RUTGERS EXPERT ALAN ROSENTHAL NAMED CHAIRMAN OF LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE

RUTGERS EXPERT ALAN ROSENTHAL NAMED CHAIRMAN
OF LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE
Respected Expert on Ethics and State Legislatures To Lead
Reconstituted, Empowered Ethical Watchdog

(TRENTON) - Senate President Richard J. Codey, Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce today announced that Rutgers University professor Dr. Alan Rosenthal will be been named chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.

Dr. Rosenthal is a professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Rutgers University's  Eagleton Institute of Politics and is an internationally recognized authority on legislative conduct and ethics. He also was a Fellow in Harvard University's Program on Ethics and the Professions and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University.

He is the author of, among other books, Drawing the Line: Legislative Ethics in the States (1996) and The Ethics Process in State Legislatures: Disciplining Members in a Public Forum (1999).

"Without question, Dr. Rosenthal is the premier expert on state legislatures in the country," said Codey (D-Essex).  "His experience is second to none and his integrity is above reproach.  He has also been a national leader in developing programs which promote civic education and the democratic process, such as the NCSL's 'Legislators-Go-Back-to School' program.  I'm confident he will give this newly reconstituted committee the ethical muscle it deserves."

"Dr. Rosenthal's reputation and credentials make him a natural fit to lead this committee in its new role," said Roberts (D-Camden). "Under Dr. Rosenthal, I am certain this committee will become known for careful deliberation, and not political pageantry. We are fortunate to have one of the nation's leading experts on legislative ethics right here in New Jersey."

Earlier this year, the Governor signed a new law which restructured the beleaguered watchdog committee to remove all sitting legislative members and to give the committee more power to require financial disclosure by lawmakers. The law put New Jersey in line with the majority of other states that do not allow sitting members of the Legislature to serve on an ethics commission.

"Dr. Rosenthal's expert knowledge on both the legislative process and ethics in government will help set the appropriate tone for this new committee, one that reflects the seriousness of the committee's charge and authority," said Kean (R-Union).  "I am confident that Dr. Rosenthal will work with his fellow appointees to restore credibility to this important committee."

"Dr. Rosenthal's respect for the integrity of the legislative process is unrivaled," said DeCroce (R-Morris, Passaic). "He has worked with the Legislature in the past to formulate ethics reform. His selection will significantly advance the cause of reform. I am confident in his ability to exercise his responsibilities as chairman fairly and impartially."

Dr. Rosenthal has collaborated with various national organizations on comprehensive studies regarding legislative organization and procedure and has consulted on ethical matters with legislatures in six states. He also has spoken before and conducted workshops for foreign elected representatives.

He was a 1993 recipient of the Governor's Award for Public Service in New Jersey, and has been honored with the American Political Science Association's Charles E. Merriam Award for "significant contribution to the art of government."

To enable Dr. Rosenthal to hold the committee chairmanship, the leaders pledged to expedite legislation clarifying that faculty members of state institutions of higher education could sit on the ethics panel.

Dr. Rosenthal said he would like the committee to convene within 45 days.

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