HACKENSACK – State Sen. Bob Gordon (D-Fair Lawn) says he does not “understand the logic” of his Democratic district-mates sending out a hard hitting campaign flyer against their out-funded, underdog Republican opponents.

“Had it been my campaign, I would not have authorized a piece of that kind,” he said.  “It’s not a safe district, but [the Democrats] lead by a sizable margin, so there’s no reason to go negative.”

The mailer, issued by Assemblywomen Connie Wagner (D-Paramus) and Joan Voss (D-Teaneck), attacks their opponents over “porn and guns” – “porn” for Republican Judith Fisher accounting software to Playboy, and “guns” for Lonzisero renting a space next to a school to a gun shop, which has occupied the spot since 2002.

Wagner, who was standing near Gordon, defended the mailer.

“You know what?  Everything in there is true.  Is it a little strong?  Yes, it is,” she said.  “But it’s a campaign, and that’s what the campaign is about.”

GORDON-WEINBERG ENCAP REFORM LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Bob Gordon and Loretta Weinberg to require private entities under public contract to comply with stricter financing and transparency standards in an effort to avoid scandals like the EnCap debacle in the Meadowlands was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

“Public-private partnerships are important to create needed economic growth in New Jersey, but the people of our State deserve some guarantee for their investment,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “In the case of EnCap, hundreds of millions of dollars were funneled to an unqualified developer for one of the largest redevelopment projects ever undertaken in New Jersey. If private developers were required to invest more private capital and submit audited financial statements or risk losing public financing, the EnCap debacle might never have happened.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Gordon which requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide written commitment that an eligible owner or operator of a non-leaking underground storage tank is eligible for financial assistance under the State’s cleanup fund regulations to replace or close the tank was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

            “Underground storage tanks – even fully-intact tanks – can quickly become dangerous contaminants to groundwater and soil quality if they spring a leak,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen.  “New Jersey has to do everything it can to encourage tank owners to keep on top of repairs, or close tanks if a more environmentally-conscious heating alternative is available.  Rather than requiring homeowners to finance the cost of upkeep and then reimbursing them a portion of that cost if they’re eligible, homeowners acting in good faith will now have assurances of financial assistance before the project begins.”

SMITH-GORDON-BEACH BILL TO AUTHORIZE OPEN SPACE BONDING SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Smith, and Committee members, Senators Bob Gordon and Jim Beach which will give voters in November the option to approve up to $400 million in open space borrowing was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Simply put, New Jersey cannot afford the consequences if we fail to act to make an investment in open space preservation,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Allowing programs like Green Acres and farmland preservation to lapse would be a huge setback for open space preservation, and would open the doors for developers to pave over sensitive open space throughout the State. This bonding initiative provides necessary stop-gap funding for our various open space preservation programs, and buys us a little more time to develop a consensus around permanent funding for open space in New Jersey.”

GORDON STATEMENT ON JOINT HEARING ON BARNEGAT BAY AND THE SHORE

LACEY TOWNSHIP – Senator Bob Gordon, D-Bergen, and a member of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the joint hearing between the Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the environmental conditions facing the Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor estuaries and other important issues facing the Jersey Shore:

“I applaud everyone who came out today and testified on the need to control runoff contamination in the Barnegat Bay and elsewhere in New Jersey. This is not a regional problem or a Shore problem, but a Statewide problem, and unless we begin to adopt better pollution control legislation and more sensible land use regulations in New Jersey, we’re going to lose one of our State’s biggest economic assets.

Corzine, Weinberg and her family this afternoon in Englewood

ENGLEWOOD – In front of an audience packed with both her long time loyalists and former foes within the Democratic Party, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) joined Gov. Jon Corzine on stage today as a take-no-prisoners, unapologetically progressive and ethical grandmother who, as Corzine’s new pick for lieutenant governor, hopes to boost  Corzine’s now underdog bid for reelection.

