Howarth bill would see absentee legislators lose pay

Assemblyman Joe Howarth introduced a bill that would see legislators lose their pay for missing voting sessions, committee meetings and quorum calls Thursday.

“You can’t Make America Great Again, if you don’t show up for work. Some members of our legislature have missed over half of the meetings of some of their committees,” Howarth said. “At a time when we are dealing with school funding, pension and other critical issues facing our state we need legislators who actually show up to do their jobs and not politicians looking for a quick pay day.”

The bill, A5689, includes exemptions absences related to military service, sickness or sick family members.

The assembly speaker and senate president can also excuse absences.

Howarth lost renomination earlier this month after Republican organizations in his district dropped him from their respective county lines over a belief that he attempted to join State Sen. Dawn Addiego when she defected to the Democratic party earlier this year.

Read more: https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/howarth-bill-would-see-absentee-legislators-lose-pay/