NJN News; Friday April 4, 1997 [Master, Original]

Is Governor Whitman putting the brakes on her pledge to push through auto insurance reform? The answer from the court is no to former Jersey City Mayor Jerry McCann, a fatal explosion rocks an asphalt planted Winslow Township, a new approach to delivering health care to inner city residents. And we'll look at the issue of gay marriage. This is NJN News for Friday, April 4. As your funding for NJN News is made possible by Grant Strutton, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which believes that an informed citizen relieves to a healthy democracy.

The SENG, committed to serving customers, strengthening the business community, and investing in New Jersey's future. This union serves the financial needs of individuals and businesses from Connecticut to Florida. HIP Health Plan of New Jersey dedicated to providing quality health care to employees of large and small businesses, as well as individuals for two decades. And by Bell Atlantic, the heart of communication, in partnership with public television, serving to inform, enlighten, and educate the citizens of New Jersey. From NJN, the New Jersey Channel, the Emmy Award-winning NJN News with Kent Manahan, Dick Forney with Business, and Jerry Henry with Sports. Good evening.

Auto insurance reform is on a governmental obstacle course, as Governor Whitman scrambles to make good on her promise to bring the sky high cost down. New Jersey has the highest average auto insurance rates in the country, and the Governor wants to offer reduced rates if consumers limit their right to sue other drivers. But as Kent St. John reports, the legislature isn't stepping up to help her out. It's been that way for years, New Jersey drivers pay the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Many governors have attempted to lower premiums, but nothing has happened. In her state of the state, Governor Whitman said she would take a shot at auto insurance reform. And three weeks ago, laid out the 120-page proposal, and her hope that the legislature passed it before the election. However, today, it seems the governor is backing off that commitment. Some people are perceiving that you may have been hedging. No, not at all. Again, we have submitted the language that we want to see enacted to the legislature. It now has to go through the process, and we are working very hard to get it through the process, I say, I just wrote to the legislative leadership today urging them to expedite

put sponsors on it. But there's a process that goes behind every piece of legislation. Whitman's plan allows drivers to choose among four coverage options, which would have different degrees of legal protection in the case of an accident. Keeping the right to sue will cost you more. Parts of the plan have come under fire from Whitman's own party and some Democrats. All it is is you pay less because you get less coverage. You can do that for almost anything. But this very long, complicated, in quotes, it will apparently doesn't have the votes in the legislature. Observer say that political factors figure into the governor's decision to back off the insurance reform plan. There are special interest groups that have already started a special defund to fight it. So to pretend in a season when there are not that many more sessions for the legislature, that we're going to get everything accomplished would be naive and pandering, and I won't do that to the people. In one Democrat, hoping to challenge Whitman in the fall, the state senator Jim McGreevey said quote, the governor gave away the store to the insurance industry and now she walks away from a fight when she should be helping consumers lower cost.

Well, this is someone who has offered absolutely no proposal whatsoever except say, let's have an elected official who may be four years from now will deal with this problem. I didn't give away the store. Critics say governor Whitman's auto insurance reform plan was hastily written and they say that it's just another election year employed. However, it still doesn't have a sponsor in the Senate or the assembly and it remains to be seen whether voters will vent their anger over this latest scenario when it comes time to go to the polls. I think that we do need reform. It was one of her promises. Kent St. John, NJN News. Former Jersey City Mayor Jerry McCann will not be permitted to run for that office again this year. A Hudson County judge ruled today that the convicted felons federal supervised release is the same as probation, making him ineligible to run in the may election. Only registered voters can run in New Jersey. McCann's lawyers contend supervised release is not specifically excluded by state law. I believe that the attorney general's motivation is definitely political, certainly not the

judge's decision. The judge made his decision based upon what he thought was the law. We're pleased that the judge saw the merits and accepted the merits of our legal position on this matter. McCann refused to comment on the decision. His attorney will file an appeal in the case on Monday. It looks like a spark from a welding equipment piece is to blame for a deadly explosion at a candid county asphalt company. The accident happened before 8 o'clock this morning at the Crowfoot asphalt company in Winslow Township. Authorities say the spark apparently ignited a 55-gallon drum containing methyl alcohol. An unidentified welder is dead. His co-worker, 53-year-old Barry Zyber, is in critical condition at Cooper Hospital. The State Board of Public Utilities is looking into how GPU handled power outages following Monday night spring snowstorm. The BPU says it's a routine investigation to be sure the utility was prepared to respond promptly and adequately, and 32,000 North Jersey customers were left without power. If necessary, a written report and recommendations would be made that won't be known for several

weeks. Today, 20 homes in Sussex County were still without electricity, but all of them have now been returned and put back online. It was once the star of devices dedicated to producing the alternative power source known as fusion. But today, the $1.7 billion Tocomac Fusion Test Reactor on the forestall campus at Princeton University produced its final burst of energy. The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is a victim of federal funding cuts and a congressional mandate to shift the focus of the nation's fusion research from domestic to international efforts. 200 of the lab's 500 physicists and engineers will be laid off in June. In 1994, Tocomac drew worldwide attention for producing the most powerful controlled fusion reaction ever, the equivalent of 6.2 million watts, enough to power several thousand homes for a short period of time. June, a comprehensive healthcare center with a different touch will open its doors in orange.

