January 27, 2010
Christie Nominates Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, Executive Director of School Development Authority Board.
Governor Chris Christie today nominated Dr. Poonam Alaigh, to serve as Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and Marc Larkins to serve as Executive Director of the New Jersey School Development Authority Board.
Dr. Alaigh is the Executive Director at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey where she is responsible for the major clinical areas that ensure the delivery of healthcare. Prior to joining Horizon BCBSNJ, Dr. Alaigh served as National Medical Director for GlaxoSmithKline and was working with health plans on a number of national issues, including better use of health care technology, the reduction of disparities in health care and healthcare access to the under and uninsured population.
Dr. Alaigh continues her clinical work at the New Jersey Veterans Administration at Lyons, providing direct patient care and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice at UMDNJ / Robert Wood Johnson University Medical School. Dr. Alaigh has had publications in the field of vascular disease and population health. She is a board certified internist with a specialty in vascular diseases and is certified as a Diplomate in Internal Medicine and licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, India and received her MD and her Masters in Health Care Policy and Management at State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY.
Dr. Alaigh is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, one of the founding members of SATHI (South Asian Total Healthcare Initiative) a program of the UMDNJ-RWJMS in New Jersey, is the past president and current member of the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, Northern New Jersey chapter and the Founders' affiliate. She was appointed to serve on Governor-Elect Corzine's Transition Team on health care policy, strategies and issues in 2005. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the College of New Jersey in 2007. Dr Alaigh currently resides in Warren, New Jersey.
Larkins is an Assistant United States Attorney in the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. He has held the titles of Executive Assistant US Attorney, Acting First Assistant US Attorney and Acting Executive US Attorney. Larkins also worked in a number of Divisions within the US Attorney's office, including serving as Chief of the Government Fraud Unit. As Chief, he was responsible for the supervision of investigations of fraud committed against federal agencies and programs.
Prior to serving in the US Attorney's office, Mr. Larkins was a Trail Attorney in the US Department of Justice, Criminal Division from 1999 to March of 2003, where he was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of international and domestic narcotics trafficking organizations. Concurrently, from February of 2000 to March of 2002, Mr. Larkins was Special Assistant US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
He is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and he earned his B.S., Magna Cum Laude, from Seton Hall University. Mr. Larkins currently resides in Irvington, New Jersey.
Fisher to Remain Agriculture Secretary
Governor Chris Christie this week indicated his support for Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher continuing in his position. Unlike administration officials whom the governor selects, the secretary of Agriculture is appointed by the State Board of Agriculture. Fisher's appointment was approved by former Gov. Jon Corzine on Feb. 10, 2009. Fisher replaced Charles M. Kuperus as Agriculture Secretary. Fisher, a Democrat, was a four-term assemblyman from the 3rd District. He also previously served on the Cumberland County Board of Freeholders, where he was director from 1996 to 2000; the Bridgeton City Council; the South Jersey Economic Development District; and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. Fisher served in the New Jersey National Guard and owned a supermarket for 30 years. He also was a realtor and owned The Entrepreneur's Source, which aids people seeking business and franchise opportunities. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bryant College in Rhode Island. He and his wife, Bonnie, have three children.
