Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Beck presses for ban on dual-office holding

Caption: The Biltmore Estate, near Asheville, North Carolina. This has nothing to do with the post, other than the fact that as a private entity it runs better than anything any government ever dreamt up.

According to a press release sent out by Sen. Jen Beck, R-Monmouth, there were tensions at the Senate on Monday after partisan bickering over financial aid for cities and allowing some legislators to continue holding more than one elected office.

Reportedly, Democratic Senate President Richard J. Codey publicly did not receive comments by 12th District Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, in a positive way.

Senate President Codey reportedly rebuked Beck as she continued to discuss her bid to bar everyone from holding more than one elected office, even though her bid to force a vote on her bill had already failed. Senators were reportedly on another issue by then.

The release said the reported rebuke came after "Republicans" asked the Senate to give the Senate Budget Committee subpoena power to investigate a special state aid program that mainly benefits cities. Sen. Steve Oroho, R-Sussex, said legislative staff told him his request was in order.

In my opinion, Sen. Beck is doing the right thing by pushing for the dual-office ban, regardless of who doesn't want to hear about it: It's overdue and the right thing. I think Sen. Beck has put forth some strong bills and some good government issues that have great merit. As a resident in District 12, I am glad she's doing the right thing in Trenton.

Indeed, there are many issues in this state that need to be investigated, and it is right to do so. But politicians with subpeona powers is the same thing as putting foxes in charge of a hen house, in my opinion. Investigations in this state seem to always come from a partisan direction, and that just isn't going to get anything done, in my view. Political partisanship has cost this state nearly everything and continues to every day. No problem that is attempting to be solved through partisanship will be.

A special counsel from neither party armed great independence is the way to address problems in New Jersey, to my view (and there isn't one of those anywhere). Otherwise, it's just folks in red shirts trying to score more points in the newspapers than guys with blue shirts. Who needs that except them?

As a resident in District 12 I am encouraged by the good government legislation coming out of the new team there. But I don't think cheering for Team GOP is going to do anything at all that is productive for anyone but Republican leaders personally. It's the same thing, different day between Republicans and Democrats on the state level, generally speaking. And as a resident, voter and taxpayer in this county and state -- I could care less if any 'side' gets re-elected. I'm voting for whoever lowers my taxes, cleans up government and isn't a profiteer. I don't care how they part their hair, who they go to a chicken dinner with, or if they carry a photo of George Washington in their wallet. It's about saving money and getting rid of the corruption.

Cudos to Sen. Beck, but I'm far from rooting for the whole team on her side of the aisle. Good government isn't done in party 'teams' -- it's done by elected individuals who aren't screwing up, and are seeking to get something done. It's just good luck, in my opinion, that there's strong production coming out of District 12 for the moment.

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