FISHER/BURZICHELLI/VAN DREW BILL EXPANDING DUAL HEALTH COVERAGE BAN TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS RELEASED

(TRENTON) - The Assembly State Government Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher, John J. Burzichelli and Jeff Van Drew sponsored to extend dual health care coverage prohibitions to all state and local elected officials who are eligible for more than one taxpayer-subsidized health plan.

The lawmakers said the legislation would expand a previously enacted ban, which only applied to legislators.

"Taxpayer dollars are being wasted on dual health care plans for elected officials who hold more than one elected post," said Fisher (D-Cumberland). "Forcing all dual-office holders to select one health care plan prevents a tremendous and unnecessary drain on vital state resources."

The Fisher/Burzichelli/Van Drew measure (A-1691) would prohibit dual taxpayer-financed health care coverage for any state or local elected official who is eligible for health insurance coverage under more than one publicly financed plan or program because of their service in elective office. The legislation would require elected officials to select coverage under only one government-sponsored health care plan.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to continue eliminating waste and save the state even more money," said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), a dual-office holder who already receives benefits from one health plan. "Politicians don't need - and shouldn't have - two public health care plans."

The sponsors said any elected official serving in more than one office who elects to use health care benefits as part of his or her legislative service benefits package should not receive health benefits from any other public entity.

"We're dramatically expanding the scope of the previous ban to include all public office holders, not just legislators," said Van Drew (D-Cape May). "Public officials should not be given the luxury of having multiple health care plans when millions of New Jerseyans are still without even the most basic health insurance."

The measure was unanimously released.  It now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

--30--