TRENTON — An Assembly panel unanimously approved a measure Thursday that would limit elected and appointed public office holders to one public health plan, while a pair of lawmakers hopes to take this a step further by eliminating all publicly paid health plans for elected officials who earn less than $50,000.
The measure advanced Monday, with bipartisan support, would end dual health coverage for public office holders with second public positions. One sponsor, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said it's a step he hopes to expand to any family that has access to more than one health plan.
O'Scanlon told the Assembly State Government Committee there is no way to quantify how much would be saved, though it would probably not be much.
"One of the reasons we need this bill is because we can't answer that," O'Scanlon said. "There is no list."
Meanwhile, Assemblymen Vince Polistina and John Amodeo, both R-Atlantic, have introduced a measure barring coverage for elected officials who serve part-time — defined as earning less than $50,000. That would remove most mayors, all legislators except Senate president and Assembly speaker and scads of local and county officials.
"All legislators and part-time elected officials should stand forward and support this," said Amodeo, citing the state's budget crisis. "I think it's good for the citizens of the state of New Jersey."
Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Hudson, chairwoman of the Assembly State Government Committee, said she hadn't heard of the proposal but had a mixed reaction. CONTINUE HERE
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