SENATE APPROVES VAN DREW BILL TO HELP TOWNS SET SPEED LIMITS

TRENTON – The Senate today approved a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew to help municipalities and counties set speed limits for roads based on specific criteria such as the presence of school children and the proximity of parks, child care facilities and senior centers.

The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 39 to 0 and forwarded it to the Assembly.

“This bill will provide officials and community residents the backup they need to justify a call to slow down the traffic to maximize safety in a neighborhood,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and Fred H. Madden, which would designate Route 9 in Cape May County as “Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway,” was unanimously approved today by the Senate Transportation Committee.

            “This bill would help to increase awareness of the Police Unity Tour, and help secure funding to expand the D.C. memorial, to allow it to honor the men and women who have lost their lives protecting public safety,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, who serves on the Senate Transportation panel.  “We must do all we can to thank the law enforcement officials who have lost their lives while keeping us safe.”

Democratic congressional candidate David KurkowskiNational Democrats had pinned their hopes on recruiting state Sen. Jeff Van Drew to take out Republican incumbent Frank LoBiondo in the 2nd Congressional District. When Van Drew declined to run, Democrats settled on Cape May's only Democratic councilman as their candidate.  But the national party opted out of funding his campaign.

Despite the lack of support, Kurkowski insists that he's more than just a warm body.

With little name recognition, few upfront financial resources and a base in one of the less populated areas of New Jersey's geographically largest congressional district, Kurkowski is - for now at least - a long shot.

VAN DREW - REVITALIZING ECONOMY AND PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE MAIN GOALS OF REVISED SITE REMEDIATION PROGRAM

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s joint hearing of the Legislative environmental panels regarding the DEP’s plan to reform New Jersey’s site remediation program:

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew says he won’t run for Congress in 2008, making GOP Rep. Frank LoBiondo the clear favorite to win re-election to an eighth term this year, the Vineland Daily Journal is reporting.  Possible Democratic challengers to LoBiondo are former Fairfield Mayor Viola Thomas-Hughes, who won 36% against LoBiondo in 2006, and Bridgeton City Councilwoman Celeste Riley.

Democrats are having a tough time finding someone to challenge Rep. FrankLoBiondo
Although state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) still hasn’t formally decided whether to challenge Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) in the Second Congressional District, most Democrats assume he’s not going to make a run for it.

And with fewer than three weeks remaining to file a petition, no candidates have put their names forward.

“I’m unaware of anyone that has surfaced, and I’m disappointed about that because I think now is as good a time as any to pose a really credible challenge to making the seat a Democratic seat,” said Atlantic County Democratic insider Damon Tyner, a former candidate for state Assembly.

VAN DREW CALL FOR FEDERAL DISCLOSURE OF OUTSOURCING COMPANIES APPROVED

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would call on Congress to enact legislation requiring the publication of a list of companies which are engaged in outsourcing United States jobs to other countries was approved by the Senate today, receiving final approval.

VAN DREW CALLS FOR FEDERAL DISCLOSURE OF OUTSOURCING COMPANIES

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would call on Congress to enact legislation requiring the publication of a list of companies which are engaged in outsourcing United States jobs to other countries was unanimously approved by the Senate Labor Committee today.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew still hasn’t made a decision about whether he’s running for Congress, but as the April filing deadline approaches, he’s leaning towards sitting this one out.

“I will say that I do have an interest in being a representative for the second congressional district ,but I’m very aware and mindful of the fact that I just won a senate race and we’re in a uniquely challenging time in the state of New Jersey,” he said.  “I have to weigh that very, very seriously.” 

Former Republican State Senator Nicholas Asselta’s appointment to the state Board of Public Utilities effectively takes him out of the race for State Assembly in the first district next year – something that substantially boosts the Democrats prospects for re-electing incumbents Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam.  Asselta, who hinted he might consider a 2009 Assembly bid following his loss to Jefferson Van Drew last November, would have been an extremely formidable challenger against Albano and Milam, and might have helped bring in a second Assembly seat.