Government Reform

The Platform for Progress Government Reform Coalition seeks to improve the quality of New Jersey's government by establishing ethical reform at all levels of responsibility.  It is the goal of this initiative to improve New Jersey's image to both internal and external audiences, and to do so in partnership with like-minded organizations. 

Download government reform action plan (PDF)

Long Term Goal: Establish ethical reforms at all levels of New Jersey government.

Action Plan

Action Item 1: Advocate for ethical reform and enlist employee support

Implementation Steps:

• Advocate for mandated ethics and conflict of interest training for municipal officials that highlight the differences between self-interest and public interest.
• Partner with the Conference of Mayors and the League of Municipalities to publish and distribute an ethics poster modeled after the State Ethics Commission poster which reminds elected officials and public employees about the various ethical challenges they face every day.
• Support legislative and regulatory efforts which strengthen disclosure requirements so that additional transparency can be added to all layers of government.
• Bolster grassroots efforts that empower employees to get involved in ethical reforms in their own communities.

 Action Item 2: Examine the elimination of layers of government

Implementation Steps:

• P4P Government Reform Initiative members supported the creation of the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization, and Consolidation Commission, charged with examining possible merger communities, encouraging shared services. Serve as a watchdog for this and other similar commissions to assure they carry out their appointed tasks.
• Consider establishing a private sector version of the above-mentioned commissions to serve as a resource.
• Utilizing the expertise of private sector merger and acquisition professionals, create a toolkit for municipalities to use when considering consolidation so they are fully aware of all the issues which should be considered and need to be addressed for successful consolidation to take place.
• As a case study, create a business model for government consolidation.
• Benchmark through a study the various rates charged to applicants by municipal professionals like engineers and lawyers with other competing states. Include ancillary requirements made of applicants in this study.
• Work with the P4P Environmental Initiative to identify the environmental impact of exclusionary municipal planning decisions.

Action Item 3: Cap campaign spending and eliminate dual office holding

Implementation Steps:

• Continue to advocate for the elimination of dual office holding.
• Maintain the partnership with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and other similar groups to publicize the Clean Elections Pilot Program and encourage participation by employers and employees in the pilot districts.
• Monitor the second Clean Elections Pilot Program and propose suggestions on how it could be further improved.