VAN DREW WELCOMES CORZINE TO SPORTS BETTING LAWSUIT

Says Pushing Legislation May Move Legal Proceedings Quicker

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic, issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s announcement that he will be joining in the legal effort to overturn the federal ban on sports betting, and called on legislative leaders to move sports betting legislation in New Jersey to speed up the legal proceedings:

“I applaud Governor Corzine for lending his support to legal efforts, led by Senator Ray Lesniak and myself, to overturn the federal ban on sports betting. New Jersey’s gaming industry, and the larger tourism sector that depends on the vitality of that industry, cannot afford to fall behind other states in the nation when it comes to a legalized sports book.

SWEENEY-VAN DREW BILL TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INFORM SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY STUDENTS APPROVED BY SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Jeff Van Drew which would require law enforcement or prosecuting agencies to provide written notice to high school principals of the identity of any student who is 18 years old or older and has been charged with certain serious criminal offenses was unanimously approved by the Senate today.

“School officials have a sacred and moral responsibility to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for their students,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “However, many times, principals and other school administrators do not always have all the information they need to protect students from danger. This bill expands the current principal notification requirements for students older than 18 who have committed very serious criminal offenses, in order to give school officials the information they need to respond to and address potential dangers on school grounds.”

TRENTON –  A measure sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would prohibit the sale of any coat, jacket or other clothing item made of fur, without a clothing label was approved today by the Senate Commerce Committee.

            “This bill has nothing to do with whether you support or oppose wearing fur,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic.   “Instead, this bill has everything to do with consumers’ right to know what they’re wearing - whether it’s cotton, silk, polyester, mink or dog fur.  The bottom line is that there are people walking around wearing dog fur, who don’t know it. By requiring labels to contain the content of the garment, we would be giving consumers the right to determine what they put on their bodies.”

VAN DREW STATEMENT ON PUBLIC ADVOCATE REPORT ON CAPE MAY ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic, issued the following statement today at a news conference with New Jersey’s Public Advocate, Ronald K. Chen, to announce the findings of an investigation of a South Jersey assisted living facility that involuntarily discharged residents when their savings ran out:

“New Jersey’s senior citizens are a precious resource to be treasured – living connections to our shared past. They are our mothers and fathers, our aunts and uncles, and our grandparents. They have participated in the advancement of history, have fought in wars of principle, and have stood up to the very face of evil in order to protect a people from being exterminated because of their faith. They have struggled and sacrificed through depressions and recessions to provide for their families. They have seen the realization of one man’s dream of racial equality and marveled at another man’s small step which signaled a giant leap for the rest of us.

MEDIA ADVISORY - VAN DREW TO ATTEND PUBLIC ADVOCATE NEWS CONFERENCE ON ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN CAPE MAY COUNTY

Senator Has Sponsored Legislation to Protect New Jersey’s Vulnerable Nursing Home Residents

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew will take part in a news conference with New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen today in the Statehouse to unveil the results of an investigation into the business practices of an assisted living facility in Cape May County which involuntarily discharged elderly residents once their savings were spent.

The news conference will take place today at 1:00 PM in Statehouse Room 109, across from the Assembly Chambers.

“New Jersey’s elderly residents are a precious resource, a living connection to our past, and are not a burden to be discarded once they’ve been bilked of their life savings,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic. “The actions of Assisted Living Concepts are entirely inexcusable, particularly when Medicaid funding was available to offset the cost for these residents’ care. I applaud the Public Advocate for bringing these heinous and callous acts to light, and I promise to do more to protect seniors in New Jersey.”

FIRST DISTRICT LEGISLATORS LAUD AGREEMENT TO KEEP KEY HEALTH SYSTEM PART OF NJ INSURER’S NETWORK

(FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam today lauded the agreement between Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the University of Pennsylvania Health System to keep the health system part of the insurer’s hospital network.

About 40,000 Penn Medicine patients are covered by Horizon. Penn Health includes the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, satellite facilities, nursing programs and provider networks.

WHELAN-VAN DREW BILL TO STRENGTHEN CASINO INDUSTRY SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew which strengthens the State’s casino industry by removing archaic casino regulations which hamper economic growth in Atlantic City was signed into law today by the Governor.

“This new law is about leveling the playing field for New Jersey’s struggling casino industry, and giving casinos a needed hand to make it through the current national recession,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and Chairman of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. “At a time when every cent of savings helps, this bill removes unnecessary and draconian regulations which only serve to drive up the bottom line on casinos and bog honest people down in red tape. With his signature today, Governor Corzine has shown that he favors the economic vitality of the region over continuation of pointless bureaucracy.”

Republicans had a major blunder on filing day in 2005 when one of their State Assembly candidates in a key district simply forgot to file his nominating petitions.  Former Upper Township Mayor Drew McCrosson was supposed to be GOP Assemblyman Jack Gibson's running mate in the 1st district against two-term Democratic Assemblyman Jefferson Van Drew and his running mate, first-time candidate Nelson Albano.  McCrosson's screw up left George Cecola, a perennial candidate who had ran as an independent for State Senate in 2003 and against an incumbent Senator in the 2001 Republican primary.

There were allegations at the time that McCrosson's failure to file was deliberate.  Some pundits believe there was a deal between Van Drew and State Sen. Nicholas Asselta, who believed he could protect Van Drew's Assembly seat in exchange for Van Drew's agreement that he would not challenge Asselta for the Senate in 2007..  State Republicans tried to mount a write-in campaign to nominate former Cumberland County Freeholder James Sauro, but they were unsuccessful.

WHELAN-VAN DREW BILL TO ALLOW CASINO WORKERS TO RUN FOR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICE SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew which allows casino employees to run for local office was signed into law by Governor Corzine over the weekend.

“Particularly in these tough economic times, we need to be open to including all voices within government, and giving everyone a chance to serve,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and Chairman of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. “In the past, we’ve prohibited casino employees from serving on Atlantic City’s governing body for fear that casinos may exert undue influence on local government. However, with so many local residents working in casinos, and with the City depending so heavily on the economic success of the industry, I think it’s more than time that we remove the prohibitions and allow casino employees to serve their community.”

VAN DREW STATEMENT ON FILING OF SUIT TO OVERTURN FEDERAL SPORTS GAMBLING BAN

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic, and a long-time advocate for sports betting in New Jersey, issued the following statement today regarding a lawsuit filed in federal court by State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, to overturn the federal ban prohibiting wagering on professional sports in the State. Senators Van Drew and Lesniak have sponsored a resolution in the State Senate calling on Congress to rescind the ban.

“I applaud Senator Lesniak for taking our cause to the courts, and fighting on behalf of the people of New Jersey for fairer treatment when it comes to sports betting. The current federal ban on sports betting is unfair, arbitrary and overbroad, and puts New Jersey at a competitive disadvantage with other states in the struggle for more tourism dollars.