PREVIEW - SENATE WAGERING & TOURISM COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING AT MONMOUTH PARK

OCEANPORT – In an effort to gain understanding of the issues affecting the horse racing industry in New Jersey, the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee will hear from stakeholders at a meeting at Monmouth Park Racetrack on Friday, May 9, the opening day for the track’s 2008 season.

“Horse racing is a billion dollar industry in New Jersey, drawing visitors from around the region to our world-class tracks and off-track wagering sites,” said Senator Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, the Chair of the Committee. “However, even with all the success of horse racing in the Garden State, the industry needs State intervention to remain competitive. I look forward to listening to the ideas and concerns of the people working to ensure that horse racing maintains its competitive edge in New Jersey.”

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Rob Andrews finally got an answer from Frank Lautenberg about participating in debates, but it wasn’t the one he wanted to hear.

The Lautenberg campaign yesterday turned down a debate offered jointly by Richard Stockton College and the Press of Atlantic City, saying that the dates offered- May 5th and 6th – conflicted with Lautenberg’s Senate schedule.

“When I got into this race I challenged the incumbent Senator to a minimum of seven debates. He has danced, bobbed, weaved hidden and we really had no answer until yesterday,” said Andrews in a conference call with reporters. “Yesterday, for the first time, we have a definitive answer, and it’s the wrong one.”

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MEDIA ADVISORY - WHELAN-BURZICHELLI TO HOLD JOINT HEARING ON TOURISM TOMORROW

ATLANTIC CITY – As part of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Senator Jim Whelan and Assemblyman John Burzichelli, the Chairmen of the Senate Wagering and Tourism Committee and the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee, will hold a joint public hearing tomorrow in Atlantic City on the State of tourism in the Garden State.

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State Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) tonight called for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in a Democratic primary.

"In light of today's news stories regarding Congressman Rob Andrews' interest in running for the U.S. Senate this year, I strongly encourage Rob to run," Whelan said in a statement.

"Rob has been an outstanding congressman and a part of our extended family here in Atlantic County," the senator added. "He has always been there for us throughout his tenure in the House and there's no doubt that his being at the top of our state's ballot this year would be a huge benefit to our local ticket. As Atlantic County's highest ranking Democratic official I urge Rob to consider getting in the race."

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WHELAN AND JACKSON UNVEIL NEW FEE FORMULA FOR RESIDENTIAL DOCK OWNERS

ATLANTIC CITY – At a news conference today at the Atlantic City Convention Center, State Senator Jim Whelan and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa Jackson unveiled a new licensing fee formula designed to introduce fairness for residential dock owners who’ve been hit by soaring tidelands licensing fees.

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Chris Christie and Jon Corzine as The HoneymoonersRead PolitickerNJ.com's The Year in Review 2007, our annual lists of Winners & Losers of the Year, Politician of the Year, Best & Worst Campaigns, People to Watch, Rising Stars, and much more.

The list of Best Operatives of 2007 is headed by Raiyan Sayed, who managed Jim Whelan's Senate race, and Tom Fitzsimmons, who ran the campaigns of Jennifer Beck for State Senate and Caroline Casagrande and Declan O'Scanlon for Assembly.

Find out why Rodney Frelinghuysen is tougher than he looks, why Don DiFrancesco doesn't shock us, how Joe Roberts made the worst prediction of 2007, and what Jim Devine, Gerald Lange, Malik Cupid, Chris Daul and Chris Thieme have in common.

To view this must-read feature, click here to subscribe to the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call, a daily e-mail of the best and most important news stories of the day.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM POLITICKERNJ.COM

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Sen.-elect/Assembyman Jim Whelan supports the presidential candidacy of Sen. Hillary Clinton, a determination he made shortly after his Nov. 6th victory in district 2, he told PolitickerNJ.com.

"I think she's our strongest candidate," said the former mayor of Atlantic City and one-term Democratic assemblyman who challenged and defeated Sen. Sonny McCullough.

Whelan said the last eight years under the stewardship of President George W. Bush by comparison make the Clinton years in the 1990s look very good.

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis today attacked Assemblyman/state Senator Elect Jim Whelan’s idea to get the state more involved with running Atlantic City’s troubled government. 

The Press of Atlantic City reported today that Whelan, a former Atlantic City mayor, discussed the prospect of increased state involvement with Gov. Corzine last month – an idea already likely to meet with resistance from the city’s Democratic mayor and council. 

The State of New Jersey telling Atlantic City how to govern is like taking sailing lessons from the captain of the Titanic.

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WHELAN GYPSY MOTH PREVENTION BILL ADVANCES
Measure Would Help Municipalities Fight Gypsy Moth Defoliation

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Jim Whelan crafted to combat the spread of gypsy moths in New Jersey was released from an Assembly committee. Read More >