Sunday, July 13, 2025

Search

OPRA vote reveals how little state and local politicians fear citizen anger

A bill which 81% of New Jersey voters said they opposed passed both houses of the Legislature in record time and with strong margins of affirmation. The bill contained a number of amendments to the Open Public Records Act, a statute that has stood the test of over 20 years as a means for citizens to learn more about what their government is doing in their name and with their dollars.

The arrogance displayed by the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) and Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-Somerset), led them to brazenly change their stories on what gave rise to the bill while doing the bidding of the local government units that wield a great deal of hidden power in the Legislature. Many of the state’s part-time legislators pull in extra public funds through professional services contracts with local governments, many of which they served in as elected officials.