Rutgers University

GREGG BLASTS DECISION BY RUTGERS TO SELL ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE TO FOOTBALL COACH

TURNER BILL URGING RUTGERS PARTICIPATION IN COMBATING FLOODS PASSES SENATE

TRENTON - The Senate approved a resolution today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would request that Rutgers University assist the "Flood Mitigation Task Force" in determining the causes and potential solutions to flooding in New Jersey.

"Mercer County has faced more than its fair share of floods over the last few years," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. "Fortunately, with advanced planning and constant maintenance of our dams and waterways, we can reduce the frequency and severity of floods. In order for these plans to be as comprehensive as possible, we need to get input from the State's best and brightest - and for New Jersey that means getting Rutgers involved."

CODEY BILL TO FUND WORLD-CLASS STEM CELL INSTITUTE
RECEIVES THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE FULL SENATE

TRENTON -- New Jersey's stem cell agenda moved forward with resounding approval today as the full Senate voted 29 to 10 to approve S-1471, a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, which would allocate funding to build a world-class stem cell institute. The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, allocates $250 million in unused bond capacity for construction of a $150 million stem cell institute in New Brunswick, a $50 million joint biomedical research facility in Camden, and a $50 million adult stem cell research facility at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark.

TURNER BILL URGES RUTGERS PARTICIPATION IN COMBATING FLOODS

TRENTON - The Senate Environment Committee approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would request that Rutgers University assist the "Flood Mitigation Task Force" in determining the causes and potential solutions to flooding in New Jersey.

"Floods are one of the few natural disasters that New Jersey has had to face on a regular basis," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. "Fortunately, with advanced planning and constant maintenance of our dams and waterways, we can reduce the frequency and severity of floods."

With the election of Cory Booker as Mayor of Newark, look his close friend and law partner, Elnardo Webster II, to play an increasingly significant role in state politics. The 37-year-old Webster played All-State football at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City and was an All-American football player at Rutgers. He played professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers before an injury prematurely ended his career.

Webster returned to Rutgers to get an MBA and a law degree. He worked for a politically active law firm, Sills Cummis Radin Tischman Epstein & Gross, before forming a new firm with Booker after the 2002 election. He played a major role in the election of Glenn Cunningham as Mayor of Jersey City. Webster also has a sort of political pedigree: his father won 15% of the vote against Frank Lautenberg in the 1988 Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

PALLONE CALLS FOR MERGER OF RUTGERS & UMDNJ IN NEW BRUNSWICK AREA

PALLONE JOINS STUDENT PROTESTERS;
HIDES HIS VOTES AGAINST EDUCATION
Here we go again; Pallone plays politics with Education and National Security

Union Beach – Frank Pallone, has been in Washington so long, he forgets what he’s voted for – or against. Recently, Pallone attended a rally at Rutgers University’s “Tent State� where he spoke about the need to increase funding for education and retreat from the Global War on Terror.

Unfortunately, Pallone forgot to mention that he voted AGAINST increased funding for our public schools in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

“Education is vitally important to the future of our country and should be more affordable; but, not at the expense of our nation’s security or the needs of our Troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are not mutually exclusive issues�, said Leigh-Ann Bellew, Candidate for the 6th Congressional District. “Mr. Pallone must realize if we don’t fight the terrorists where they live, they will be fighting us where we live and where we send our students to colleges and universities.�

Pallone voted “NO� on the following education appropriation measures:

 2005 (HR3010 - Appropriation to Departments of Labor, Health, Human Services.)
 $59.24 billion for Education, including:

- $15.08 billion for Student Financial Assistance
- $14.63 billion for Education for the Disadvantaged
- $11.77 billion for Special Education during academic years 2006 and 2007
- $5.31 billion for school improvement programs

 2003 (HR 2660- Appropriation Department of Labor, Health, Human Services and Education)
 2002 (HR4775- Supplement including a supplement of $1 Billion to avert a shortfall in Pell Grant Program)

“Pallone has allowed party politics to blind his judgment. He says one thing when he’s in the district and votes another when he’s in Washington�, said Bellew. “We would be better off if Pallone would use his influence with his friend Governor Corzine and ask that the cuts be stopped.�

It’s time that Pallone spends more time working FOR our students and our country and stop the political grandstanding at protests.

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BRYANT: STEM CELL BILL MEANS JOBS, OPPORTUNITY FOR SOUTH JERSEY

TRENTON - Senator Wayne Bryant, who helped write the $250 million stem cell bill now pending in the Senate, said the technical amendments approved today ensure that the $50 million facility in South Jersey will be at the Camden campus of Rutgers University.

"What's now clarified is that the facility will be at Rutgers," Senator Bryant said. "This is a great development for biomedical research, candidates for doctoral degrees and thousands of career-track job applicants."

BRYANT & SARLO IMPROVE STEM-CELL FACILITIES FUNDING

TRENTON - The Senate today amended Senate President Richard J. Codey's stem-cell research bill to add $50 million for the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The measure, which will face a floor vote in the Senate next Monday also would provide $150 million for a stem-cell facility in New Brunswick and $50 million for a biomedical research and education facility in Camden.

Senator Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, Passaic and Essex, moved the amendment to include NJIT and said the funds would foster "commercialization of products based on research on adult stem cells. NJIT will be working on developing commercial products that will be generated from research on adult stem cells. It will not be involved with embryonic stem cells."

COHEN/MCKEON STEM CELL RESEARCH BILL CLEARS ASSEMBLY PANEL