S1248

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice to increase transparency and State oversight of municipal legal contracts was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0, confirming with the Governor’s conditional veto of the legislation.

“The cost of government to New Jersey taxpayers is overwhelming enough without inflated legal contracts to political cronies,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “This bill would create more monitoring and transparency of local legal contracts, so that politically-connected law firms aren’t enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpaying public. This is about making sure that politically-connected lawyers cannot take advantage of the system and turn frivolous lawsuits into a huge windfall for themselves and their firms.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice to increase transparency and State oversight of municipal legal contracts was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 31-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey taxpayers are paying enough for local governments and authorities without over-the-top legal contracts to political cronies,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “This bill is about making sure that local officials publicly report any legal contract in which the municipality is expected to spend more than $50,000, so that State regulators, lawmakers and the Governor can step in if necessary on behalf of the local taxpayers. This bill is about ensuring oversight and transparency so that politically-connected lawyers can’t turn frivolous municipal lawsuits into a big payday at the taxpayers’ expense.”

TRENTON – Two measures, sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice, which would regulate the budget processes of municipalities, have been approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

One measure, S-1248, would require municipalities to provide information on any lawsuits in which it is involved to the state. The reports would be submitted to the Division of Local Government Services, which would then be responsible for transmitting copies to the Commissioner of Community Affairs, who would also provide copies to the Legislature and to the Governor.

“In a state which prides itself on working hard to root out waste and abuse, and where both the Legislature and the Governor are constantly stressing the need for transparency, it is disheartening to know that some of our largest municipalities are spending unnecessary taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex, who is a member of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Panel. “This legislation would establish a set of checks and balances to keep an eye on the lawsuits in which towns are involved. “