Sen. Samuel Thompson (R-12) is part of an effort to ensure that state lawmakers show up for work. A Republican-sponsored bill seeks to cut the number of unexcused absences New Jersey legislators are allowed before vacating their office. He tells NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that he wants New Jersey to avoid what happened in Wisconsin last year. Fourteen Wisconsin Democrats fled their state to prevent a quorum on a bill that would curb rights of state employee unions and trim members’ benefits. Thompson has been criticized by colleagues who charge that he is manufacturing a problem that doesn’t exist, but he says legislation is necessary to prevent a similar situation from happening in New Jersey.
“There’s always a possibility,” he said. “We don’t know of anything right offhand that’s going to cause it, but better to have the legislation enacted now than after the problem occurs.”
Another bill he supports would ban the purchase of cars for part time public employees. It’s a move that’s directed at the Atlantic City Council’s car buy for some of its council members. Thompson calls the action an unnecessary use of taxpayer money in a city that is in financial distress.
“This is a town of only ten square miles; the city council members need personal cars to carry out municipal business?” he asked rhetorically. “I don’t think they very often have to leave the town.”
Thompson says local officials made clear to him what they thought of his involvement into the city’s affairs.
“When I spoke on the subject, one of the local councilman down there suggested I keep my mouth out of Atlantic City, suggested instead we should give them money for security cameras down there. I mean he says we shouldn’t talk about what’s going on down there but we should give them money. The state already gives Atlantic City a great deal of money. They are a city that is in financial distress and to be wasting taxpayer money like this is totally inappropriate.”
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