Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Jun 11, 2007 22:20:04 GMT -5
Assembly vote targets N.J. dual officeholding A vote scheduled for today would ban the practice, but only for future officeholders.
By Tom Hester Jr.
Associated Press
TRENTON - New Jersey legislators will vote today on whether to end a state political tradition: allowing people to hold multiple elected offices.
But they are not about to immediately kill a practice that critics say promotes conflicts and allows officials to boost taxpayer-paid retirement benefits.
The Assembly is set to vote on a bill that would allow those holding more than one elected office to retain their seats.
The law, pushed by Democrats who control the Legislature, would make it illegal only for officials elected after Feb. 1 to hold more than one elected office.
Republicans decry the proposal.
"Dual officeholding is either wrong, or it's not," said Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R., Union). "If it is wrong, it should be stopped now. There is no justification for saying it is an abuse of power while granting amnesty to those who have made a habit of abusing power."
The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Michael Panter (D., Monmouth), said he spent more than three years trying to get a stricter ban passed, only to see it get no consideration.
"It represents my best effort to reach a compromise that will garner sufficient legislative support," Panter said.
If the Assembly approves the bill, the Senate is expected to follow suit quickly. Gov. Corzine said he would probably sign the measure into law.
"I'm not satisfied with what we've done, but I also believe in the practicality," the Democratic governor said. "You've got to have the votes. You've got to be able to make progress."
Corzine has vowed not to sign the state budget this year until the Legislature makes it illegal to hold more than one elected office, a threat that raised the possibility of a state government shutdown like the one that closed services for a week last year.
If the bill becomes law, 19 legislators and other local officials who hold more than one elected post will keep both seats until they lose re-election or decide not to seek it.
"I know there'll be criticism of it, but I think I want to seize the moment to set in motion a change," Corzine said.
Panter said his bill would eventually end dual officeholding.
"Is this a perfect solution?" he asked. "I don't believe it is, but I also believe it sets the gears in motion to dismantle New Jersey's system of dual officeholding."
Last year New Jersey Policy Perspective, which studies state issues, found dual officeholding disturbs checks and balances, promotes benefit padding and pork-barrel spending, allows officials to devote less time to elected offices, and puts officials in built-in conflicts.
"Dual officeholding is a fundamental part of institutional arrangements in New Jersey that create conflicts of obligations, erode accountability and promote parochialism," the Policy Perspective group said.
But those who hold more than one elected office contend it has advantages.
Sen. Nicholas Sacco, who is also North Bergen mayor and an assistant superintendent of that city's schools, recently cited his multiple jobs when explaining his concerns about property-tax reform legislation that would impose salary reporting requirements on schools, arguing that his other roles provided him insight others lacked.
The only elected official in New Jersey prevented from holding more than one elected office is the governor.
Most states ban the practice, but the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization in Washington, has said New Jersey has more dual officeholders than any other state.
"If we are going to fast-track a dual-officeholding ban, it should be one that actually solves this problem, not one specifically designed to create loopholes," said Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R., Monmouth), who sponsored a bill that would impose an immediate ban.
But Corzine hinted voters could take matters into their own hands.
"Voters will have an opportunity to reinforce what we're setting down here as public policy, to step away from dual officeholding," he said.
Of the 19 legislators who hold more than one elected office, 14 are Democrats.
Legislators have no plans to consider legislation to make it illegal to hold multiple government jobs.
Last year 46 of 120 legislators earned money from multiple government jobs, a practice opposed by 76 percent of voters in a recent poll.
By Tom Hester Jr.
Associated Press
TRENTON - New Jersey legislators will vote today on whether to end a state political tradition: allowing people to hold multiple elected offices.
But they are not about to immediately kill a practice that critics say promotes conflicts and allows officials to boost taxpayer-paid retirement benefits.
The Assembly is set to vote on a bill that would allow those holding more than one elected office to retain their seats.
The law, pushed by Democrats who control the Legislature, would make it illegal only for officials elected after Feb. 1 to hold more than one elected office.
Republicans decry the proposal.
"Dual officeholding is either wrong, or it's not," said Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R., Union). "If it is wrong, it should be stopped now. There is no justification for saying it is an abuse of power while granting amnesty to those who have made a habit of abusing power."
The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Michael Panter (D., Monmouth), said he spent more than three years trying to get a stricter ban passed, only to see it get no consideration.
"It represents my best effort to reach a compromise that will garner sufficient legislative support," Panter said.
If the Assembly approves the bill, the Senate is expected to follow suit quickly. Gov. Corzine said he would probably sign the measure into law.
"I'm not satisfied with what we've done, but I also believe in the practicality," the Democratic governor said. "You've got to have the votes. You've got to be able to make progress."
Corzine has vowed not to sign the state budget this year until the Legislature makes it illegal to hold more than one elected office, a threat that raised the possibility of a state government shutdown like the one that closed services for a week last year.
If the bill becomes law, 19 legislators and other local officials who hold more than one elected post will keep both seats until they lose re-election or decide not to seek it.
"I know there'll be criticism of it, but I think I want to seize the moment to set in motion a change," Corzine said.
Panter said his bill would eventually end dual officeholding.
"Is this a perfect solution?" he asked. "I don't believe it is, but I also believe it sets the gears in motion to dismantle New Jersey's system of dual officeholding."
Last year New Jersey Policy Perspective, which studies state issues, found dual officeholding disturbs checks and balances, promotes benefit padding and pork-barrel spending, allows officials to devote less time to elected offices, and puts officials in built-in conflicts.
"Dual officeholding is a fundamental part of institutional arrangements in New Jersey that create conflicts of obligations, erode accountability and promote parochialism," the Policy Perspective group said.
But those who hold more than one elected office contend it has advantages.
Sen. Nicholas Sacco, who is also North Bergen mayor and an assistant superintendent of that city's schools, recently cited his multiple jobs when explaining his concerns about property-tax reform legislation that would impose salary reporting requirements on schools, arguing that his other roles provided him insight others lacked.
The only elected official in New Jersey prevented from holding more than one elected office is the governor.
Most states ban the practice, but the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization in Washington, has said New Jersey has more dual officeholders than any other state.
"If we are going to fast-track a dual-officeholding ban, it should be one that actually solves this problem, not one specifically designed to create loopholes," said Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R., Monmouth), who sponsored a bill that would impose an immediate ban.
But Corzine hinted voters could take matters into their own hands.
"Voters will have an opportunity to reinforce what we're setting down here as public policy, to step away from dual officeholding," he said.
Of the 19 legislators who hold more than one elected office, 14 are Democrats.
Legislators have no plans to consider legislation to make it illegal to hold multiple government jobs.
Last year 46 of 120 legislators earned money from multiple government jobs, a practice opposed by 76 percent of voters in a recent poll.
