WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2007                                CONTACT:  (908) 267-1613 

LARRY CASHA TOOK UNAUTHORIZED HEALTH PERKS

Must Repay Taxpayers for Benefits Obtained Contrary to State Law

 Morris Plains, NJ – Webber for Assembly spokeswoman Amanda Woloshen today released the following campaign statement on Larry Casha’s unauthorized taking of taxpayer-funded health perks for part-time work: 

 “Larry Casha accepted $38,036.28 in healthcare benefits during the three full years he was a PART-TIME Councilman in Kinnelon.  Public records show that Casha took health perks costing taxpayers $11,096.76 in 2004; $12,083.28 in 2005; and $14,856.24 in 2006.

 “Now we have learned that Mr. Casha’s taking of health benefits violated New Jersey law, which requires that the ‘salaries, wages, or compensation’ of council members be set by ordinance.  (N.J.S.A. 40A:9-165)  ‘Salaries, wages, or compensation’ under that law includes the payment of health-insurance premiums for councilmen.  But no Kinnelon ordinance ever authorized the three years of payments of health insurance premiums for Mr. Casha.  That was a clear violation of New Jersey law. 

“This is a crucial issue about being open and honest with taxpayers and providing them with competent government.  New Jersey law requires that the compensation of elected officials be awarded only by ordinance in order to inform citizens about how their tax money is spent and allow them to object if they disagree.  Without an ordinance in Kinnelon, citizens were kept in the dark about Mr. Casha’s expensive health perks for three years.    

 “Mr. Casha never should have taken health perks courtesy of the taxpayers in the first place.  If he was going to take them, however, he at least should have followed the law.  Our campaign is calling on Mr. Casha to repay the $38,036.28 in unauthorized health benefits he took from taxpayers.�

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