Jeff Van Drew

VAN DREW/JOHNSON/EGAN PLANT CLOSING BILL
CLEARS ASSEMBLY
Measure Would Create Safeguards Against Mass Layoffs

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today gave its final approval on legislation Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew, Gordon M. Johnson, and Joseph Egan sponsored to combat "take-the-money-and-run" plant closings by major corporate employers in New Jersey.

VAS/CHIVUKULA/VAN DREW MILITARY EMPLOYMENT
PROTECTION BILL PASSES ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Joseph Vas, Upendra Chivukula and Jeff Van Drew sponsored to protect enlisted military personal from losing employment when called active military duty during a time of war or domestic emergency.

Keith Davis, Atlantic County Republican Chairman, issued the following statement on the growing speculation that Jeff Van Drew will run for Congress next year.

VAS/CHIVUKULA/VAN DREW MILITARY EMPLOYMENT
PROTECTION BILL RELEASED BY SENATE PANEL

(TRENTON) - A Senate committee today released legislation Assemblymen Joseph Vas, Upendra Chivukula and Jeff Van Drew sponsored to protect enlisted military personal from losing employment when called to serve in the military during a time of war or domestic emergency.

VAN DREW: A.C. SPORTS-BOOK ARRESTS
STRENGTHEN CASE FOR LEGAL SPORTS BETTING

(TRENTON) - The break-up this week of a multi-million-dollar illegal sports-betting ring operated out of one of Atlantic City's casinos strengthens the case for authorizing sports betting at the city's gaming halls, says Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew.

Remember all those ethics complaints during the campaigns?  Wonder what happens to them?

We’ll see tomorrow, when the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards meets to rule on the five complaints that have been filed since the committee last met.  But if history is any guide, they’ll mostly be dismissed. 

While legislators who sit on the committee say that complaints occasionally have at least some level of validity, some say they’re filed more to get a headline in the heat of a campaign rather than pointing out a real, troubling ethical infraction.  They also say they’ve noticed it happening more often in recently, with candidates taking advantage of a committee – one with a reputation for being toothless and ineffective -- for their political ends.   

Indeed, 2007 was the year of the ethics complaint, with 10 filed so far- the most of any year on record, going back to 1972.  Five have been settled, all of which were dismissed.

State Sen. Ray Lesniak was the kingmaker in the race for Senate Majority LeaderThe surging south got a seat at the table today, with third district state Sen. Stephen Sweeney chosen as majority leader after a hard fought, emotional battle with state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Although the decision-making process was closed and the official decision was unanimous, sources say that Sweeney had the support of 14 of the 23 member caucus. Backing Sweeney were the expected south Jersey contingent -- Jeff Van Drew, Jim Whelan, Fred Madden, Dana Redd and John Adler. But he also had support from Senators from the rest of the state -- Brian Stack, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Barbara Buono, Nicholas Scutari, Bob Smith, Ray Lesniak, Joe Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.

Jefferson Van Drew will take his seat in the State Senate in January as the first Democrat to represent Cape May and Cumberland counties in the upper house under the current State Constitution.  You have to go back more than fifty years, to the days of Howard Sharp and Elmer Wene, to find another Democrat from New Jersey’s deep South.

But how long will Van Drew remain in the Senate?  He faces some pressure from Democratic leaders to run for Congress next year against seven-term Republican Frank LoBiondo, and people who know Van Drew well says he very much wants to be a Congressman.

In his concession speech, State Senator Nicholas Asselta said that he would be back.  People who know him aren’t surprised by such a pledge; Asselta, his friends say, will be miserable when he’s out of office.  Don’t be surprised to see Asselta run for his old Assembly seat in 2009, when Jeff Van Drew isn’t on the ballot – he’d be a fairly formidable candidate against newly-elected Democrat Matthew Milam. Asselta could position himself for a Senate comeback if Van Drew falters – or moves on. 

He wouldn’t be the first politician to be forced to be happy with a consolation prize.

A Zogby poll conducted for the Press of Atlantic City and Richard Stockton State College was right on the money in the second district State Senate race.  The poll had Democrat James Whelan leading GOP State Sen. Sonny McCullough by a 50%-37% margin, a thirteen point margin.  On Election Day, Whelan won 57%-43% - a margin of fourteen points.

But the Zogby poll in the 1st district Senate -- a statistical dead heat between Jeff Van Drew (45%) and Nicholas Asselta (42%) -- turned into a Van Drew romp: 56%-44%, a twelve-point win for Van Drew.