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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would amend and expand the duties and powers of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to facilitate greater scrutiny of New Jersey State government was unanimously approved by the Assembly today, receiving final legislative approval.

“Given the reports this week of rampant corruption in Monmouth County, it’s obvious that we need stronger watchdogs to ensure governmental integrity,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “The SCI was designed to be a watchdog agency, charged with keeping government ‘for the people’ instead of for greedy politicians looking to trade their office for personal enrichment. This bill would empower the SCI with the tools needed to accomplish their mission of public scrutiny of officeholders in New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would amend and expand the duties and powers of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to facilitate greater scrutiny of New Jersey State government was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote.

“Reports of unethical behavior in New Jersey government have always been a blight on the record of good work that government officials do on behalf of New Jersey citizens every day,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “The SCI exists as a police organization to keep government an institution ‘for the people,’ instead of allowing it to degenerate into an institution for themselves. If we are going to rid ourselves from the blight of corruption on New Jersey government, we have to give the SCI greater and broader authority to keep government honest.”