Christie Proposes Wide Ranging Reforms

Answering his critics in the media and in the Lonegan campaign that he has been short on specifics, GOP gubernatorial front runner Chris Christie proposed a series of ethics and governmental reforms this afternoon on a telephonic press conference.

Citing the current corruption trial of former state Senator Joe Congilio, Christie said that he would propose legislation that would require all members of the Senate and Assembly to either abstain from voting on legislation that would impact an enterprise that the legislator has a private financial interest in, or to disclose the full nature of that interest. Congilio was indicted during Christie's tenure as U.S. Attorney for using his office as Senator for his personal benefit as an employee of Hackensack hospital. Christie said that Congilio's employment with the hospital was largely unknown prior to his indictment.

The candidate also proposed cleaning up ethical conflicts of interest with the complete elimination dual office holding and dual public employment for elected office holders.

If elected Governor, Christie said he would fight for legislation that would require the forfeiture of pension benefits for public servants convicted of a crime.

On the issue of pay to play, Christie will propose subjecting labor unions to the same constraints that corporations and private citizens have in contributing to political campaigns.

Christie pledged to propose and campaign for a constitutional amendment authorizing Initiative and Referendum (I & R) and an amendment that would give voters an opportunity every 10 years to vote on having a Constitutional Convention. Christie acknowledge that the GOP failed to make I & R a reality when it controlled the legislature and governor's office 10 years ago.

Finally, Christie proposed making government on all levels more transparent by putting an accounting on all government expenditure online in a user friendly and easily searchable format.