GOP leader readies to-do list for N.J. lawmakers

When the New Jersey Legislature returns to session after Labor Day, the leader of the minority party in the Assembly has a long to-do list.

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick has set as a priority campaign finance changes to require more disclosure of spending by independent groups.

“If the independent groups have more and more power in the election process, then there’s more and more responsibility on government to make them transparent,” he said. “Identify who they are and identify the contributors.”

Bramnick, R-Union, also proposed a law requiring quarterly face-to-face meetings between legislative leaders and the governor. He’d also like to make election districts more competitive and change the state’s school-funding formula.

“The Democrats may agree or disagree on what the governor’s number is, but all of us can agree that there should be some shifting of funding to some suburban districts and districts who are disproportionately disfavored by the present system,” he said.

Bramnick isn’t sure if majority Democrats in the Legislature will act on his proposals.

And he said he will wait until after the November election to decide if he will run for governor next year.