O’SCANLON RENEWS CALL FOR VOTE ON BILL TO REVOKE PUBLIC PENSIONS FROM CORRUPT OFFICIALS

The Republican Senator reintroduced the bill in September after Sen. Menendez was indicted

In response to today’s conviction of Senator Bob Menendez, Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) is calling on the New Jersey State Legislature to pass S-1707 to revoke pensions from corrupt public officials who are criminally convicted of abusing their office and title.

Current state law does not terminate state public pension credit if public corruption crimes were committed while in federal office. More broadly, state law needs to be clear that criminal convictions implicating public corruption would disqualify any public pension credits, no matter which level of government the pensionable time was otherwise earned. The sooner amendments are made, the sooner they can be applied and more easily they can be defended.

“When news broke about the Menendez indictment, I reintroduced this legislation because I whole heartedly believe corrupt public officials should not receive any benefits from state pensions. If the Legislature refuses to move this bill, as it has for the last sixteen years, it will allow individuals like disgraced Senator Bob Menendez to continue leeching off of New Jersey taxpayers,” said Sen. O’Scanlon. “This kind of reform is long overdue and should have been enacted years ago, but failing to act now will be a slap in the face to taxpayers.”

Regardless of today’s conviction against Senator Menendez, he will continue to collect a public pension. Senator O’Scanlon’s bill would revoke pensions for public officials that are criminally convicted in the future.

The bill was originally introduced in 2008 and received bipartisan support throughout the years, but Democrats have voted against efforts to move the legislation.

“Had this legislation received the attention it deserved when it was first introduced, we wouldn’t have to worry about corrupt public officials like Bob Menendez benefitting from taxpayer dollars,” Sen. O’Scanlon continued. “In light of the Menendez conviction, it is imperative that we pass this legislation now to prevent any further abuse of our pension system from corrupt public officials in the future.”