Failing To Take A Bribe Is Not Enough--Law Enforcement Must Be Contacted
Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, all R-Monmouth announced that she will be introducing legislation establishing criminal penalties for public servants who are offered bribes or witness bribery attempts, but fail to report the activity to State or Federal law enforcement officials. Other states have a law on the books that requires appointed or elected officials to report a bribe, but not New Jersey.
“It’s clear that people offering bribes have come to believe that officials won’t report them,” Beck stated. “We need to create a culture where it is not only unacceptable and illegal for a public official to accept a bribe, but where it is unacceptable and illegal for another official to turn a blind eye.”
In the aftermath of last week’s arrests, public officials have come forward stating that they were offered bribes by an FBI informant posing as a developer. It is unclear if any of these individuals reported the bribery attempts to law enforcement, or simply looked the other way.
“The simple failure to commit a crime is not something to pride oneself on, one must take the extra step,” said O’Scanlon. “Saying, ‘I could have taken a bribe, but I didn’t,’ doesn’t mean you’ve done the right thing. All it means is that you know of someone out there who was offering a bribe, and didn’t feel it necessary to inform the authorities. It’s as bad as taking part in a cover-up.”
“It’s actually a shame that this is something that requires legislation,” said Casagrande. “It’s a shame that we can’t count on every one of our elected officials to do the right thing. But it’s apparent, with so many public officials expecting a pat on the back for not taking a bribe offered to them, that we need to make sure that when those bribes are offered, they are reported to law enforcement.”
May the Force be With Us
8 hours ago
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5 comments:
Oh Caroline stop. You had your chance to do the right thing by attending Freehold Regional HS Board meetings to denounce those 5employees that received pay raises and tuition reimbursement with bogus unaccredited degrees.
You failed to demand the monies be returned--as did Mary Pat Angelini.
You ran on an "ethics reform" platform---You had your chance and blew it. You have a web site requesting citizens report waste and fraud---Well I did, and you didn't act.
Your self-promoting must go;you must go!
Jim Sage
Marlboro Republican Club
Typical of these three trying to grab an easy headlines. How ridiculous. They're silent on the tough issues. Come out with a real plan to lower income taxes (you all said nothing as the top bracket was raised), lower business taxes, etc. You have to do better than this superficial nonsense. Wasn't Casagrande the one who protested in the rain at the Joe the Plumber event? All three need to go. Wake up Republicans.
Whenever there's a headline grabbing event--these three make sure there is a photo opportunity to be in. Than after the photo, there's a rush to "Sponsor Legislation."
These "Legislation Happy" legislators have to go is correct.
What you people don't think it should be a crime to not report an attempted bribe?
What are your favorite politians doing about corruption in NJ?
And Sage whats your problem you got nothing better to do then attack a fellow republican? I caught you trashing Caroline on another site too. You trying to get Democrats elected?
If she had showed up at the meeting you probably would have attacked her for grandstanding.
To ML,
Two years ago, Caroline and Declan attended a Marlboro Republican Club meeting. They requested our support. They stated they were running on an "Ethics Reform" platform and wanted to root out government waste. We, the Marlboro Republican Club members supported them wholeheartedly. We made contacts, sent out e-mails, encouraged friends and neighbors to vote for them; put up their campaign signs, etc.
Approx. a year later, the Diplomagate scandal erupted. It was a situation where 5 employees from the Freehold Regional HS district received bogus online, unaccredited doctorate degrees. these "degrees: enabled the employees to receive tuition reimbursement and annual pay raises. This was taxpayer abuse at its worse. IT WAS THE BIGGEST STORY IN 2008!!
Caroline, being an Assemblywoman we supported, and resident of the school district, was requested to attend just one meeting. She didn't have to speak (although that would have been nice) she was to show soliditary with her fellow constitutents--the same individuals that assisted her campaign. She never attended.
But---she can go to the GOP Convention in Minnesota; John McCains fundraiser in Lincroft; A fundraiser for herself at the VFW Legion in Freehold; a fundraiser at Donovan's for herself......
Give me a break! She failed her constituents. She must put her constituents first over her political ambitions.
I cannot support her; enuff said!
Jim Sage
Marlboro Republican Club
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