Anti-ICE bill sponsor hit with ethics complaint

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New Jersey Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, a Democrat, is facing an ethics complaint from Republican Assemblyman Brian Bergen over the title of her bill targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Brennan's bill, formally titled the "Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act," has an acronym that spells out "F**K ICE." Bergen argues that using profanity in the title of legislation violates standards of professional conduct expected of lawmakers, while Brennan has dismissed the complaint as frivolous, saying the legislation "speaks for itself."

Why it matters

This ethics complaint highlights the ongoing political tensions and debates around immigration enforcement in New Jersey, with the use of provocative language in legislation further escalating the rhetoric. The complaint raises questions about the appropriate conduct and decorum expected of elected officials, even as they tackle controversial issues.

The details

Assemblyman Brian Bergen, a Morris County Republican, filed the formal ethics complaint against his Democratic colleague Katie Brennan over the title of her bill targeting ICE. The proposal, formally titled the "Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act," has an acronym that spells out "F**K ICE." Bergen argues that using profanity in the title of legislation violates standards of professional conduct expected of lawmakers, while Brennan has dismissed the complaint as frivolous, saying the legislation "speaks for itself."

• The bill was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly earlier this year.

What they’re saying