Our View
Time to end pay-to-play

It’s as old as it is common, but the practice known as pay-to-play could soon be stopped. It’s about time.

The term describes the practice of a business firm or professional giving campaign money to a public official with the hope of gaining a lucrative government contract. Quite often, those who give the big bucks do receive discretionary contracts from the elected officials. It’s a facet of government that can be seen just about anywhere, repeating itself year after year, usually with the same entities making the contributions and getting the jobs.

The practice should be restricted so that governments operate in a fairer and more efficient manner. That goes for any governing body — local, county or state — that wishes to improve the integrity of the public contracting process and eliminate any appearance that elected officials can be bought by campaign contributions.

The pay-to-play process detracts from the credibility of some governmental practices, and by its nature can result in a lesser quality and/or a higher cost of public services.

A big problem, and part of the reason why it continues, lies in proving the quid pro quo. That’s why new laws are needed.

While New Jersey legislators may eventually enact a proposed statewide pay-to-play statute (and in doing so would join just a handful of other states, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia and Hawaii, in implementing restrictions on this practice), a growing number of municipalities have taken action to ensure that integrity is restored at the local level.

Old Bridge’s mayor, Barbara Cannon, was expected to sign an executive order limiting pay-to-play in her township this week.

The laws being adopted at the local level typically limit business entities from contributing more than $400 to any mayoral or council candidate. A contribution beyond that means they are ineligible for a contract in that municipality for a certain length of time.

Those governing bodies approving pay-to-play measures are setting an example that all others should follow. In doing so, they are helping to ensure that worthiness and cost-effectiveness are the criteria driving the decisions behind contracts.