REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES COMMISSION

NEED JUST ONE DEMOCRAT TO JOIN REPUBLICANS TO PROVIDE QUORUM NECESSARY TO CONVENE MEETINGFebruary 14, 2007
Senate Republican Office/609-292-5199
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

The eight Republican members of the Legislative Services Commission today sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, chairman of the Legislative Services Commission, and to all the Democrat members of the commission requesting an immediate emergency session be convened to discuss the Office of Legislative Services refusal to comply with a federal subpoena.

The subpoena issued by United States attorney Christopher Christie seeks, according to published reports, information surrounding the distribution of financial awards in the fiscal year 2006 and 2007 budgets. The letter is attached.

"As a member of the Legislative Services Commission I am disappointed that the Office of Legislative Services failed to comply with a federal subpoena without first consulting the commission," Lance stated.

"If just one Democrat member of this commission will do the right thing and agree to join us in calling for a meeting, we will have the necessary quorum," DeCroce said. "We need to find out how the decision was made for OLS to hire an attorney to fight this subpoena, and we need to take a vote urging OLS to comply with the subpoena immediately."

The Legislative Services Commission currently consists of 15 members eight Republicans and seven Democrats, there is one Democrat vacancy. In order to convene an emergency hearing a written notice of at least nine members of the Commission is required.

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February 14, 2007

Honorable Joseph Roberts
Speaker
New Jersey General Assembly
Assembly Chambers
State House
Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Dear Speaker Roberts:

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:11-56, we are seeking to call an emergency meeting of the Legislative Services Commission for Thursday, February 15th, or as soon as possible thereafter. N.J.S.A. 52:11-56 allows a meeting to be called upon the written request of nine members of the commission.

The agenda of the meeting will be as follows:

1) Receive an explanation from Legislative Counsel as to why outside counsel has been retained to suppress a criminal subpoena issued by the United States Attorney and the position being taken by outside counsel.

2) Consider a motion directing Legislative Counsel to fully cooperate with requests for document requests submitted by the United States Attorney in conjunction with any criminal investigation.

We have reached a watershed moment in New Jersey. The Legislature as an institution can either stand in support of criminal investigations focused on one or more legislators who may have abused their office, or it can stand in the way.

Your signature will indicate your support of a public meeting of the Legislative Services Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:11-56 to address these crucial issues. Please sign and return at your earliest possible convenience.

The undersigned call for a meeting of the Legislative Services Commission on Thursday, February 15, 2007 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Senator Leonard Lance Senator Richard Codey

Assemblyman Alex DeCroce Assemblyman Joseph Roberts

Senator Anthony Bucco Senator Nia Gill

Senator Robert E. Littell Senator Bernard Kenny

Senator Robert Singer Assemblyman John Burzichelli

Assemblyman Kip Bateman Assemblywoman Joan Quigley

Assemblyman Peter Biondi Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

Assemblyman Frank Blee