Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose

McHOSE: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD LOOK INTO MISSPENT SCHOOL FUNDS

NOT ENOUGH FOR JERSEY CITY SUPERINTENDENT TO RETURN MONEY SPENT ON LAVISH LONDON TRIP
May 25, 2006
Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose/973-726-0954
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

McHOSE: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD LOOK INTO MISSPENT SCHOOL FUNDS

NOT ENOUGH FOR JERSEY CITY SUPERINTENDENT TO RETURN MONEY SPENT ON LAVISH LONDON TRIP

Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose today said that while she applauds the Department of Education's (DOE) decision to force Assemblyman Charles Epps reimburse the state for outlandish personal expenses he incurred while traveling in London as Superintendent of Schools in Jersey City, a state-run school district, there should be an investigation into whether the spending violated any laws.

"The DOE did the right thing in calling for this money to be returned, but someone needs to determine whether there should be additional sanctions against Assemblyman Epps," said McHose, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon. "The Attorney General should be looking into whether or not these personal expenditures constituted a 'theft of state funds' and, if so, taking appropriate action."

Information reported on New Jersey 101.5 radio and in several newspapers has shown that Assemblyman Epps, in his position as Superintendent of Schools in Jersey City, used taxpayer dollars to travel to London, stay in luxury hotels, eat in exclusive restaurants, and ride in limousines.

"I am disappointed that it took media scrutiny to uncover this misconduct and prompt corrective action," McHose added. "There needs to be better oversight of how state tax dollars are being spent, and unfortunately this trip to London is just one of many examples of wasteful spending in the Abbott districts."

McHose said all state-run school districts need to be held accountable for how they spend state tax dollars and these districts need better oversight.

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