“We believe every aspect of state government can find efficiencies to save money, including legislators’ offices,”  said Amodeo.  “We have kept our staff as lean as possible while maintaining the level of service our constituents expect.”

“You don’t have to spend it all just because it’s there,”  Polistina said, referring to the $110,000 salary account each legislators has for district office staff.  “It’s not free money.  It’s the public’s money to pay for services for the public.”

During their first term, Amodeo and Polistina operated a joint office with three full time staff members, one part time staff member, and a few summer interns.  The legislators have returned over a third of their salary allowance over the previous two years to the general fund.

“We lived within our means, as simple as that,” Amodeo said.  “How can the public expect the Assembly Democrats to balance the state budget when they can’t even manage their budget?  It’s disgraceful.“

John and I are enacting the changes we want to see in state government like not accepting health benefits for part-time work and being frugal with our staff accounts,”  Polistina said.  “The only way Trenton is going to change is if legislators lead the way.”
           
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