It sickens me every time I have to write a headline like that. Following up on the call for resignations that have not been heeded yet, Speaker Roberts today took further action:
"The right to the presumption of innocence is a hallmark of our democracy, however, serving in the Legislature is a privilege, not a right. The Assembly is often referred to as the "People's House," and I want the people to have full confidence in the integrity of its members.
"Any member charged with criminal activity is incapable of effectively attending to their constitutional duties and should not be entitled to taxpayer-paid compensation while the charges are pending.
"Taxpayers should not be on the hook for services that cannot be effectively rendered.
"The people of New Jersey have had enough of the state's reputation for corruption, and so have I and the overwhelming number of honest public servants.
"I repeat my call for Assemblymen Smith, Vas and Van Pelt to do the right thing and resign. Their failure to step down is a disservice to their constituents and the Assembly, so this extraordinary step is necessary."
The Speaker already stripped the legislators of their committee assignments. He was waiting for an opinion from legislative counsel determining he had the authority to suspend their compensation and benefits., which he did today. Now if only we could work on stopping further problems before people get arrested and indicted.
