Let’s End Profiteering From Public Service

Many of our elected officials on the State, County and local level are using their public office to financially reward themselves at taxpayer expense. One example of this profiteering is elected officials, who are also attorneys, obtaining public business for themselves and their law firms by directly or indirectly using their position to do so. This business is often obtained without competitive bidding. As a result, these elected officials and their firms are getting rich and we taxpayers are paying for it.

The problem is not a Democratic or Republican one; it is a problem that is pervasive in both political parties. For example, Senator Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) is a lawyer who happens to represent towns within his district. Most of his contracts are awarded without competitive bidding. While it is possible that these towns, whose officials are from the same political party as the Senator, are hiring Mr. Smith because he does high-quality legal work, it is just as possible that Senator Smith is getting the business because he is a public official. Similarly, as an attorney, former Senator John Bennett (R) represented numerous towns in his own electoral district during his tenure. This was also done without competitive bidding, the officials in those towns were from the same political party as the Senator, and thus he and/or his firm were able to profit handsomely. Again, by all accounts, Senator Bennett is a skilled municipal law practitioner, but did his law firm receive the municipal work because of his skill or because of his public position?

How do we solve this problem? There are a few possibilities that come to mind: We can have our elected officials serve full-time and thus eliminate the problem. Laws could be passed making it a conflict of interest for currently-serving elected officials to obtain public work. Another suggestion might be that competitive bidding be enacted for all public contracts on every level of government, thereby helping to alleviate the problem.

Whatever the solution, it is time to stop the gravy train on which many of our elected officials are riding. They have been utilizing their public office to obtain public work, thereby financially enriching themselves at great cost to our taxpayers. Given the recent election and the mood of the electorate, which is becoming less and less enamored with politicians profiting at the public’s expense, perhaps the time is ripe for reform.

Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com