will help deliver the type of good government the citizens of this state both expect and deserve.”
This measure now heads to the Governor’s desk, where his signature will make it State law.