Frank Pallone

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President Barack Obama, surrounded by members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), far left, finishes signing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation. The SCHIP legislation extends health coverage to 4 million uninsured children from low income homes at a cost of $32.8 billion through 2013.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch) will join President Obama at the White House today for the signing of legislation reauthorizing and expanding state children’s health insurance programs. 

Pallone, the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, was the lead sponsor of the bill in the House.   Menendez, who is now a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was a leading proponent of the bill.

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Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, left, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft at a 2003 news conference.

The gathering at the home of Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie two Sundays ago appears to have been more political than social - something that might force the Justice Department to suggest that First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown skip similar events in the future.  Brown wasn't just any prosecutor - she is a seventeen-year veteran who served as Christie's counsel when he was U.S. Attorney and recently received a promotion to the number two slot, just behind Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra, Jr.

Multiple sources in attendance confirmed that in addition to food and beverages, there was a clear political program for the group of Republican County Chairmen and GOP legislators. 

Among the speakers were: Christie fundraiser John Hansen, who talked about fundraising strategies and the challenges of Gov. Jon Corzine's Executive Orders limiting campaign contributions from state vendors in funding a gubernatorial campaign; Christie consultant Michael DuHaime gave a presentation on the campaign strategy; and Bill Palatucci, a veteran GOP strategist and Christie's top advisor, discussed the current New Jersey political landscape and the work the campaign has done so far.

Christie also made some remarks, and introduced Brown to the rest of the group.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown with her former boss, Chris Christie, at a forum at Fairleigh Dickinson University last year.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) wants the Justice Department to look into First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown's attendance at a social/political gathering at the home of Christopher Christie, a former federal prosecutor seeking the GOP nomination for Governor.  Pallone wants Acting U.S. Attorney General Mark Filip to determine if Brown had permission to attend the event and if it violated any laws or guidelines regarding prosecutors at her level.

Pallone says the January 25 party at Christie's Mendham home "was an organized function of Mr. Christie's political campaign, and not simply a social gathering.  It included, among other things, speeches from prominent Republican fundraisers about campaign fundraising strategy, as well as remarks from key personnel of Mr. Christie's political campaign and Mr. Christie himself about campaign strategy for his candidacy for governor."

"Given the many examples of misconduct and excess over the last few years at the Justice Department, it is clear that such confidence has been shaken and considerable work needs to be done to ensure that we once again have faith that our laws are faithfully executed and justice is administered fairly and without regard to political consideration," wrote Pallone, who is also seeking a review of DOJ gudelines so that senior members of the U.S. Attorney's staff do not become part of a campaign infrastructure.

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said that Brown did nothing wrong.

“We are not required to act like cloistered drones when it comes to the political process and, with some obvious restrictions, we are allowed to associate with and support campaigns and make political contributions if we so choose  -- just like all Americans," Drewniak said. "I would refer you and anyone else who is genuinely interested to read the rules governing our conduct in this regard.”

Pallone's full letter to Filip:

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) at his home away from home.

WASHINGTON - The train pulls into Union Station and disgorges the New Jersey delegation.

Gov. Jon Corzine and his aides head down the steps and alight on the train platform, moving with the crowd toward the escalators and when they reach the receiving area in Union Station, a beaming U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) is there to provide a Washington welcome.

The New Jersey House delegation voted along party lines in support of President Barack Obama’s $89 billion economic stimulus package.  New Jersey’s eight Democratic Congressmen voted yes, while the five Republicans voted no.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) has raised $100,000 for Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election campaign.

Seeking an opportunity to run for statewide office, U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) secured the public endorsement of the newly-elected Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian last night, but U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) may have one-upped him.  Tonight, Pallone is hosting a fundraiser for Governor Jon Corzine's re-election campaign.   The event is at the home of former state Commerce Secretary Virginia Bauer, and sources say that Pallone personally raised over $100,000 for Corzine. 

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn)

HACKENSACK - New Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman Michael Kasparian said he would support U.S. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) should Rothman at some time in the future see an opportunity to pursue a run for a vacant U.S. Senate seat. 

"If he ever ran for Senate, he would have my support," Kasparian told PolitickerNJ.com. "I am all about Bergen."

The remark came to a question within the context of some statewide intra-party wrangling that goes back to last year's U.S. Senate primary.

When then-BCDO Chairman Joe Ferriero appeared poised to endorse U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights), Rothman moved quickly.

Rather than conspiring with South Jersey to topple U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park), Rothman believed the Bergen County party chairman should refrain from endorsing until a vacancy occured. 

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has emerged as Chris Christie's leading critic on the Democratic side.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) says that if GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie is really interested in transparency, he'll release his public and private schedules during his seven years as the U.S. Attorney from New Jersey.

After a state appellate court ruled yesterday that Gov. Jon Corzine does not have to release his personal e-mails with his former girlfriend, union leader Carla Katz, Christie said that Corzine should release them anyway "in the interest of transparency."

"For the last five months, I have urged Chris Christie to release his public and private schedules so that the people of New Jersey can determine for themselves if he engaged in any improper political activities while serving as U.S. attorney," Pallone said in a statement released this morning.  "If Christie is truly interested in transparency, he should release his schedules and should stop hiding behind the Justice Department as to his role in questionable deferred prosecution agreements."