Beck and Kean: Move Ban on Dual Office Holding Now

April 7, 2008

Contact: Andy Pratt / 609-292-5199
Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12), Senator Tom Kean (R-21)

Public Shouldn’t Have to Wait for Good Government

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12) and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. said this after Democrats again blocked Senate Bill 685 that would end dual office holding by elected officials within 30 days after passage:

“The Legislature has voted to ban dual office holding for everyone but current elected officials. The public has asked, rightly, why the law creates one class of citizens who can hold only one office, and another that has special rights reserved only for a few,” Beck said.

“Many lawmakers said when the partial ban was signed into law that they would support a complete and immediate prohibition on dual office holding. I contacted those lawmakers before today’s session, and I am surprised they still voted to keep this sound and desperately needed legislation bottled up in committee,” Beck said.

“By refusing to allow a vote, the Democrats have decided that the public’s right to efficient, honest government is not as important as the privileges of a few public officials who want to hang on to their perks and power,” Kean said. “The Beck-Kean bill shouldn’t be just a Republican initiative. It should have bipartisan support.”

“Now that the bill has been sent back to the Senate State Government Committee, I have asked Committee Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D-22) to help me move this bill and other ethics bills sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans to the full Senate in May,” Beck said. “I will continue to fight for a total ban until one is signed into law by the governor.”