Senate Leadership
September 14, 2006
Williams: Governor's Failure to Abide by Self-imposed Standards is Disappointing
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) said today he is disappointed by the disclosure that Governor Rell has failed to abide by the self-imposed ban on accepting campaign contributions from lobbyists and state contractors. The Journal Inquirer newspaper reported yesterday that Gov. Rell's campaign received a total of $175,000 from more than 200 individuals employed by state contractors and from two individuals who are registered as lobbyists.
"When the governor said she was abiding by these self-imposed standards on campaign contributions, it went beyond what is required by law." said Sen. Williams. "Perhaps she didn't realize how difficult it would be to raise money in the campaign. The problem is not with the folks who made the contributions-they are perfectly legal. And there would be no problem with the governor accepting them had she not promised she wouldn't."
In a news release on October 20, 2005, Governor Rell said, "I believe in leading by example. That is why my campaign will not accept contributions from lobbyists, people who solicit, negotiate or sign state contracts, or political action committee...Too many people have claimed, 'It can't be done.' That's because they don't want it to be done. Over and over we have heard that special interest money has to stay in politics because there will never be enough cash to run for office without it...
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
