April 24, 2023 •
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Sued over Campaign Finance Changes
Gov. Phil Murphy
Jeff Brindle, Director of New Jersey’s Election Enforcement Commission, has sued Gov. Murphy to block the recently signed Elections Transparency Act. The new law allows the governor to directly appoint the four members of the Election Enforcement Commission without Senate […]
Jeff Brindle, Director of New Jersey’s Election Enforcement Commission, has sued Gov. Murphy to block the recently signed Elections Transparency Act.
The new law allows the governor to directly appoint the four members of the Election Enforcement Commission without Senate oversight if within a 90-day period.
The new law also reduces the time the commission has to investigate campaign finance violations from 10 years down to two years following a violation.
The timeline change applies retroactively, effectively wiping out the majority of the commission’s caseload.
Brindle believes the new law and calls for his resignation are in response to his efforts against dark money in New Jersey’s politics.
The three other members of the Election Enforcement Commission resigned in protest two days after the new law was passed.
June 27, 2019 •
New Jersey Dark Money Bill Signed, Challenged
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Last week, New jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring dark money groups spending money to influence elections in New Jersey to disclose their large donors. Senate Bill 1500, carried over from last year’s session, requires certain groups, like 501(c)(4) […]
Last week, New jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring dark money groups spending money to influence elections in New Jersey to disclose their large donors.
Senate Bill 1500, carried over from last year’s session, requires certain groups, like 501(c)(4) political nonprofits to disclose the identities of donors who give more than $10,000.
Additionally, the groups are required to report expenditures in excess of $3,000.
Gov. Murphy previously conditionally vetoed the bill.
However, the Governor signed an identical version when faced with a veto override because the bill’s sponsors agreed to tweak the legislation before it takes effect.
Since signed, the bill has faced opposition from citizen-based organizations and advocacy groups.
Those groups are arguing the new disclosure requirements will prevent people from donating to them.
On Tuesday, a federal lawsuit challenging the legislation was filed by Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian advocacy nonprofit founded by the Koch brothers.
Americans for Prosperity asked for the new law not to be enforced until the suit challenging the constitutionality of the law is decided.
New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission and Attorney General Lee Moore declined to comment on the pending legislation.
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