Pay to Play
Jordan and Aubrey Fenton, along with the Burlington County Republican Women PAC, have raised close to $110,000 this year from donors that held contracts with the county or the county bridge commission.
(NJ ELEC; Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08)
Woodend has raised more than $25,000 from such contractors.
(NJ ELEC; Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08)
The campaign also took in more than $2,000 in contributions that were over state election law limits from contractors CDM and Consulting Engineer Services, without issuing refunds in the legally required 48-hour time frame.
Burlco GOP Chairman Bill Layton said the committee had filed amended reports with the state and sent refund checks by overnight mail to the companies, but only after The Inquirer pointed out the over-contributions to the committee.
(NJ ELEC; Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08)
The Burlington County Republican Committee received more than $18,000 this year in other donations from firms that do business with the county and the Burlington County Bridge Commission.
Giving to the County Party allows some contractors to give a lot more than they would have been able to contribute to the freeholder candidates alone.
(NJ ELEC; Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08)
The president of Election Graphics gave its first county Republican contribution of the year—$5,200—to the freeholders two weeks before the Board of Freeholders voted to extend the company's contract.
(Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08)
Taylor, Wiseman & Taylor gave $5,200 to the freeholders two weeks after the board approved a new contract to design a retaining wall behind Rancocas Road.
(Philadelphia Inquirer 7/16/08) |
"Pay-to-play is illegal. There never were quid pro quos when I was county chairman or now. That shouldn't preclude me or anyone else from exercising their First Amendment rights in accordance with the law."
"Ultimately, there was an enormous pressure on me - and I know others have felt the same - to do this," said State Sen. Diane Allen (R., Burlington), who last guaranteed a loan in 2006. "If you receive money from the party to run, they basically hold that over your head and want you to sign guarantees."