DeCroce seeks constitutional amendment

I think it would be a better practice to have a lieutenant
governor rather than having the senate president assuming two
positions, said DeCroce, who represents a district that includes
Chatham Borough. DeCroce said now is a good time to revisit his
bill since Senate President Richard Codey, D-Orange, seems likely
to succeed Governor James McGreevey as acting governor if the
present structure of government is maintained. Citing his
involvement in a gay extra-martial affair, McGreevey announced last
Thursday, Aug. 12, that he would leave office on Nov. 15. Should
the governor hold to his initial position that he would wait until
after November elections before he leaves, Codey would serve the
remainder of McGreeveys term under the provisions of the state
constitution. But DeCroce is uncomfortable with Codey serving in
two capacities. Theres supposed to be a separation of powers,
said the assemblyman. The way it is structured now violates that
separation, DeCroce said. In the words of DeCroces bill, House
Resolution 146, This concurrent resolution proposes a
constitutional amendment to establish the Office of Lieutenant
Governor and revise gubernatorial succession. The lLieutenant
governor would be elected conjointly with the governor and would
directly follow the governor in the line of succession. In
addition, the lieutenant governor would serve as the head of a
principal department of the executive branch of state government,
if appointed to such a position by the governor. Under current
law, the bill states, if there is a vacancy in the office of
governor, the senate president serves as acting governor. This
practice is violative of the doctrine of separation of powers,
since one person would hold simultaneously a leadership position in
the legislative and executive branches of government. On Tuesday
DeCroce said he was willing to re-examine the provisions of the
bill, and possibly change them. The assemblyman first authored the
bill in the wake of Gov. Christine Todd Whitmans retirement from
the governors office in the middle of her term to accept an offer
by the Bush Administration to be the director of the federal
Environmental Protection Agency. Then Senate President Donald
DiFrancesco, R-Scotch Plains, became acting governor. For his part,
District 21 Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Westfield, said he would
examine DeCroces bill and make a determination on its efficacy.
Regarding the future of McGreevey, he said, I think he should step
down (before November) so people can make a choice. In accessing
McGreeveys work, the assemblyman said he believes the governor did
a good job in reforming the states Division of Youth and Family
Services (DYFS), which was criticized during McGreeveys term after
two children under DYFS care died from parental neglect. DeCroce
said the governor hired a good DYFS director and was attentive to
the state agencys internal problems. Please see related stories,
editorial Page 6, elsewhere

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