Middletown Democrats

SHORT VOWS NOT TO USE TOWN MEDICAL BENEFITS

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ):

Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short said the issue of part-time politicians being eligible for pensions and health care benefits from the public is one that he intends on tackling.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

July 17, 2006

POC: Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short
Tel: 732-796-9574

SHORT VOWS NOT TO USE TOWN MEDICAL BENEFITS, RAILS AT ABUSE

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ):

Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short said the issue of part-time politicians being eligible for pensions and health care benefits from the public is one that he attends on tackling.

When elected, Short said he will not accept either pension or medical benefits from office. "I think a standard of hours should be worked before anyone on the public rolls receive a pension," Short said. "Specifically, I think that 1,000 hours per year is a good starting number to consider when discussing pension benefits."

Statewide, Short said that pension padding by politicians, elected and non-elected, is a multi-million dollar issue that being felt by every New Jerseyan. "I am not going to be a part of that and, as a member of the Township Committee, I will fight for reform in this area locally."

Short said it is not enough during campaign time to stand for reform. "Tax reform means many things. One very important part of tax reform is cutting the fat from our public payrolls," he said.

Short explained that township employees who are making Middletown the wonderful place it is to live, work and play are not the targets of his concern. "I think a thorough review of the benefits package for the Township Committee and the Middletown Sewer Authority should be reviewed and, where savings can be made, they should be," he said.

Short said he will not abide political patornage appointees padding their pensions off the backs of the residents of Middletown Township. "Public service must be taken much more seriously than it currently is in the township for there to be any real relief for taxpayers in Middletown," Short said. "I do intend on advocating for meaningful tax relief and responsible spending."