WEBBER LEADS ON LEGISLATIVE PENSION REFORM

By | April 18th, 2006 - 2:00pm
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Release Date: 
Apr 18 2006
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WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2006 CONTACT: (201) 602-4468

WEBBER LEADS ON LEGISLATIVE PENSION REFORM
Candidate renews call for end to lifetime benefits to legislators; issues invitation to opponent to join him

Morris Plains, NJ – 26th District Assembly candidate Jay Webber today issued the following statement.

Pension reform for New Jersey officeholders is a major issue facing our State. Three years ago, as a candidate for the New Jersey State Senate, I called for a complete end to pension benefits for part-time elected officials, such as our State Senators and Assemblymen. My logic was simple: none of the voters working part-time jobs receives a pension for part-time work; why should the voters’ elected representatives?

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2006 CONTACT: (201) 602-4468

WEBBER LEADS ON LEGISLATIVE PENSION REFORM
Candidate renews call for end to lifetime benefits to legislators; issues invitation to opponent to join him

Morris Plains, NJ – 26th District Assembly candidate Jay Webber today issued the following statement.

Pension reform for New Jersey officeholders is a major issue facing our State. Three years ago, as a candidate for the New Jersey State Senate, I called for a complete end to pension benefits for part-time elected officials, such as our State Senators and Assemblymen. My logic was simple: none of the voters working part-time jobs receives a pension for part-time work; why should the voters’ elected representatives?
I was proud to stand up for such an important reform then, and I stand by it today. As Assemblyman, I will introduce a bill to end pensions for legislators, and will personally refuse any pension benefits arising out of my part-time work as a legislator. Especially considering the fiscal crisis facing our State, New Jersey taxpayers should not be forced to provide a lifetime of pension benefits to part-time legislators long after they have left office. How can we expect the citizens of this State to tighten their belts if we don’t tighten ours first?

Now that my opponent, Larry Casha, has entered the race for the New Jersey Assembly, I would like to issue an invitation to him: join me in helping gain for the Republican Party the high ground on pension reform by pledging to end pensions for New Jersey’s legislators.

According to Larry’s early statements on the issue, he believes that ‘elected officials should only be allowed to be paid one salary and receive one pension and not at the same time. Multiple salaries and pensions need to end.’ While that is a laudable first step, it does not go nearly far enough. As Republicans, we can do better. I invite Larry to stand with me and raise our party’s sights. Let’s end lifetime pension benefits for part-time legislators.

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Jay: won't the lack of a pension encourage (and maybe even force

Submitted by Mr. Democrat (not verified) on April 18, 2006 - 4:07pm.

Jay: won't the lack of a pension encourage (and maybe even force) legislators to seek outside employment and investment, a la Wayne Bryant, Martha Bark, et al???

That's great if Jay wants to introduce this bill, but I think th

Submitted by vertigo (not verified) on April 18, 2006 - 5:17pm.

That's great if Jay wants to introduce this bill, but I think that voters want results. His bill would NEVER pass. It's great for press releases, but it's not going to happen in the real world...

"Mr. Democrat" Thank you for your post, that is a thoughtful co

Submitted by jameswebber on April 18, 2006 - 6:01pm.

"Mr. Democrat"

Thank you for your post, that is a thoughtful comment.

My short reply to it is: I don't think so. We have to make up our minds as to whether we want a full-time legislature with no outside income. If not (and I hope that we do not), then preventing legislators' non-legislative income from presenting a conflict of interest with their public duties will always be an issue, pensions or no pensions.

Our legislators deserve to be compensated for the time they spend on behalf of the State, but I believe compensation in the form of perpetual retirement benefits is a little too rich for a part-time position. Not to mention the perverse incentives they create at the end of a career, encouraging elected officials to hang on a little too long, and/or sell-out for the right pension-boosting job. But more on that another time.

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