newjerseynewsroom.com

1. U.S. Supreme Court decision could impact 'rescue money' campaign financing
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY A little more than a year ago the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its controversial ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Now, in McComish v. Bennett, ...

2. Spending on grassroots, issue advocacy should be disclosed to the public
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY There is an issue advocacy explosion in New Jersey. A published report by the Election Law Enforcement Commission showed spending by lobbyists last year reached $65.9 million. ...

3. NJEA President accuses Gov. Christie of 'starting a middle class war'
(N.J./State)

... Director Jeffrey Brindle. “Those in the lobbying community know that to win policy battles, it helps to have public opinion on your side.” Christie’s attack on the NJEA has not abated in the new year ...

4. N.J. lobbyists spent $65.6M in 2010 to get the attention of government officials and public
(N.J./State)

... during 2010, Jeff Brindle, state Election Law Enforcement Commission director, announced Wednesday. In a year when lobbying expenditures declined nationally, spending in New Jersey jumped to $65.6 million, ...

5. N.J.’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Program shows integrity
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY Advocates of public financing might look to January 26 as Paul Revere day. Along party lines, by a vote of 239-160, the House of Representatives voted to abolish the Presidential ...

6. NJ county political party committees raised $7.6M in 2010
(N.J./State)

... and three freeholders were up for grabs and over the year, the Democrats raised $1,215,614 and spent $1,200,951. The Republicans raised $518,851 and spent $481,822. ELEC Director Jeff Brindle said a ...

7. Funding for New Jersey’s legislative campaigns will continue to stutter without outside help
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY The upcoming election for State Senate and Assembly raises several questions. How will the new legislative district map look? Will the reapportionment process place any ...

8. NJ Democratic and Republican committees raised $6.2 million in 2010
(N.J./State)

... 13 percent but combined net worth was down 70 percent for the six committees. ELEC Director Jeff Brindle said new laws that sharply limit donations by state contractors — so-called "pay-to-play" restrictions ...

9. Citizens’ United decision influencing late campaign spending
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens' United v. FEC has been widely blamed for the deluge in campaign spending by outside, independent groups in this year's federal ...

10. New era of campaign financing is upon us
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY We have never witnessed a period like this in the area of campaign financing. Since Watergate, the trend has been toward increased regulation of the size, timing, and type ...

11. ‘Stealth' political action groups must be required to disclose their financial activities
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY In June I wrote: "a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could give independent political groups even greater power over campaigns by enabling them to bury candidates in ...

12. Citizens United decision not changing much in New Jersey
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY After the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruling in January by the U.S. Supreme Court, there were predictions that the landmark ruling would unleash ...

13. Citizens United not all to blame for growth of outside groups involved in political campaigns
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY The U.S. Supreme Court is being blamed for the growth in independent, outside groups. Early in the year, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC), the court ...

14. An iPhone democracy is not far off
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY How long before government and politics is conducted solely through new media? When will direct mail, 30-second spots, and retail politics become obsolete? How long until ...

15. Enhance transparency by changing N.J. PAC requirements
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY It has been said that while reforms are often necessary and to the benefit of the public they sometimes have unintended consequences. The Election Law Enforcement Commission's ...

16. New Jerseyans should know county and municipal dollars spent on lobbying
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY Benjamin Franklin lobbied the British parliament on behalf of the Continental Congress, making him the first American lobbyist. Many individuals have followed in Franklin's ...

17. We could see unions and corporations dominate campaigns because of Citizens United case
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFF BRINDLE COMMENTARY A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could give independent political groups even greater power over campaigns by enabling them to bury candidates in advertising blitzes they ...

18. Congressional races need greater transparency after Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFFREY BRINDLE COMMENTARY With the focus now squarely on the general election, the impact of Citizens United on New Jersey's Congressional races bears watching. Last February the U.S. Supreme ...

19. Democracy Alliance’s success created a new model of political activism that should be watched
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFFREY BRINDLE COMMENTARY McDonalds and Burger King became powerhouse franchises in the 1950's. Both recognized the rich potential of the "speedy service system." The great American diet on ...

20. Lobbying is changing in New Jersey
(Opinion/Commentary)

BY JEFFREY M. BRINDLE COMMENTARY Lobbying is changing in New Jersey. It's tradition of personal contact and insider access isn't ready for the ash-heap of history, but it is undergoing a transformation. ...