Senate Committee Membership Announced
Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Republican Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. have announced Senate committee membership as follows:
Budget and Appropriations - Group 2
Senator Paul A. Sarlo (D36) - Chair
Senator Brian P. Stack (D33) - Vice Chair
Senator James Beach (D6)
Senator Barbara Buono (D18)
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (D31)
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D29)
Senator Shirley K. Turner (D15)
Senator Jeff Van Drew (D1)
Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R25)
Senator Michael J. Doherty (R23)
Senator Kevin J. O'Toole (R40)
Senator Steven V. Oroho (R24)
Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R26)
Commerce - Group 2
Senator Nia H. Gill, Esq. (D34) - Chair
Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D20) - Vice Chair
Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D22)
Senator Gerald Cardinale, D.D.S. (R39)
Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R21)
Community and Urban Affairs - Group 1
Senator Jeff Van Drew (D1) - Chair
Senator Ronald L. Rice (D28) - Vice Chair
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D29)
Senator Christopher J. Connors (R9)
Senator Philip E. Haines (R8)
Economic Growth - Group 3
Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D20) - Chair
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (D31) - Vice Chair
Senator Richard J. Codey (D27)
Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D19)
Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. (R13)
Senator Steven V. Oroho (R24)
Senator Robert W. Singer (R30)
Education - Group 3
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D29) - Chair
Senator Jim Whelan (D2) - Vice Chair
Senator Shirley K. Turner (D15)
Senator Diane B. Allen (R7)
Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R21)
Environment and Energy - Group 3
Senator Bob Smith (D17) - Chair
Senator Robert M. Gordon (D38) - Vice Chair
Senator James Beach (D6)
Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R16)
Senator Jennifer Beck (R12)
Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
Senator Loretta D. Weinberg (D37) - Chair
Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D19) - Vice Chair
Senator Robert M. Gordon (D38)
Senator Fred H. Madden, Jr. (D4)
Senator Ronald L. Rice (D28)
Senator Jim Whelan (D2)
Senator Diane B. Allen (R7)
Senator Bill Baroni (R14)
Senator Sean T. Kean (R11)
Senator Robert W. Singer (R30)
Judiciary - Group 4
Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D22) - Chair
Senator John A. Girgenti (D35) - Vice Chair
Senator Nia H. Gill, Esq. (D34)
Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D20)
Senator Paul A. Sarlo (D36)
Senator Bob Smith (D17)
Senator Brian P. Stack (D33)
Senator Loretta D. Weinberg (D37)
Senator Bill Baroni (R14)
Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R16)
Senator Jennifer Beck (R12)
Senator Gerald Cardinale, D.D.S. (R39)
Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. (R13)
Labor - Group 1
Senator Fred H. Madden, Jr. (D4) - Chair
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (D31) - Vice Chair
Senator James Beach (D6)
Senator Richard J. Codey (D27)
Senator Michael J. Doherty (R23)
Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R26)
Law and Public Safety - Group 2
Senator John A. Girgenti (D35) - Chair
Senator Donald Norcross (D5) - Vice Chair
Senator Nicholas J. Sacco (D32)
Senator Andrew R. Ciesla (R10)
Senator Philip E. Haines (R8)
Military and Veterans' Affairs - Group 4
Senator James Beach (D6) - Chair
Senator Jeff Van Drew (D1) - Vice Chair
Senator Ronald L. Rice (D28)
Senator Christopher J. Connors (R9)
Senator Philip E. Haines (R8)
State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation - Group 4
Senator Jim Whelan (D2) - Chair
Senator Robert M. Gordon (D38) - Vice Chair
Senator Shirley K. Turner (D15)
Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R25)
Senator Kevin J. O'Toole (R40)
Transportation - Group 1
Senator Nicholas J. Sacco (D32) - Chair
Senator Donald Norcross (D5) - Vice Chair
Senator John A. Girgenti (D35)
Senator Andrew R. Ciesla (R10)
Senator Sean T. Kean (R11)
Legislative Oversight
Senator Barbara Buono (D18) - Chair
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D29) - Vice Chair
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham (D31)
Senator Paul A. Sarlo (D36)
Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R21)
Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. (R13)
Assembly Leaders Announce Bi-Partisan Hearing on Improving New Jersey
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce announced the Assembly will host a special bipartisan public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 2 to hear first-hand from New Jerseyans their ideas on fixing and improving the state. The hearing is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. in Committee Room 11 at the State House Annex in Trenton. Anyone wishing to testify is urged to make a reservation by calling the Legislative Budget and Finance Office at 609-292-8030 or by sending an e-mail to lbfo@njleg.org.
The membership of the Bi-Partisan Leadership Committee is:
Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver (D34) - Co-Chair
Assemblyman Alex DeCroce (R26) - Co-Chair
Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick (R21)
Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D20)
Assemblyman Jerry Green (D22)
Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (D6)
Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone, III (R30)
Assemblywoman Nelida "Nellie" Pou (D35)
Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (D32)
Assemblyman David P. Rible (R11)
Assemblyman Scott T. Rumana (R40)
Assemblyman Samuel D. Thompson (R13)