Gov. Jon Corzine today signed four bills that he said would help clean-up politics in New Jersey, including a measure that outlaws the practice of holding two elected offices at the same time.

Corzine said the bills might have gone farther - the dual office holding bill allows 17 current members of the Legislature to keep their local posts - but said "we're better off" now than before.

"I'm not standing here saying this is the bill I wanted. This is not the bill I wanted," Corzine said. "It gets us down the road."

A dozen lawmakers, Republican and Democrart - attended the bill signing in Monmouth County, and all lauded the legislation as progress toward better government in the Garden State, which has been long-plagued by its reputation for corruption in politics.

Aside from the dual office-holding ban, the measures create a specific crime to target public officials who use public resources for private gain; increase penalties for public corruption convictions and require legislators voting records be posted online.

"I am committed to giving the people of our state the kind of open, transparent and accountable government they deserve," Corzine said.