Posted on 08/05/2005 11:57:38 AM PDT by neverdem
TRENTON, Aug. 4 - Saying that New Jersey cannot endure another governor hobbled by personal entanglements, New Jersey Republican leaders called Thursday for Senator Jon S. Corzine to disclose any other financial dealings he may have had with a union leader to whom he gave $470,000.
Their statements came after news reports that in 2002 Mr. Corzine provided a $470,000 mortgage to Carla Katz, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, which represents 9,000 state workers and will be among the labor groups lobbying the next governor for billions of dollars in wages and benefits.
In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, Mr. Corzine, the Democratic candidate for governor, said he and Ms. Katz were dating at the time he made the loan. He forgave the debt in December 2004, several months after they ended their relationship, he said.
Mr. Corzine and Ms. Katz said this week that their past relationship and financial dealings would not prevent them from representing their constituents, but they declined to say whether they had other financial interactions.
Mr. Corzine's Republican opponent in the November election, Douglas R. Forrester, called that response inadequate, saying New Jersey voters had the right to know whether their official duties as governor and union leader might be swayed by their personal and financial relationship.
"I think they should disclose everything, especially if there is any ongoing financial arrangement," he said. "It suggests an all-too-familiar pattern in New Jersey of public officials entangling themselves in relationships that are not private matters but in direct conflict with the public interest."
While Mr. Forrester approached the topic rather gingerly, saying that he respected their right to privacy, other Republicans were more pointed in their criticism of Mr. Corzine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
BTW.. If Corzine is light in the loafers, then Katz really is his "beard"
Um, usually influence buying involves lobbyists bribing government officials, not a government official giving lots of money to a union rep.
I'm also not sure that "buying" the influence of a union rep would be illegal, they're not a govenrment official.
It looks like someone should take a close look at how much the union donated to Corzine, but unless it's comparable or more than the loan, there doesn't appear to be anything illegal here. After all he could have just spent his own money on his own campaign, why funnel it through a union boss?
Unless people think that the loan forgiveness was paid to her because she blackmailed him, I'm not seeing there being anything but a personal matter between them. There just doesn't seem to be a benefit for Corzine in this.
I'm sure he's already done that.
THE VERY LATEST:
WCBS-TV Tried To Contact Katz At HER House In Hunterdon County ---the one Corzine bought for her----But The Phone Was Disconnected......BUT WCBS WAS Able To Get A Hold Of Katz Through A New Phone Number Listed at the Hoboken Building Where Senator Corzine Has An Apartment.
Why does Carla Katz have a phone number listed at Corzine's address?
Corzine announced that he paid the tax on this loan.
Wow, how they slip this one past the NY Lies editors?
I'm surprised that they even covered it, let alone place it in the top three stories for the NEW YORK/REGION . You'll have to scroll down until you see "NEW YORK/REGION".
It was my impression that Influence Buying would also include a Senator basically buying off a union rep in order for said union rep to endorse various pieces of legislation or support the Senator in upcoming elections.
Influence buying isn't a one way street of lobbyists buying congressmen, is it?
Corrupt New Jersey ping.
-PJ
That ain't good enough -- she has to pay the tax on this loan, and if he gave her the money to pay the tax then she must also pay the tax on the tax that he paid (it does get a little circular, doesn't it?).
This is precisely the kind of stunt that landed former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski in jail.
See Kozlowski, Dennis for additional information on how this type of financial activity can land someone in a Federal prison.
I hope your tongue is planted firmly in your cheek so you can continue to keep a straight face. LOL
I confess I want to make a quip about MS Katz last name.
How much? It's the CWA. Their union dues go right from their paychecks to the DNC.
Did the article actually mentioned what Ms. Katz does for a living?
Was the fact that she represents the CWA and they will be bargaining with the Governor next year taken into the article?
Are you sure about that? I thought the loan forgiveness is considered a "gift", and any gift over 11,000 must have the Gift Tax paid on it, but it is the giver of the gift that pays the tax, not the recipient.
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