Borrowing from Sen. McCain, Kean Jr. unveils ethics plan

Borrowing from Sen. McCain, Kean Jr. unveils ethics plan
TRENTON, N.J. - (The Associated Press)

Borrowing from legislation proposed by Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain, Republican Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. on Monday unveiled his plan to bring ethics reform to Congress.

Kean said New Jersey voters have seen too many of their elected officials become embroiled in ethical quagmires.

"Each year, it seems we read of another investigation, another indictment, another public official involved in graft or other illegal behavior," Kean said, adding that last week, Zulima Farber was forced to resign her position as attorney general because she violated the state ethics code for intervening in a traffic stop involving her live-in boyfriend.

Kean's plan includes some measures McCain has already proposed, such as: requiring lobbyists to disclose their clients and incomes on a quarterly basis instead of twice a year; requiring lobbyists to list all fundraisers they sponsor; and requiring the disclosure of all gifts, travel and event tickets given by lobbyists.

Kean said if he were elected, he would introduce legislation to: make it a federal crime for federal officials to steer business to lobbyists; put heavy restrictions on congressional travel; ban the giving of gifts of any value to congressmen and their staffs; and make congressional earmarks transparent.

Kean has accused Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of steering business to a former congressional staffer. Menendez has denied those allegations.

Menendez campaign spokesmen Matthew Miller said the senator co-sponsored a Senate bill earlier this year with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid that was the "toughest ethics reform bill in a generation."

"But when Tom Kean Jr.'s patrons voted it down, Kean stayed silent," Miller said.

That bill was introduced in late January, and included various measures, such as prohibiting public officials from receiving gifts and meals from lobbyists; significantly expanding the information lobbyists must disclose, including campaign contributions and client fees; requiring lawmakers to disclose when they are negotiating private sector jobs; and prohibiting cronyism in key appointments.

The bill failed to pass in March by a party line vote of 44-55.

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