By TERRENCE DOPP, The Express-Times, February 14, 2003

TRENTON -- Setting their sights on Republican veteran Chuck Haytaian, Democrats on Thursday advanced a three-bill package attacking his 1997 settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit through a legislative panel.

Haytaian, who served as Assembly speaker from 1992 to 1996 and is a former state GOP chairman, is locked in a heated primary race against incumbent Michael Doherty. Doherty is co-sponsoring one of the measures.

Haytaian blasted Democrats, calling the package of laws "blatantly political."

"It's quite obviously (a political attack). It's quite obvious based on when this was introduced and when it came up," Haytaian said.

Democrats initially announced the bills the same day Haytaian vowed to re-enter the Assembly.

Loretta Weinberg, the Democratic assemblywoman sponsoring the measure, said the issue is a mixture of political and social. She denied the effort was aimed at keeping Haytaian out of the 120-member Assembly.

"I can't block his comeback. That's up to the voters in his district to do," said Weinberg. "All I'm trying to do is make sure a case like this never happens again."

In 1997, the state of New Jersey spent $345,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by an employee in Haytaian's office who claimed she was groped and subjected to a hostile environment.

Haytaian, who was named as a co-defendant in the case, paid no money and the suit against him was dropped. According to court documents it was dismissed "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be brought again.

Haytaian maintains the matter was found to be without merit. Democrats contend they have no evidence that the matter was ever fully investigated.

"That case was dropped and dismissed," Haytaian said. "I had nothing to do with that settlement"

The three Democratic proposals would:

	Request the State Commission of Investigation probe the case. Doherty is sponsoring that measure.
	Create a $345,000 fund to be used for anti-sexual abuse education.
	Require state employees to find and pay for their own defense attorneys in cases of sexual harassment deemed to have merit.

Weinberg was joined in testifying on behalf of the bill by activists from the National Organization for Women and Linna Selby, an official with the Warren County Republican Party, who said she is backing Doherty in the race.

"I do not feel Chuck Haytaian can represent the women of Warren County. He's forfeited his right to run," Selby said.

Haytaian said the case against him was dropped before the state settled the suit, a move made without his knowledge.

"I wanted to fight it," Haytaian said.

Doherty, a first-term incumbent, could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

Terrence Dopp is Trenton correspondent for The Express-Times. He can be reached at 609-292-5154 or by e-mail at tdopp@sjnewsco.com.