Archer & Greiner's Government Affairs e-Newsletter: Free Lobbying Seminar for Nonprofits, Pa. Bill Pushes Public-Private Partnerships, N.J. Pay-to-Play Stats, and More...

Government Affairs e-Newsletter April 2012

Lobbying for Nonprofits: Free Seminar on Effective Advocacy

If the word "advocacy" is in your strategic plan, you should attend this free seminar on May 2, 2012. Richard S. "Rick" Mroz of Archer & Greiner's Government Affairs Practice Group will lead the session along with Sherise Ritter, head of the Nonprofit Services Group at The Mercadien Group accounting and consulting firm. The seminar takes place at Mercadien's offices in Hamilton, N.J.

Rick has held a variety of positions in government, including Chief Counsel to former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. As a Cabinet member, Rick advised Gov. Whitman and her administration on a wide variety of issues. Rick also has decades of experience working in and with the nonprofit and private sectors. Among his myriad positions with civic organizations, Rick is Chairman of the Board of the Volunteers of America of the Delaware Valley and a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, a business and trade organization.

For more information on the seminar and how to register, click here.

Pa. House Passes Bill Promoting Public-Private Partnerships

For Transportation Infrastructure Projects

A bill moving through the Pennsylvania Legislature would authorize the Commonwealth to enter into public-private partnerships (P3s) to help rebuild the deteriorating transportation infrastructure.

Under a P3, the public entity maintains ownership of the asset, but contracts with a private entity to develop, construct, manage, operate and/or finance a given project. Enacting public-private partnership legislation is one of the major recommendations of Gov. Tom Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission. P3s also are endorsed by the United States Department of Transportation.

Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure has been identified as one of the nation's worst, requiring a $3.5 billion infusion to meet immediate needs.

Read the full text of the bill.

Read a statement by the sponsor, State Rep. Rick Geist.

A&G's Public Sector Experience Runs the Gamut

Steven Harz, former Mayor
Of New Jersey Borough

Steven B. Harz Not only did Steven Harz serve as Mayor of the Borough of Closter in Bergen County, N.J., for four years, he also served as Chairman of the Borough's Planning Board and its Board of Ethics for nearly a decade combined.

Government service "provided me with a tremendous awareness of governmental activities, learning how government works and how to get things done," says Steven, Managing Partner of Archer & Greiner's Hackensack office.

"Serving as mayor, and even as Chair of a municipal board, involves a whole array of responsibilities working with state government. It serves as a primer on how government gets things done. That is not only helpful at the time, but is also very helpful working with clients to get things done. It has been invaluable to me."

Read Steven's bio

Stella Tsai, former high-ranking

City of Philadelphia Attorney

Stella Tsai of Archer & Greiner's Philadelphia office has held numerous positions in City of Philadelphia government, including Chair of Administrative Law, now Social Services, in the Law Department.

Stella has also served as counsel to the Civil Service Commission, an inaugural Board Member of the Board of Ethics, and most recently, Vice-Chair of the Zoning Code Commission.

"I understand how government operates, and the complex legal framework within which the government must conduct its business," she says. "My expertise and experience will be useful to clients who need help with matters such as regulatory compliance, proposed legislation, or navigation through the bureaucracy. As a government veteran, I have acquired an intuition for helping a client find the common ground which is often necessary to resolve or at least mitigate the problem or achieve a desired legislative change. "

Read Stella's bio

N.J. Election Commission Reports Another Yearly Decrease

In Political Contributions from Government Contractors

Recently released figures from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) indicate that political contributions by government contractors were down slightly in 2011 from the prior year, the fifth consecutive yearly decrease. However, the data also show the decrease was the smallest in recent years.

ELEC's announcement also lists the top government contractors, led by Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey Inc. at $1.7 billion, and the top political contributors, led by CME Associates engineering firm at $538,000.

Read the ELEC announcement.

Archer & Greiner's Government Affairs Group provides counsel on New Jersey's complex web of "Pay-to-Play" laws and regulations. For more information, contact a member of the Group.

Archer & Greiner Government Affairs: Experience, Know-How

The Archer & Greiner Government Affairs Group also includes:

(Click on name for additional information)

Vincent P. Sarubbi, former Camden County Prosecutor & Group Co-Chair

Albert Burstein, former New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader

Carlton L. Johnson, former Chief Deputy Philadelphia City Solicitor

Robert J. Fogg, former Director of Licensing & Certification, N.J. Department of Health

Linda D. Perkins, former Chief Assistant Philadelphia District Attorney