Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), the Democratic nominee for governor, released a platform on improving transparency and accountability in state government on Friday.
The platform, which she announced in Morristown with state Sen. Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) and Assembly nominee Chigozie Onyema, largely focuses on increasing transparency surrounding state spending and the budget process. The platform is the latest of several she has released this summer.
“New Jerseyans need to know where their tax dollars are going,” Sherrill said. “They need accountability. They deserve accountability. You shouldn’t have to be a political insider to figure out how the state budget is running or where your money is going.”
New Jersey’s budget process is controversial to many, including many lawmakers. In June, the legislative budget committees met late on a Friday evening to clear the budget from committee, sparking frustration among Republicans and those who had hoped to testify on the bill.
Sherrill’s proposals, like a New Jersey Report Card, would track the budget and spending after they’re approved to ensure accountability. And she said that beyond tracking the money, the Report Card would measure the outcomes of budget items and offer a plain-language version of the budget.
“Agencies will be required to update the Report Card to show when a program receives funding in the budget, begins to operate on the ground, and demonstrates results that matter to families,” the platform states. “You will be able to see who got paid, for what purpose, at what cost, and what results were achieved, which will allow New Jerseyans to hold the state accountable.”
The congresswoman said all state contracts will be posted online in simple terms: the winner of the contract, the cost, and the services the state will receive in return.
Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor, has also proposed reforms to the state budget process. He said he wants a two-week “cooling off period” after a budget bill is introduced to give the public ample time to review spending proposals. He also proposed the creation of an NJ Department of Government Efficiency to weed out unnecessary or wasteful spending.
Sherrill’s platform doesn’t touch on several issues that transparency-focused groups and voters deem vital, including watchdog agencies, the Open Public Records Act, campaign finance, or financial disclosures for state officials.
Sherrill touted her release of tax returns showing the exact values of her holdings (the New Jersey Globe found she had no unusual stock gains while in office). But when asked whether she thought cabinet officials or state legislators should meet that same standard, she didn’t specify any reforms she’d like to see.
“You know, I would like people to have full transparency and accountability, so I’m going to work with the state government to determine what those requirements are at each level of government,” she said.
Transparency advocates in the state have condemned 2024 reforms to the Open Public Records Act, arguing the law’s weakened scope dealt a blow to transparency in the state. Sherrill has criticized some of the reforms, and while the platform does not address OPRA, she said Friday that she opposes the rollbacks.
“This plan actually addresses much of what people OPRA the state for,” she said. “And so I think we both need to have stronger OPRA laws to provide more accountability, but also, by putting this information out, we can continue to drive down the burden on the state of OPRA claims, because we will have so much of this available to the public.”
When asked whether she agrees the state comptroller should be “reined in” after a controversial report about a George Norcross-founded insurance brokerage, Sherrill said she could see a continued role for the comptroller but didn’t specify what that role would be. She didn’t say whether she would keep acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh in his role during a Sherrill administration.
“Look, I’m setting up a new government,” she said. “We’re providing a culture shift and a culture change, but certainly my comptroller is going to make sure to hold people accountable.”
During the event, Sherrill attacked Ciattarelli for not releasing his tax returns; Ciattarelli spokesperson Chris Russell said Ciattarelli is planning to release his tax returns this year and repeated attacks on Sherrill over her stock trades.
“Jack Ciattarelli was the most transparent member of the General Assembly,” Russell said. “He’s released his tax returns before and he’s going to again this year.”
