Two bites too many

Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli (D., Gloucester) had a choice to make. He could stay in the Assembly, where he has served for 13 years, or he could take a $100,000-a-year job as head of the Gloucester County Improvement Authority.

Burzichelli chose to do both. Amazingly, that's legal in New Jersey. Why? Because he and the rest of the state's 120 legislators get to make the rules, and the rules say they can, under certain circumstances, collect more than one government paycheck.

Such double dipping may be legal, but it's also "very, very much unethical," according to former State Sen. Bill Schluter, vice chairman of the state Ethics Commission. Double dipping raises questions about a politician's loyalties: Will Burzichelli refuse to accept campaign cash from the authority's vendors? Will he take time off from the authority to campaign? Will he miss legislative sessions due to authority business?

Since 2008, New Jersey lawmakers have been banned from holding more than one elected office. But because of a grandfather provision, Burzichelli was able to serve in the Legislature and as Paulsboro's mayor until 2011. Now, since his authority job is not an elected post, the rule does not apply.

He's not the only one taking two bites of public money. Fifteen of the legislators whose occupations are listed on their official biographies bring home more than one government paycheck. In fact, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D., Union), also works for her local improvement authority.

The lawmakers' other jobs range from prosecutor to building inspector to fire captain to business administrator. State Sen. Fred Madden (D., Gloucester) is also dean of the Gloucester County Police Academy. State Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D., Camden) is also the director of constituent services for Camden County.

Holding two government jobs was a particular problem for former State Sen. Wayne Bryant (D., Camden), who in exchange for a phony job at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey steered $10.5 million of state money to the university's School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford. Bryant was convicted of numerous corruption charges in 2008.

While earning two paychecks and padding their government pensions may be good for the double dippers, it's not good for the taxpayers who pay them. Most Gloucester County residents would probably prefer Burzichelli to focus on one important job instead of splitting his attention between two.

If the legislators won't stop double dipping, voters could do it for them. But the best solution would be for the Legislature to rewrite the law so that it applies to both elected and unelected government positions.