TRENTON - New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Jay Webber today responded to reports of New Jersey Democrats "unduly" influencing US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials to approve unsafe medical devices manufactured by ReGen Biologics, Inc. "Despite expert opinion that this product posed a risk to the public, these lawmakers seemingly went out of their way to lobby for an unsafe medical device on behalf of campaign contributors," said Chairman Webber. According to FDA reports, Senators Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey) and Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-New Brunswick) and Steven Rothman (D-Jersey City) engaged in a campaign of "‘extreme,' ‘unusual' and persistent pressure" to secure approval for a medical device found to be unsafe and despite objections from FDA scientific reviewers.  All four lawmakers "made their inquiries within a few months of receiving significant campaign contributions from ReGen," a New Jersey based company. "Legitimate advocacy on behalf of constituents is an important and appropriate part of being an elected official, but the activities undertaken here seem to have crossed the line.  Senators Menendez and Lautenberg and Congressmen Pallone and Rothman need to explain their actions to the public immediately and provide full transparency and disclosure on this issue.  The occurrence and content of all meetings, phone calls, correspondence, and other activity on this issue must be fully and immediately disclosed by these members. "I also call on Governor Corzine to demand transparency on this issue from Congressman Pallone, his reelection campaign chairman, and Senators Menendez and Lautenberg, honorary campaign chairmen for Corzine's reelection.  Governor Corzine has yet another opportunity to break with his history and begin standing up for and following his pledges for transparency," added Webber. Link to NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/health/policy/25knee.html?pagewanted=print   ###