Corzine Announces Additional Advisory Groups Distinguished panels to advise transition leadership on implementing Corzine Agenda.
State of New Jersey
Office of the Governor-Elect
240 WEST STATE STREET
PO Box 022
Trenton NJ 08625-0022
For Immediate Release
December 5, 2005
Corzine Announces Additional Advisory Groups
Distinguished panels to advise transition leadership on implementing Corzine Agenda
TRENTON - Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine today announced the formation of six Policy and Management Advisory Groups that will give recommendations on how best to implement the detailed agenda he outlined during the campaign.
The announced policy groups will address Budget and Reengineering Government; Property Tax Reform; Economic Development; Labor and Workforce Development; Child Welfare; and Public Education.
Throughout the course of the transition these groups will map out short and long-term strategies for implementing the Governor-elect’s policy goals. Additionally, they will single out and examine critical issues that need to be addressed within the first six months of the administration.
“I’m proud that these groups of outstanding individuals are willing to help my administration tackle the many problems facing New Jersey today,” Corzine said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I’m confident in the abilities that these individuals bring to our transition team.”
Members of the groups will provide factual information and honest assessments and will be tasked with compiling a written report of recommendations to be delivered to the Governor-elect prior to his inauguration. Corzine, who previously announced the Ethics Policy and Management Advisory Group, will announce the remaining policy groups shortly.
The co-chairs of each Policy Management and Advisory Group are listed below.
Budget and Reengineering Government: The Budget and Reengineering Government Policy Group will assess the state's current fiscal situation and examine ways to improve management of government expenditures. The group will work on Corzine's plans for a new "outcome-based" budgeting process, a separate capital budget and capital planning process, a two-year model for budgeting with five-year projections and a number of cost-saving strategies like bulk purchasing of prescription drugs and upgrading technology platforms within state agencies.
Co-chairs: Barry L. Zubrow, President, ITB LLC; Pamela T. Miller, Vice President for Market Development for the Government Sector, Medco Health Solutions; and Joshua S. Weston, Honorary Chairman and former CEO of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Property Tax Reform: The Property Tax Policy Group will recommend a process for implementing the Responsible, Effective, Accountable and Lasting (REAL) Plan, including increased direct rebates to homeowners and renters, the holding of a citizens' property tax convention and a Special Session of the Legislature to address the state's overall reliance on property taxes to fund local government.
Co-chairs: Rev. Reginald Jackson, Executive Director, Black Ministers’ Council of New Jersey; Marilyn Askin, State President, AARP; Peter Cantu, Outgoing President, New Jersey State League of Municipalities and Mayor of Plainsboro.
Economic Development: The Economic Development Policy Group will examine opportunities in New Jersey's top economic sectors and lay out a comprehensive plan to invest, leverage and grow the economy. Among other initiatives, the group will discuss establishing the “Governor’s Office of Economic Growth,” creating a New Jersey Trade Representative, promoting job creation in our port regions and establishing the Edison Innovation Fund to grow technology and life sciences jobs in New Jersey.
Co-chairs: Fred Hassan, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Schering-Plough; Rosemary McFadden, Former President & CEO, New York Mercantile Exchange; Frank Spencer, Executive Secretary/Treasurer, New Jersey Carpenters Council; Ken Parker, President, Atlantic City Electric.
Labor and Workforce Development: The Labor and Workforce Development Policy Group will address a number of key issues including ensuring New Jersey has a skilled workforce to support a vibrant economy, worker training and education, workplace safety issues and more.
Co-chairs: Barbara Armand, President, Armand Group; Albert Kroll, former Labor Commissioner; Susan Michielli, President, UFCW Local 1360; Charles Wowkanech, President, NJ AFL-CIO.
Child Welfare: Fixing the child welfare system is a priority for Corzine. The Child Welfare Policy Group will evaluate the best ways to accomplish real improvements, including considering alterations in the structure of the system, ascertaining funding and training needs and identifying concrete actions and practices to implement the ideas brought forth by the members of the Policy Group.
Co-chairs: Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, Shiloh Baptist Church; Cecilia Zalkind, Director, Association for Children of New Jersey; Robert L. Johnson M.D., Professor and Interim Chair of Pediatrics, UMDNJ
Public Education: The Public Education Policy Group will discuss and make recommendations for expanding full-day kindergarten and preschool programs; increasing the rigor of school curriculums, with an emphasis on math, science, technology, world languages, and financial literacy; increasing the availability of after school programs; improving special education throughout the state and other critical issues.
Co-chairs: Arthur F. Ryan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prudential Financial Inc.; Joyce Powell, President, New Jersey Education Association; Dr. Susan Fuhrman, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Orlando Edreira, Professor of Spanish, Kean University; Richard W. Roper, Founder and President, The Roper Group.