It has been a while since I have commented on the structure of our government.
Most, if not all, members of the New Jersey State Legislature have other employment, some private and some public. A few still hold elected office. I believe that employment beyond the Legislature carries with it too much conflict of interest. I would prefer that legislators should be subject to the same limits on outside employment as full-time State judges.
I know that the idea is that public-spirited men and women will dedicate a part of their time to legislative duties but spend most of it as part of the governed. Nice idea, and maybe once true, but government has become too all-pervading.
As we are expecting more time from legislators, and prohibiting external income, their legislative pay will have to be increased. Still, I do not expect the increase to make up for the total amount of outside income they will have to forego. It is a sacrifice they must be willing to make if they want to hold public office.
Of course, I expect the legislators to earn the extra pay. For reasons I have previously expressed, most, if not all, regulatory authority should be taken back from administrative agencies in the executive branch. The Legislature should make the laws.
Jay Bohn
June 29, 2023