Trenton cleanup

Pity the poor powerbroker. New Jersey’s George Norcross, bless his heart, has fallen on hard times. No, it’s not as though the businessman and Democratic Party influence-peddler is suddenly less than rich or powerful. It’s that after pulling strings along with his family in Trenton for many years, directing a seemingly endless stream of public dollars toward himself and his allies, the state’s better angels are beginning to stand up for taxpayers.

Thursday, a task force appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy finished its investigative report on Economic Development Authority tax breaks doled out to dozens of companies, concluding that $578 million of them ought to be suspended. Fully $540 million of those are gobbled up by five firms connected to Norcross.

(Just days ago, a state appeals court handed Murphy a victory in a suit filed by Norcross ridiculously claiming the governor had no power to create the task force and investigate the tax breaks.)

The program that handed out the cash was created in 2013 by Gov. Chris Christie and shaped by the law firm run by Norcross’s brother, Philip. A grand total of $1.6 billion went to companies that moved to Norcross’s hometown of Camden, including his own insurance company, and they often did so with the help of representation from Philip Norcross’ law firm. (New Yorkers might hear echoes of the Buffalo Billion or other closer-to-home economic development shenanigans.)

Let ongoing criminal investigations go wherever the facts lead, rooting out the rot.

Meantime, the Norcross pick to take on former Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who last year became a Republican and pledged his “undying support” to Donald Trump, lost her primary to ex-schoolteacher Amy Kennedy.

Yes, she’s one of those Kennedys, but far better a relatively distinguished dynasty than a dirty and discredited machine.