Bucco Unleashes on Platkin after AG’s Letter
Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) questioned New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin’s letter to U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quarashi, pursuing what the GOP leader described as his own political agenda in a court case challenging the use of “the county line” on New Jersey ballots.
In the letter, the Attorney General unilaterally declared the controversial ballot design to be unconstitutional and stated that he is declining to defend the New Jersey statutes behind the longstanding practice.
Said Bucco:
“As New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Platkin’s primary functions are to keep residents safe and to enforce the laws of this State. While there can be a healthy debate over the merits of ‘the county line,’ it is the Attorney General’s well-established responsibility to defend the constitutionality of State statutes, regardless of his own personal opinion. The Attorney General’s role is to enforce and defend the law, not to make or repeal it. That is clearly the responsibility of the legislature.”
This may be the first time in my life where I have found myself in agreement with Anthony Bucco.
If the attorney-general, in his role as the state’s top law enforcement officer, determines that a legal matter is potentially unconstitutional or indefensible, that is his legal opinion, not a personal preference. Sen. Bucco is mistaken in asserting that Mr. Platkin is being political. In fact, Governor Murphy strongly disagrees with his AG’s position; now that’s a real political agenda if I ever saw one.
The AG is the lawyer for the State. He doesn’t represent Murphy and sure as hell doesn’t represent a Trumptard like Bucco. He’s asserting his independent right to represent the state,
It is ludicrous to suggest the Legislature do something when it will just come back to the Court anyway. The line is the most disgracefully corrupt system there is. When a County Chair can arbitrarily bar a candidate from equal participation, that is too much thimb on the scales. Even a committee endorsement is sickening, since they almost never truly vet candidates for qualifications. It is abhorrent, and it is time to stop the line permanently, so the best candidates have a fair opportunity to win and improve the talent pool of elected officials. Being in favor of the line is like being against Voter ID: There’s only one possible reason for it.
So Bucco, who inherited his seat from his daddy, is coming down on the side of nepotism and machine politics. Now there’s a surprise!
The only nepotism and machine politics I see is from the Democrat-Communist Party who’s been in control of the NJ Legislature and/or Governor’s office for over 30 years. Tell me I’m wrong!!! I’ll wait.
The County line is used by RINO incumbents to keep their seats when challenged by patriotic conservative candidates. It takes control over the nomination of candidates from the people and hands it to party bosses, which for most elected people, including Republicans, is just fine. As long as money talks, County lines will keep those with money in power. How has that worked for us in NJ for over 20 years?