With the countless cases of political corruption in this state and despite repeated promises of ethical reform and cleaning up Trenton of corruption, the state legislature is drawing a new line in the sand in the fight against ethical abuse.  But is the line in sand one protecting the citizenry from corrupt politicians?  Unfortunately, no.  It is one partially protecting corrupt NJ politicians from recourse for their actions.  Namely, a measure to strip NJ politicians convicted of corruption of their pensions (double, triple, even quadruple pensions in some cases) has been dropped:

A provision that would strip pensions from elected officials convicted of corruption was dropped from Senate Democrats' plans during the latest round of revisions on a raft of property tax reform bills.

Of course they dropped it--they do so out of self-interest.  Odds are good that one-day they too will be convicted of corruption.  There have been 200 corruption convictions in NJ since 2002.  Who is behind the waffling on this important ethical reform?  John Corzine.  Quote from his inaugural address

“I call on all my fellow public servants to join in an historic effort to end the toxic mix of politics, money and public business at every level of New Jersey government,” Corzine said. “My highest priority will be ethics reform.  I know there are legislators of both parties – men and women of conscience, who will stand with me, even push me.”

“In their own lives and in their own hopes for their children, our people do not settle for less than excellence. Today I pledge to you that as your governor, I will never settle for less than excellence.

Governor Corzine, not only are you dragging the legislature down in their attempts to enact important ethical reforms, you are setting a new bar for mediocrity.  

Another feature of the bill I can support:

They also ban future public officials from holding more than one elected office, though people who currently hold multiple offices could continue doing so.

At my last count, thirty-eight states had provisions against double dipping.  It's time for NJ to get with the times on this.