We want to hear from you. Consider this an open thread to tell us what perks annoy you the most in the comments and let us know what you think.
Recently, when well-intentioned (or politically motivated) legislators have seen public money leaking from the dike because of waste and abuse, they have jammed a finger into the hole. Outsized salaries in a downsized economy? Quick, plug that gap. Politicians cutting in line for coveted tickets to sporting events and concerts? Patch that leak, too. State-issued E-ZPass transponders being slipped to family members? Hurry, stop that drip. And on and on.
Eventually, they ran out of fingers.
So instead of trying to plug holes one at a time, two South Jersey legislators are proposing a comprehensive bill that would restrict spending and costly perks at every level of government — from the governor’s office to the most obscure municipal boards. One set of rules everyone can understand. No agency would be exempt.
The proposal would curtail or eliminate car and housing allowances, personal drivers and agency credit cards, and slow the revolving employment door for officials and lobbyists — all commonsense measures to end public officials’ sense of entitlement.
Our response: What took so long? Continue reading →
Two legislators called Thursday for what they described as a statewide offensive against spending and ethics abuses by enacting sweeping reforms that would apply to all government agencies from the governor’s office and Legislature to county and local governments, public colleges, school and fire districts, and independent authorities.
The sponsors of the proposed law, Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester), declared it represents a comprehensive effort to eliminate government excesses and to make everyone earning a public paycheck or serving on public boards more accountable for their actions.
The proposed legislation would reduce costs by eliminating or sharply curtailing spending associated with everything from official perks such as luxury car stipends and housing allowances to personal drivers and government-issued credit cards.
It would impose new ethics standards, such as a revolving-door policy banning officials from working with certain private employers for two years after leaving their government job. And it would attempt to establish new standards of transparency and accountability for all public bodies.
Continue reading →
