No Single Lawmaker Should Be Able to Stall Worthy Appointees
BELLE MEAD – Wayne Fox, Democratic Senatorial Candidate in the 16th District, blasted the abuse of Senatorial Courtesy that allows individual lawmakers to block the appointment of worthy gubernatorial appointees as a partisan tool to pad the patronage mill and power of regional political bosses.
“When one lawmaker can wield this much power without being held accountable to the people they represent, it illustrates a profound problem in our governmental system,” said Fox. He called for thoughtful and thorough debate on all nominees to government positions, not backroom dealings and secret blocks.
“The abuse of Senatorial Courtesy blocks public access to legislative debate, and must be abolished to truly open up the process to public scrutiny,” he said. “If elected, I will lead and support bipartisan efforts to rid Trenton of this political relic.”
Fox said that Senatorial Courtesy allows individual senators to effectively block a nominee to public office, if the nominee lives in the senator’s legislative district or home county. When invoking Senatorial Courtesy, lawmakers never have to reveal the reasons behind their objection; a fact that reform leaders like Mr. Fox say erodes people’s faith in their representatives.
“We’ve seen how an entrenched political machine like the one we have in Somerset County will use every tool at its disposal to hold onto its power,” said Fox. “It’s happening all over the state, rather than getting the best person for the job, a single senator can twist government into a patronage sanctuary for the inept and unqualified. Fox said that by removing Senatorial Courtesy from the machine’s political arsenal, he will help create a barrier to the political hacks and restore to New Jersey residents the government they expect and deserve.
Fox acknowledged that eliminating Senatorial Courtesy will be an uphill battle, but noted that earlier this year, ethics reform advocates like Senator Ellen Karcher from Monmouth County have expressed hope that the system can be changed. He said he looks forward to working with those on both sides of the political spectrum who seek more openness and honesty in the way nominees are vetted by the State Senate.
“I understand the difficulties in asking sitting Senators to give up a measure of individual power for the greater good,” said Fox. “However, I think there are some people in office who recognize that Senatorial Courtesy as a policy is destructive to the concept of open government. In the State Senate, I will work with both Democrats and Republicans to see that the relic of Senatorial Courtesy is finally ended, so we can have the sort of open debate needed to assure the people of New Jersey that they have the best nominees for the job.”
###
