Reform Jersey Now ran radio ads, 'robo calls,' sent mailings but not disclosed funding
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) (right), Chairman of the NJ Democratic State Committee, and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), during a press conference at the Statehouse this morning, where they spoke out against organizations like Reform Jersey Now that permit undisclosed, unregulated and unlimited contributions to political parties.TRENTON — State Democratic chairman John Wisniewski today called for an advocacy group run by Republicans close to Gov. Chris Christie to disclose its donors, calling it a "shadow arm of the Republican Party."
The group, Reform Jersey Now, has run radio ads, ordered so-called "robo calls" and sent mailings to advocate for property tax limits. It has not disclosed where its funding comes from.
Wisniewski, an assemblyman from Middlesex County, called the group "one of New Jersey’s newest and most politically connected shadow organizations which has been established solely for the purpose of bullying elected officials into enacting public policy."
Mike DuHaime, a spokesman for Reform Jersey Now, said the group will go "above and beyond the law" and will disclose its donors this year.
"We will be fully transparent," said DuHaime, a top political adviser to Christie. "We’re out there to promote public policies in a way we believe will bring businesses back to New Jersey" and make it more affordable for families.
Wisniewski said the group, as a 501(c)(4) organization, was exploiting a loophole in federal laws that allowed it to hide its donors. On the IRS website, a 501(c)(4) organization is described as a nonprofit, social welfare organization that can engage in political activity, as long as that is not its primary purpose.
The group sent literature to people in five districts, Wisniewski said. DuHaime said the group has spent about $150,000 to promote a property tax cap that was the centerpiece of Christie’s plan to rein in the nation’s highest property taxes.
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, who represents parts of Middlesex and Mercer counties, said she was working on a bill to force disclosure by these types of groups.
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• N.J.'s largest state worker union files challenge to Gov. Christie's ban on political donations
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• N.J. Gov.-elect Chris Christie considers pay-to-play rules for inauguration fundraising