Joe Biden’s administration succeeded in weaponizing the IRS and the DOJ.
New Jersey Democrats took notes The amendment process may’ve eaten around the edges a but, Save Jerseyans, but to paraphrase State Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25) on the Senate floor Monday, it’s still a bad bill unredeemed by its nice-sounding name.
State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-39) was no less direct.
“In this bill, we are enabling the [governor’s] administration to weaponize ELEC against any person who may speak out,” Schepisi warned in her own floor remarks. “We’re taking away the ability of this legislature to ensure an impartial ELEC.”
The so-called “Elections Transparency Act” passed 24-12 with no less than three Republicans defecting to join the Democrat majority. If the bill ultimately clears the State Assembly, the powerful New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission’s four commissioners will be appointed by Phil Murphy who, at present, is checked by the senatorial confirmation process. He’d have 90 days for a one-time reshuffle that would for all intents and purposes give his appointees direct control of how election law is enforced in the Garden State. Notably, one Republican ELEC commissioner seat has remained vacant for the entirety of Phil Murphy’s 5+ years in office.
Republicans weren’t completely alone in their opposition. One Democrat joined them in opposition.
I sincerely believe in the need for reform, but the changes outlined in this bill will have consequences that damage the integrity of our elections, and reduce the transparency of our political process,” said Assemblywoman Nia Gill of Montclair.
Gill (who occassionally challenges her Democrat colleagues’ undemocratic impulses) is unsurprisingly facing an uphill slog in the June primary as the party established has lined up behind her opponent.
