Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce

DeCROCE: LATEST ETHICS SCANDAL UNDERSCORES
NEED FOR ACTION ON ANTI-CORRUPTION BILLS NOW

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce today commended U.S. Attorney Chris Christie's continuing efforts to uproot political corruption wherever it grows and renewed his call for action on a series of anti-corruption bills proposed by Assembly Republicans in September.

DeCroce said Democrats and Republicans should have "zero tolerance" for unethical or criminal behavior committed by members of either political party. His remarks came after Robert Stears, a former Trenton lobbyist, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and income tax evasion as part of a federal probe of no-bid contracts in Burlington County.
Stears admitted Friday to billing the Burlington County Bridge Commission hundreds of thousands of dollars for work not performed. He also admitted that he failed to pay income taxes on much of his gains, entering guilty pleas to a two-count federal charge of mail fraud and income tax evasion.

"I am disappointed that the Assembly leadership continues to ignore the crying need for tough ethics reform and anti-corruption initiatives," said DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "It's been nearly two months since Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and Senate President Richard Codey pledged to 'fast track' an anti-corruption package. Where is it? When will they do more than just pay lip service to the cause of reform?

"We have plenty of good reform initiatives offered by Republicans and Democrats languishing in committee," DeCroce said. "Let's at least begin the discussion."

On September 25th, Assembly Republicans unveiled a Blueprint for a Corrupt-Free New Jersey, a collection of the best reform bills sponsored by Republicans and Democrats including a top-to-bottom pay-to-play ban, an end to dual office holding and tough new penalties for public officials accused or convicted of political corruption and criminal activity.

The following month Roberts said it had become clear that ethics reforms were necessary and "probably overdue." He and Codey pledged to move an anti-corruption package in the fall.

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For more information, contact:
Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce / 973-984-0922
Assembly Republican Press Office / 609-292-5339