Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso
The Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards dismissed a complaint by Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey against Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso today, finding that there was no probable cause for the Democrats complaint against their Republican colleague, according to reports on NewJerseyGlobe and APP.
“While this matter never stopped me from doing my job for the people of the 13th district, I’m glad its behind me,” DiMaso said to MMM in phone interview.
Hougtaling and Downey complained after DiMaso made a robocall into their district last year alerting the 11th district residents to the fact that their legislators voted in favor of Governor Phil Murphy’s $1.4 billion tax increases, his cuts in school funding for Monmouth County schools and cuts in support to victims of Superstorm Sandy. In the call, DiMaso encouraged residents to call their legislators at 732-695-3371 to express their displeasure.
Here’s a recording of the call:
In addition to complaining that they were getting too many phone calls that their staff had to answer, the 11th district Democrats alleged that DiMaso committed an ethics violation because the caller id for the call was that of their office, 732-695-3371.
Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey
The consultant who arranged the robo call signed an affidavit stating that he mistakenly entered 732-695-3371 for the caller id, and that DiMaso had nothing to do with it.
APP reported that the committee found the call was “sloppy” but not an ethics violation.
In case you missed it, Houghtaling and Downey voted in favor of Governor Murphy’s massive tax increases, school funding cuts and a reduction of support for Sandy victims. Their phone number is 732-695-3371.