Democrats Diverted State Funds To ‘Last Minute Giveaways’ For Allied Groups, Local Governments
New Jersey lawmakers have been funneling last-minute appropriations into state budgets to benefit their and their families’ groups in recent years. Some Democratic state lawmakers have repeatedly slipped “add-ons” into…
New Jersey lawmakers have been funneling last-minute appropriations into state budgets to benefit their and their families’ groups in recent years.
Some Democratic state lawmakers have repeatedly slipped “add-ons” into New Jersey’s annual budget, according to a Politico examination covering fiscal year 2024 through FY2026. These legislators directed millions of taxpayer dollars to their own nonprofits, their family members’ organizations and local governments.
Democratic state Sen. Angela McKnight allocated $2 million for Rising Tide Capital, a nonprofit in which she is an employee, according to budget records of the last two fiscal years.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin meanwhile routed $16.7 million to the Essex County government, which paid $87,000 in legal services to Coughlin’s law firm, according to public records.
Essex County also received a $9 million grant solicited by Democratic state Sen. Renee Burgess. Public records show she began a county job in Essex County after directing the funds there.
Democratic Assembly member William Sampson directed $200,000 in state funds to the Mo’Hair Foundation, a nonprofit led by his aunt that supplies wigs for hair loss, New Jersey budget records