Bill to allow politicians to spend campaign cash on security spurs warnings of misuse

Legislators passed a bill Thursday that would allow politicians and candidates to use campaign donations to pay for alarm systems, bodyguards, and other security measures, despite warnings from Republicans that such spending disregards donor intent and would be misused on “Uber drivers for their kids.”

The bill would allow campaign cash to be spent on security structures like fencing, lighting, and doors; non-structural devices like motion detectors and security cameras; security personnel; and cybersecurity software and services to protect officeholders, candidates, relatives in their household, and their staff.

It bars spending such funds on guns and ammunition, home improvements the bill doesn’t explicitly authorize, and payments to family members or entities family members own or operate.

The Assembly passed the proposal by a 53-13 vote, largely along party lines, with 14 members abstaining or not voting during their first session in Trenton since recessing in June for the summer.

Seven Republicans stood to condemn the bill, which is sponsored by Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D-Middlesex) and Sens. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) and Carmen Amato (R-Ocean).

Some shared their personal experience with vandalism, threats, and harassment, and agreed heightened security is warranted as political polarization drives up such dangers. But campaign supporters should not foot that bill, they said.

Assemblyman John Azzariti (R-Bergen) said the government should cover such costs, just as federal authorities have done for Congress members.

“The money should certainly not be coming from donors who don’t even know that you’ll be spending this money on other things other than getting elected,” Azzariti said.

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex) seconded that, saying: “I don’t believe anybody ever donated to me with the intention of: ‘I hope this keeps her alive.’”

Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris) noted the state’s long history of public corruption and warned the bill risks abuse “way too large for us to ignore.”

“I mean, this is New Jersey,” Webber said. “You should be expecting bad headlines about candidates who misuse these funds, whether it’s getting chauffeurs, or shall we call them Uber drivers, for their kids to school or installing fences around their homes that they always wanted to put in.”

Webber and Fantasia flagged the “hypocrisy” of legislators supporting the bill who also have special license plates advertising that they’re state lawmakers.

“They’ll get in their cars in the garage, in their license plates with two crowns on them, their initials and their district number, and they’ll drive home, telling the whole world exactly who they are, where they live, and where they’re going,” Webber said.

Critics also noted that both incumbents and Democrats, as the majority party controlling the Statehouse, tend to have far more campaign cash on hand, meaning the bill creates new inequities for Republicans, third-party candidates, and political newcomers who might not be able to divert dollars away from their core campaign needs.

The Senate unanimously passed the bill in June. It now heads to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s desk.