VAN DREW URGES HORIZON AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA TO COME TO AGREEMENT

Legislators, Health Care Professionals, Patient’s Families Say Specialized Care for New Jersey’s Sickest Children Hangs in Balance

TRENTON – At a news conference in the Statehouse today, Senator Jeff Van Drew was joined by health care professionals, representatives of the Medical Society of New Jersey, and patients’ families to urge Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to enter into good-faith negotiations with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to allow thousands of the State’s sickest kids to continue to receive top-notch specialized pediatric health care.

“Many families in South Jersey have relied on Children’s Hospital through the years to provide the sort of specialized pediatric care for which they have built a world-wide reputation,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland. “However, Horizon’s decision to end their relationship with CHOP means that such world-class care will be inaccessible for thousands who subscribe to the State’s largest health insurer after March 11 – the cut-off date under the existing contract. Horizon needs to come to the negotiating table in good faith and ensure that New Jersey families continue to have access to the health care resources of the world’s best pediatric hospital.”

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Some pundits are wondering whether Democratic State Sen. Jefferson Van Drew made the wrong decision by decling to challenge U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo this year.  LoBiondowas re-elected to his eigth term in the House with 59%, his weakest showing since his unsuccessful 1992 campaign against Bill Hughes.  But LoBiondo didn't need to burn through his warchest in a race with a relatively unknown, underfinanced Democrat, Cape May City Councilman David Kurkowski; a race against Van Drew would have been exponentially more expensive, and LoBiondo would have been more engaged.

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One Democratic legislator from South Jersey, who asked that his name be withheld to keep him out of trouble, says that State Senator Jefferson Van Drew "screwed up" when he passed up a chance to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo this year.  "Look at the new Democratic voters in the district.  Look at the political environment... (Barack) Obama, the economy, George W. Bush, Iraq, (Sarah) Palin," the legislator told PolitickerNJ.com.  "Democrats are doing well in traditionally Republican areas and Frank is a Bush ally.  This was the best year to pick up the District 2 House seat and Van Drew was the best candidate." Read More >

VAN DREW/ALBANO/MILAM CALL RULING OF STATE POLICE RURAL PATROLS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE 'A VICTORY'

Council on Local Mandates' Decision Will Save Property Taxpayers Millions

(TRENTON) - First District Legislators Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam (all D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May) today hailed a decision of the State of New Jersey Council on Local Mandates declaring language in the fiscal year 2009 state budget to be an unfunded mandate 'a victory for property taxpayers.'

The language in question would have required the 89 municipalities that rely on rural State Police patrols to pay for the service, which carries a price tag of $12.6 million dollars.  The council, in a verbal statement, ruled that "line 8 on page 158 of the Annual Appropriations Act to line 17 on page 159, inclusive, constitutes an unfunded mandate and is null and void."

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VAN DREW, ALBANO AND MILAM URGE CORZINE AND REGULATORS TO PURSUE NJ BUSINESSES FOR WIND FARMS

Proposal for Small Wind Farm – 8 Turbines – Within NJ Waters Could Make State First in Nation to Harvest Off-Shore Wind Energy

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – First District Legislators, Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, today applauded Governor Corzine’s calls for triple the energy output to be produced by offshore wind farms by the year 2020, and urged State regulators to consider wind farm proposals from local businesses as part of the State’s renewable energy solution.

“Governor Corzine’s plans for the role of off-shore wind energy in New Jersey are going to have nation-wide and world-wide implications,” said Senator Van Drew. “If this is done the right way, it could be a great economic opportunity for South Jersey, and New Jersey will be the first-in-the-world to harvest significant amounts of energy from off-shore wind farms. However, to make these plans – and the Governor’s energy goals – a reality, we’re going to have to reach a critical mass, and open this up to other bidders.”

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VAN DREW BILL HALTING DEP ACCESS RULES TO MARINAS SIGNED INTO LAW

Measure Would Create Moratorium on Broad New Access Rules Deemed Too Drastic by Marina Owners

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which will delay implementation of new Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules to give the public broad access to private marina facilities in New Jersey was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

“The public has a right to access their waterways, but private marinas are an important part of the shore’s tourism economy,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland. “Each marina is not created the same, and owners need time to develop plans which address the unique issues surrounding access at their facility, including public safety, site operation, and geographic location. A delay in the implementation of DEP’s public access rules is simply a matter of fairness to people who’ve invested a lot of time and capital in the Jersey Shore.”

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VAN DREW, ALBANO, MILAM LAUD MILGRAM, STAFF
ON SUCCESS IN BEACH DUMPING CASE

(1st Legislative District) - Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam today applauded state Attorney General Anne Milgram and her staff upon learning that the person responsible for the illegal dumping of medical waste that washed up on New Jersey's beaches last week has been charged.

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BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Last year, with the popular state Senate candidate Jeff Van Drew heading up the ticket, Democrats swept the election in the 1st Legislative District. 

But after a narrow defeat last year, Republican Michael Donohue said today that he’s seriously mulling another bid for the Assembly seat, and that 2009 will likely be more advantageous for Republicans than 2007.

“I think it’s going to be very competitive, and I’m thinking about it,” said Donohue as he sat for breakfast with the Republican delegation this morning.

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VAN DREW, ALBANO, MILAM TO CRAFT BILL ENHANCING PENALTIES FOR FOULING BEACHES

(1st Legislative District) – Following recent closings of several South Jersey beaches because medical waste washed ashore, Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam today said they would introduce legislation to for the first time in years toughen penalties against illegal ocean dumping.

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Jeff Van Drew insists he won’t be a late entrant into the second district House race against Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a district where Democrats think Joe Biden’s presence at the top of the ticket could help a congressional candidate in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties – where some residents watch Delaware TV.  

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