Last month, Hudson County Democrats introduced an immigration-related bill with a crude acronym; now a Republican leader has filed an official complaint, asking an ethics committee to investigate the conduct of the assemblywoman who introduced the bill.
In February, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City) introduced the “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered” act in the Assembly. The bill’s acronym — “F*CK ICE” — uncoincidentally expresses a sentiment that she and the bill’s other sponsors, state Sen. Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City) and Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hoboken), share about federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On Monday, Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville), the lower chamber’s minority whip, filed a complaint with the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards. Bergen is asking the committee to rule the acronym impermissible, or for the committee to take “remedial action” as they see fit.
“The evident intent of the title is not to inform the public of the bill’s substance, but to employ the legislative process and official bill nomenclature to broadcast vulgar messaging,” Bergen wrote. “The Assemblywoman has since appeared on social media on several occasions acknowledging the acronym, thus cementing the fact that it was intentional.”
In a statement to the New Jersey Globe, Brennan criticized Bergen’s complaint and said she would keep working for her constituents. In calling Bergen a hypocrite, she pointed to a 2022 Assembly floor incident when Bergen referred to a Democratic assemblyman as an “assh*le,” prompting demands for civility from Speaker Craigh Coughlin.
“While my colleagues and I are working to protect New Jersey residents from masked ICE agents, Assemblyman Bergen is busy filing complaints about a bill name. Please be serious,” Brennan said. “This is the same Assemblyman who called one of his colleagues a swear word on the Assembly floor. He clearly doesn’t have an issue with profanity. He has an issue with ICE being held accountable for kidnapping and murdering people.”
State and federal often craft bill titles to allow for an acronym, though those acronyms rarely contain profanity. But the trio of Democrats has said that, acronym aside, the legislation is serious and worth implementing. The bill would allow citizens to sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights while conducting civil immigration enforcement. Democrats angry with ICE’s vast operations have sought ways to hold such agents accountable.
“Actions have consequences, but right now that’s not happening,” Brennan said in a social media video. “So this law would change it. If ICE violates your constitutional rights, this way you can get justice.”
Brennan and Bhalla, both first-term legislators, won election without the help of their county party last year, and they have remained strident progressives since winning the chance to represent the 32nd district. Bergen is perhaps the most outspoken Assembly Republican; during sessions, he regularly questions the legitimacy of the lawmaking process under the Democratic leadership.
In the letter, Bergen said his complaint only names Brennan because she “is the sole responsible party in the Assembly” for the bill’s introduction. His complaint will now go before the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, a bipartisan committee that currently consists of six attorneys. He’s asked the committee to open an investigation; issue an opinion determining whether profane acronyms are permissible; and consider “appropriate corrective measures,” including a recommendation that Brennan rename the bill.
In his complaint, Bergen says the acronym violates the Legislative Code of Ethics, specifically a section instructing lawmakers not to behave in a way “violative” of the public trust.
“Legislation is an official instrument of government,” Bergen wrote. “When a member uses official legislative mechanisms to advance vulgar messaging rather than clearly describing the purpose of the bill, members of the public can reasonably conclude that the Legislature is being used for performative provocation rather than deliberative governance.”
This article was updated at 4:45 p.m. with a statement from Brennan.
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