Milking New Jersey’s Taxpayers
When 2 jobs add up to 1 big pension
In New Jersey’s Legislature 42 of the 120 lawmakers have two -- or three -- elected or tax-paid positions, a search of public and legislative records by The Star-Ledger found.
After conducting an ethics review last year at the request of Gov. Richard Codey, Seton Hall professor Paula Franzese and former Supreme Court justice Daniel O'Hearn called for banning dual office holding, saying it "creates the obvious potential for abuses of power."
It is illegal for federal officeholders to hold a second elected office and 38 states prohibit holding dual offices because of the potential for conflicts of interest. But in New Jersey lawmakers have turned the holding of multiple government jobs and elected offices into an art form.
Assemblyman Brian Stack (D-Hudson) is a triple dipper as he's also the mayor of Union City and a Hudson County freeholder.
Newly elected Assemblyman Charles Epps Jr.(D-Hudson) is also the superintendent of the beleaguered Jersey City school district, one of three failing urban districts where the state has assumed control. Epps was specifically recruited by the Hudson County Democratic Organization seeing no problem with Epps doing both jobs.
Epps new three-year state contract as superintendent provides him with more than $730,000 in salary, incentives and bonuses. He also has a car and driver at his disposal, $1,000 a month housing allowance and can make $575,000 more if he doesn't use 493 sick days he accumulated as a teacher and administrator. Add on his $49,000 a year salary as an Assemblyman and you can imagine his huge taxpayer financed pension check.
And the trend for dual office holding is getting worse. Five other newly elected lawmakers kept the public offices they held before winning election in November. Assemblywomen Valerie Vanieri-Huttle (D-Bergen) and Marcia Karrow (R-Hunterdon) are freeholders. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) is mayor of Washington Township. Assemblywoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D-Camden) serves on the Cherry Hill township council. Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) is on the Passaic city council.
However, two freshmen gave up their other offices. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) stepped down after 15 years as a freeholder. Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) resigned her seat on the Red Bank borough council.
Beck has introduced a bill to make dual office holding illegal. But in a Legislature where so many members hold two offices --Assemblyman Albio Sires was speaker of the lower house and mayor of West New York for four years -- such measures find little support.
Gov. Jon Corzine is not opposed to dual office holding, but as part of his ethics reform agenda believes double dippers should have to pick one job for calculating pensions and benefits. No action has occurred.
New Jersey Government: New Jersey Budget
In New Jersey’s Legislature 42 of the 120 lawmakers have two -- or three -- elected or tax-paid positions, a search of public and legislative records by The Star-Ledger found.
After conducting an ethics review last year at the request of Gov. Richard Codey, Seton Hall professor Paula Franzese and former Supreme Court justice Daniel O'Hearn called for banning dual office holding, saying it "creates the obvious potential for abuses of power."
It is illegal for federal officeholders to hold a second elected office and 38 states prohibit holding dual offices because of the potential for conflicts of interest. But in New Jersey lawmakers have turned the holding of multiple government jobs and elected offices into an art form.
Assemblyman Brian Stack (D-Hudson) is a triple dipper as he's also the mayor of Union City and a Hudson County freeholder.
Newly elected Assemblyman Charles Epps Jr.(D-Hudson) is also the superintendent of the beleaguered Jersey City school district, one of three failing urban districts where the state has assumed control. Epps was specifically recruited by the Hudson County Democratic Organization seeing no problem with Epps doing both jobs.
Epps new three-year state contract as superintendent provides him with more than $730,000 in salary, incentives and bonuses. He also has a car and driver at his disposal, $1,000 a month housing allowance and can make $575,000 more if he doesn't use 493 sick days he accumulated as a teacher and administrator. Add on his $49,000 a year salary as an Assemblyman and you can imagine his huge taxpayer financed pension check.
And the trend for dual office holding is getting worse. Five other newly elected lawmakers kept the public offices they held before winning election in November. Assemblywomen Valerie Vanieri-Huttle (D-Bergen) and Marcia Karrow (R-Hunterdon) are freeholders. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) is mayor of Washington Township. Assemblywoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D-Camden) serves on the Cherry Hill township council. Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) is on the Passaic city council.
However, two freshmen gave up their other offices. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) stepped down after 15 years as a freeholder. Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) resigned her seat on the Red Bank borough council.
Beck has introduced a bill to make dual office holding illegal. But in a Legislature where so many members hold two offices --Assemblyman Albio Sires was speaker of the lower house and mayor of West New York for four years -- such measures find little support.
Gov. Jon Corzine is not opposed to dual office holding, but as part of his ethics reform agenda believes double dippers should have to pick one job for calculating pensions and benefits. No action has occurred.
New Jersey Government: New Jersey Budget
