Newark — New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) Executive Director Dena Mottola Jaborska released the following statement today urging Governor Phil Murphy to veto legislation that would gut New Jersey's sunshine law.
"New Jersey Citizen Action, on behalf of its 20,000 grassroots members and more than 100 affiliated organizations, again urges Governor Phil Murphy to preserve OPRA and veto S2930/A4045.
"Signing this legislation would deal a grave blow to our democracy, a position which should be untenable for our Governor and any state lawmaker. The bill has sparked a massive outcry from hundreds of groups and organizations, the New Jersey media, the New Jersey State Comptroller, the New Jersey Public Defender, some of our most respected elected officials like Mayors Baraka and Fulop, and 81 percent of registered New Jersey voters. They all understand the chilling effect the bill would have on transparency, which is essential to good government and accountability in our state.
"Vetoing the bill will win Governor Murphy massive support from the general public, advocacy groups like NJCA, and the surging grassroots democracy movement coalescing around issues like OPRA, the election transparency act, and banning the county line. We will have the Governor's back if he vetoes the bill. We will fight for any part of his legislative agenda that is good for New Jersey but may be threatened by lawmakers who forced through this bill that guts OPRA.
"New Jerseyans understand threats to democracy don't come from just one party. They will hold accountable any lawmakers, Democrat or Republican, who stand against transparency and good government. We urge Governor Murphy to stand with New Jersey voters and preserve our democracy by vetoing S2930/A4045.
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New Jersey Citizen Action is a statewide advocacy and empowerment organization that advances social, racial and economic justice for all, while also meeting the pressing needs of low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans through education and direct services.