January 6, 2009

The law firms, including some of national repute like Skadden Arps and Sills Cummis, say they were picked for government work because of their expertise, but critics note that most of them are also active campaign donors or tied in with the state's political establishment in other ways, as is Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, a law firm founded by former governor Jim Florio, which got $1.6 million in state work last year. "Unless you're politically connected, I don't care who the governor is, Democrat or Republican, you don't get the business," said Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel, who notes that while Gov. Jon Corzine may talk a good game about ending pay for play, not much has changed in practice. [Trenton Times; related transparency/disclosure reform litigation; editorial]