Gov. Christie Attends Wreaths Across America Event Honoring Vetrans At Ellis Island

Gov. Chris Christie, shown in this file photo, could make money from a book deal under a measure being discussed by lawmakers

(Aris Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON — State lawmakers are quietly considering changing the law to allow Gov. Chris Christie to profit from a book deal and in turn boost legislative staff and judicial salaries, NJ Advance Media has learned.



"It's being talked about. I'm not going to deny it's being talked about," said state Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth). "I haven't seen the bill, though, and I won't endorse it or condemn it yet."



O'Scanlon said an Assembly Republican staffer, who he declined to name, reached out to him to talk about it.



"I think it was just 'Hey giving you a heads up that there's rumblings that there may be an effort to do these things," he said.



This is not the first time such a measure has been discussed.Ten months ago, Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), sponsored a similar bill that stalled. Burzichelli acknowledged that a new effort is underway.

"Leadership said we think we're going to look at that bill again. They said there are going to be some changes," Burzichelli said. "I haven't seen exactly what they're thinking but I've offered to stay engaged with it."



Burzichelli said he wasn't certain of the bill's details. But the bill he introduced in February would have raised the salary of the governor's cabinet members up to $175,000 a year, matching the governor's. Each legislative office would be allotted $140,000 for staff salaries, up from $110,000. And justices and judges would see their salaries increase 4 percent over four years.

Though there had been talk of Burzichelli's original bill allowing the governor to make money from a book, the provision was removed before it was introduced.

That bill sought to allow elected officials who change offices and saw their pensions frozen to re-enter the pension system by buying back time. That provision — which was written with Camden Mayor Dana Redd in mind — is not expected to be included in the new version.



State law prohibits the governor, cabinet members and his top staff from "receiving or agreeing to receive, whether directly or indirectly, any compensation, salary, honorarium, fee, or other form of income from any source, other than the compensation paid or reimbursed to him/her by the State for the performance of official duties."

Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union), an outspoken critic of Christie, said changing the law will cost taxpayer money so Christie can personally profit from a book and boost his presidential ambitions.



"I think that the public, between town halls, out-of-state travel and special Senate elections, has been paying through the nose for Chris Christie's presidential campaign," he said. "There's no reason in the world to increase public salaries so that he can have a book deal to promote another part of his presidential campaign, and personally profit."



Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), Senate Minortiy Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union) did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) said he needs to see a bill before he can form an opinion.

"I don’t know what the idea is. How can I tell you?” Bramnick said. "I’ve seen nothing in writing about what anybody wants to do."

State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex), one of Christie's closest allies in the Legislature, stressed that no legislation has been finalized. But he said his opinion "is that everyone should be entitled to write a book and get paid for it."

"Why treat (Christie) any differently?"



Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said that "like any other bill that is generated by the Legislature and is moving along in the process, we'll take a look at it when it reaches his desk."



Asked if Christie or any members of the administration were advocating for the bill, Roberts declined to comment.

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Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.