McHOSE TO DEMOCRATS: JOIN REPUBLICANS IN SALVAGING BAN ON DUAL OFFICE-HOLDING

STILL TIME TO SAVE PROPOSAL TO END DUAL OFFICE HOLDING

Just one week after the Senate Democrats removed a provision from property tax reform legislation to curb the practice of dual office-holding, Assemblywomen Alison Littell McHose called on her Assembly colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight back.January 24, 2007
Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose/973-726-0954
Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce/973-984-0922

McHOSE TO DEMOCRATS: JOIN REPUBLICANS IN SALVAGING BAN ON DUAL OFFICE-HOLDING

STILL TIME TO SAVE PROPOSAL TO END DUAL OFFICE HOLDING

Just one week after the Senate Democrats removed a provision from property tax reform legislation to curb the practice of dual office-holding, Assemblywomen Alison Littell McHose called on her Assembly colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight back.

"The time to put an end to dual office-holding is now and if we let this opportunity pass it may be a long time before we are again in a position to move this legislation," said McHose, R-Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon. "The property tax reform committees were on the right path in recommending this reform, and we should not let the personal interests of several legislators stand in the way of progress."

Putting an end to dual office holding was one recommendation made by the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform last year. It appeared that this recommendation would be incorporated into reform legislation until Senate Democrats pulled the proposal from their bill last week.

McHose noted that there are bills already introduced in the Assembly to ban dual office-holding sponsored by Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman David Wolfe as well as by Assemblyman Bill Baroni, and that the Assembly should act on the issue regardless of how the Senate proceeds.

"I know that my Republican colleagues and I are ready for reform and I am asking my Democrat colleagues to work with us," McHose said. "I believe that between our two caucuses there are more than enough votes to get this reform passed and to send it to the Governor."

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce praised McHose for taking a lead role in pushing for this reform.

"Almost every member of my caucus is prepared to move forward with a dual office holding ban," DeCroce said. "We hope to work cooperatively with the Democrats to make this a reality."

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