Mount Holly, May 8, 2008- Businessman and Republican congressional candidate Chris Myers today slammed his opponent, Jack Kelly; saying his lame defense for double-dipping on health care at taxpayer expense is a cop-out.  Myers said if Kelly truly cared about taxpayers he would have refused the expensive healthcare benefits he receives as a freeholder, just like his freeholder colleague, Gerry Little, does.

In today's Asbury Park Press, Kelly defends his ability to take $71,000 and counting in taxpayer money to opt out of a second health benefits plan that he doesn't even need-calling it a "hard-earned" benefit.  Later in the story, Kelly says he had to take the money, and will continue to take it, "because there is no other option."

That response earned a stern rebuke from Chris Myers.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," exclaimed Myers, who refuses any taxpayer-paid healthcare benefits as Mayor of Medford.  "Jack Kelly absolutely had an option, and it was to refuse to accept nearly $18,000 in health benefits at the expense of Ocean County property taxpayers-just like his colleague Gerry Little does-but Jack Kelly chose to line his own pockets at taxpayers expense instead."

According to records obtained from Ocean County, Little-who receives a NJ state retiree pension-refuses taxpayer-funded healthcare from the county.  This is in stark contrast to Kelly, who chooses to take healthcare waive-out payments from the SJTA to the tune of $71,000 and counting for refusing healthcare he doesn't even need, while also taking expensive taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits as freeholder.

"Jack Kelly always had options; he just refused to take them, and in the process left taxpayers holding the bill," said Myers, who questioned why Kelly wouldn't have taken health benefits from SJTA, and simultaneously refused his county health benefits in order to save taxpayers money.  "Jack Kelly's healthcare double-dip is pure greed."