A Home News Tribune editorial
When Monmouth County voters chose Democrat Ellen Karcher for state Senate
over Republican John O. Bennett III on Election Day, it was with the
understanding that Karcher would conduct herself as the ethical counterweight to
the tainted incumbent. Evidence so far suggests she is fulfilling that promise.
Bennett was bounced from office because he had become best known for milking
New Jersey's system of government to enrich himself, whether it was through
multiple public jobs, no-bid contracts for himself and his firm, or the
questionable billing of municipal clients.
The former senator didn't stop cashing in when he left office, either.
Less than 24 hours after after his official retirement on Jan. 13, Bennett revealed plans to become a lobbyist, an attempt to inflate his personal wealth as a private citizen by further leveraging his influence and ties to Statehouse colleagues. Old habits sure die hard.
Bennett stands to benefit in another way. He'll collect an annual state pension of $78,540, the bonus for holding his variety of municipal and state positions during 26 years on the public payroll. The practice, known as pension padding, is a tried-and-true way for lawmakers to slip quietly into long and comfortable post-public careers. Of course, taxpayers continue to foot the expensive tab until death parts them from these former officials.
Now along comes Karcher.
Last week, the freshman senator unveiled a package of ethics-reform proposals that take dead aim at some of the very methods Bennett has used so successfully and unapologetically to exploit the system.
The first of Karcher's three major reforms would permit a legislator to receive a pension from only one government job. The second would bar legislators from accepting no-bid contracts anywhere in the state or from bidding on any contracts within their legislative districts. The third would prohibit legislators from registering as lobbyists or influencing state regulations or rules for two years after leaving office.
Karcher's initiatives may not be the end all of ethics reform. For one thing, they don't address pay to play, the costly and ethically questionable practice of rewarding campaign donors with lucrative government contracts. But each strikes at some of the more egregious legal loopholes by which lawmakers are not only enabled but encouraged to take care of themselves and their friends before they take care of anyone else.
Karcher's legislation faces a tough go. Her own party is blocking good-government reforms. State Democrats are loathe to place limits on themselves while they remain in power. The payday is too lucrative.
Still, Karcher's 12th District constituents have reason to be happy. So do state voters. When it comes to cleaner government, Karcher is taking decisive steps to prove she is the polar opposite of her predecessor. Meantime, the Legislature has one more member who understands the corrosive effects of patronage-laden New Jersey government.
Either event can only be viewed as positive.
A Home News Tribune editorial
It is amazing that former Assemblyman Joseph Doria of Hudson County continues to occupy his legislative offices in Bayonne at taxpayer expense, even though he is weeks removed from office. It is even more incredible to learn that this form of courtesy is not unusual.
The state Office of Legislative Services, which picks up the tab for rent and related expenses for lawmakers' office space in their home turf, has extended the lease for Doria's Broadway office through the end of February, at a cost of $1,200. Meantime, Anthony Chiappone, D-Bayonne, is waiting to move in.
Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, another Hudson County Democrat, said he extended Doria's stay so that the former lawmaker could finish pending business. Excuse us, but Doria had three months from the time he was voted out of office to tie up loose ends.
Sires should have told Doria not to let the door hit him in the fanny on the way out. And Doria should repay every penny his extended stay is costing the state. Both forget whose money they are wasting.
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