Oink, Oink

Smiling Through the Storm
By JOSH BENSON

Published: February 27, 2005

Camden

WAYNE R. BRYANT, a longtime Democratic state senator, has been getting the sort of attention that most politicians would be happy to do without.

The Courier-Post, a local newspaper widely read in his Camden-area district, recently called him the "king of double dipping," and an influential Web site, politicsnj.com, has taken to introducing articles about him with the words "oink, oink." Meanwhile, Mr. Bryant has been singled out in news media accounts statewide as one of the chief stumbling blocks in the failed attempt earlier this month to pass a state law placing limits on the awarding of public contracts to political donors.

Perhaps most remarkable about this storm of criticism, though, is how little Mr. Bryant seems to care. His reaction to the mention of one graphic representation of him on the Web brought a broad smile.

"The pig?" Mr. Bryant said in an interview in his office here. "Yeah I've seen it. What am I supposed to do about that?"

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/nyregion/thecity/27NJ.html?

Critic of Camden senator benefited as GOP insider in 1990s

Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/3/05
By JIM MANION

When Republican Carl Golden attacked Sen. Wayne R. Bryant, D-Camden, in his Feb. 10 commentary for allegedly using his influence to make extra money for himself and for being in a family where other members have public jobs, he omitted some important facts.

Here was Golden, apparently hoping to recast himself as an ethicist, pointing fingers at Bryant, while failing to mention he had been one of many GOP insiders to cash in on the $500 million Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Inc. pay-to-play contract for privatizing motor vehicle inspections. And, he failed to mention his "lovebirds" court caper and how he helped put his own son on the public payroll.

More: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050303/OPINION/503030336/1030