“In case you haven’t heard this before, I am a feisty Jewish grandmother from Bergen County.  I will never be accused of being part of any – of any—insider political club,” said Weinberg at this afternoon’s rollout of her candidacy at the Bergen Performing Arts Center. 

After spending months on Corzine’s shortlist for the number two spot, Weinberg, who has served in the legislature since 1992, was finally tapped yesterday.  The pick was heavily influenced by the dozens of corruption busts that rocked the state’s political scene on Thursday.  Democrats hope that Weinberg, who has authored several ethics bills and took on an allegedly corrupt party boss in her native Bergen County, will keep Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie – who started his candidacy on his record as an anti-corruption crusading U.S. Attorney – from complete domination on the ethics front. 

Even before Thursday’s events, polls showed Christie with an eight to 15 point lead. 

There are several other rationales for the selection.  They include a geographical component, with Bergen County (population 884,000) being the biggest in the state and expected to be hotly contested in November; and the age component, with Weinberg, 74, appealing to seniors (Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland) called her “The Real Grandmother of New Jersey” in his remarks today).

GORDON-BATEMAN BILL TO PROVIDE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF CONTAMINATION AT SCHOOLS ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Bob Gordon and Christopher “Kip” Bateman, both members of the Senate Environment Committee, which would require prompt parental notification when hazardous materials are found on school property was unanimously approved by the Environment panel today.

“School officials have a moral responsibility to guarantee a safe, productive learning environment for their students,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “When hazardous, dangerous substances are found on school grounds, those officials must do everything in their power to ensure prompt, thorough notification to the parents of children who may be affected. This should be common sense, but unfortunately, there are some school bureaucrats out there that are so afraid of bad publicity that they’re willing to take an ostrich-with-its-head-stuck-in-the-contaminated-sand approach when it comes to pollution and contamination on school grounds.”

WEINBERG/GORDON MEASURE TO CHANGE GOVERNING BODY OF HISTORIC NEW BRIDGE LANDING STATE PARK IS NOW LAW

North Hackensack Train Station Renamed

HACKENSACK – A measure sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Robert Gordon, which would give administrative authority of Historic New Bridge Landing State Park to the Historic New Bridge Landing State Park Commission has been signed into law. The bill signing took place at the New Bridge Landing’s Steuben House.

“Today is a great day for the people of Bergen County and for New Jersey as a whole,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “This new law gives the Commission more authority over administering the funds that are allocated within the State budget for the Park. Historic New Bridge Landing State Park is a piece of New Jersey’s history, and it’s good to have this funding where it belongs.”

“This new law will allow the New Bridge Landing State Park Commission to act in the best interest of the park, without the added red tape brought on by having to secure the funding from the DEP,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “This law will allow the park to receive the funding it needs in a timely manner.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Gordon, a member of the Senate Environment Committee, which would require prompt parental notification when hazardous materials are found on school property was given a hearing by the Senate Environment Committee, with a vote to come at a later date.

            “When an environmental hazard is discovered on school grounds, the school district has a responsibility to let parents know as soon as possible,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen.  “This bill would codify that responsibility, and set an appropriate timetable for full disclosure of contamination to all appropriate parties.  Parents and school staff need to be made aware of any potential health risks on school grounds, so they can take whatever actions are necessary to protect themselves and their kids.”

WEINBERG-GORDON BILL DETAILING RULES FOR HORIZON CONVERSION ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE

Measure Would Require Health Impact 'Fairness Analysis,' Additional Public Participation

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Bob Gordon which would amend State statute regarding the process for Horizon’s conversion from a not-for-profit health care insurance provider to a domestic stock insurer was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today by a vote of 3-0, with two abstentions.

“As the largest health insurer in the State of New Jersey, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield is responsible for providing access to care for millions of State residents,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, and Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Any conversion of Horizon from a non-profit to for-profit status could have drastic and far-reaching consequences on the availability and accessibility of care in New Jersey. We must tread very carefully in allowing Horizon to convert to for-profit status, and we must ensure that New Jersey’s Horizon subscribers are not put in jeopardy to benefit the bottom line of a health care corporation.”