Bateman: Familiar Words and Phrases Public Hopes Not to Hear Again as Democrats Debate Ethics

Republican Senate Deputy Conference Leader Kip Bateman called for swift enactment of ethics reform legislation advocated by Republicans for more than six years and belatedly embraced by the Governor just yesterday.

"I welcome the Governor -- however late -- to our campaign for comprehensive ethics reform," said Bateman. "However, reformers should be on guard in the days ahead, especially if they hear any of the following rationalizations, excuses and lamentations put forth as one ethics measure after another was watered down or killed in the Legislature over the last six years:

'It's a good first step.'

'We should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.'

'I'm not into the blame game.'

'We think we've made a lot of progress.'

'If the Legislature and myself don't have passion about trying to do something about combating the breakdown of the public trust … I will be in despair.'

Bateman continued: "If the Trenton Democrats offer the promise of reform and fail to deliver yet again, no amount of rhetoric will spare them from the harsh judgment of the public. The time for watered-down half measures that do nothing to restore public confidence in their government has long since passed.

"Republicans expect that the Governor finally will use the full powers of his office to persuade the Legislature and finally win passage of the reforms he now advocates. He must oppose any effort from within his own party to eviscerate these proposals. We are willing to work in a bi-partisan fashion with the governor to pursue comprehensive ethics reform, and look forward to debating stronger measures, including a prohibition on legislators awarding taxpayer monies to their employers and relatives," Bateman said.

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