Democrat bosses “whack” Coniglio

By: Murray Sabrin

Senator Coniglio of Paramus announced Wednesday he would not seek reelection this fall after denying for weeks he would drop out of the race. Apparently, Coniglio’s fate was sealed after he met with Senate President Dick Codey and Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero hours earlier.

Despite being the target of a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office for allegedly using his influence as a state senator to steer $1.6 million in state funds to Hackensack University Medical Center after he was hired as a $5,000 month plumbing consultant by the hospital, Senator Coniglio has been professing he did not do anything wrong.

Let’s look at what has transpired. A state senator like his counterparts in the legislature routinely funnels funds for local pet projects. That is the nature of the beast known as state government grants and appropriations. But in this case, Senator Coniglio was being paid for what may have been a dubious job by HUMC to get a steady stream of grants to his “client.”

Only time will tell if Senator Coniglio broke the law.

Senator Coniglio was dropped—or was pushed aside—by the party bosses because they presumably did not want to have spend a ton of campaign funds defending a “safe” senate seat where the incumbent is under federal investigation.

In America, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The senator should have remained in the race and let the voters decide his fate. After all, in a democracy the people should decide who is supposed to represent them, not party bosses.

But this is New Jersey. And in the Garden State, the bosses rule. Haven’t you been watching The Sopranos? When you get “whacked” by Tony S. you are dead. Kaput. When you get “whacked” by Codey and boss Joe, your political career is kaput.

Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., is professor of finance in the Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he is executive director of the Center for Business and Public Policy. He also writes for www.usadaily.com and www.njvoices.com.