The one-stop-shop facility is designed to meet the needs of the community. Belinda Morton has a preview. The Essex Comprehensive Healthcare Plus Center offers quality care with an upscale touch. The facility, possibly the first of its kind, geared to an inner-city community, will provide a variety of services to HMO patients in a pleasant and comfortable setting. This facility is unique because it was built based on what the community wanted. They told us they did not want hard chairs. They did not want anything that was unacceptable for them to use. As the day core clearly indicates, aesthetically the community got what it wanted. And doctors here say it will also get the quality healthcare it needs. Dr. Chuck Bowers, President and CEO made it happen. With the changing environment in healthcare, the mandate from the state that all Medicaid patients have to go HMO. And with the different pay statuses with the HMO and manage care, we felt that there was a need to be able to get those patients who needed it from the inner-city who for

so long had been underserved, a forum whereby they could gain access, comfortable access to manage care systems. Those who wish to browse while waiting can check out the artwork of local artists. Children can entertain themselves in this colorful playroom. And the color-coded department system makes it simple for patients who might have difficulty reading. It's really cutting-edge in terms of what the African-American community needs. They have a special philosophy here, and that is to give patients no matter how poor they might be, good service, the quality of care they're entitled to, and the respect they deserve. It's more than just see patients and make money. It's about how you treat the patients, the respect that they deserve, and the quality that they should receive just from walking in through the door. An open house for the community will be held tomorrow. The facility will be accepting patients as early as next week. Linda Morton, JN News, Malaysia.

Still to come tonight on NJN News, should gay marriages be allowed in New Jersey? And the state again takes control of ticket prices. If you have a comment, call NJN News at 1-800-Jersey-1, or our email address, NJN News at ALL.com. If you have a comment, call NJN News at 1-800-Jersey-1, or our email address at ALL.com. The cap is back.

As of midnight last night, the law controlling the sale of tickets to concerts and sporting events in the garden state was back in force. The state had suspended the scalping ban for 18 months to study the effect it would have on ticket prices. But nobody could agree on the effects of the free market test. So it's now back to the 20 percent cap above the face value of the ticket. Gay rights, gay partners, gay marriage. All issues that our justice system continues to wrestle with. That's the focus of this week's due process program. And the reason Sandra King is standing by in our New York newsroom tonight. Sandy? Hi, Kent. New Jersey may have the most liberal gay rights laws in the country. So why are gay professors at the state university charging Rutgers with discrimination? Their charges are in a suit now headed for the state Supreme Court. Well, I had received the health benefits in 92 when we first requested it. I feel strongly that Steve would still be alive today. I don't really have much doubt about that.

Steve was Bill Mayo's longtime companion, his domestic partner for 18 years. He died of AIDS four years ago. And Mayo, a professor of ceramic engineering, insists that Rutgers may be to blame. There were, he claims, doctors and drugs and treatments that Steve was forced to pass up. Things that could have been covered by the state's health benefits plan, if Steve had been considered a dependent or a spouse. You don't like that, huh? So Bill Mayo is an enthusiastic plaintiff in a suit designed to extend health benefits to the partners of other Rutgers faculty and staff, a suit that so far has failed. Unfortunately, the university is trying to push the blame off to the state. The state in turn is pushing the blame off to the legislature. The legislature says it's not our concern. It is a public interest. They're clearly violating the logins discrimination where they're discriminating on marital status and sexual orientation and also equal protection under the state constitution.

Some gay rights activists like Gina Reese and her domestic partner Wendy Berger say the irony is that in most other respects, New Jersey leads the country in its liberal gay rights laws. Jersey should be ashamed of itself. We are on the cutting edge and leading the fight for full equality in the nation. Not no other state has the laws that we have in New Jersey. And to be behind on the issue of domestic partnership is insane. Neither Gina nor Wendy works for the state, but they see the Rutgers fight as their own and they hope that if they win there, gay marriage might be next. This is going to be interesting too. They're going to do like a sister, sister, Cuba delegation. They already wear rings to mark their commitment and like most long time domestic partners, they have those protections that can be gained by contract, but those they say go just so far. You can have them, but they're often overturned and challenged. So it doesn't have the stature that a marriage license has. Things like taxes and inheritance and the ability to have who you want be your next

of kin and to have those kinds of things are still issues that we're fighting for. But the opposition to gay marriage runs deep in New Jersey. It starts with the governor and a ban on gay marriage, like the one that passed the Congress last year, is now pending in our legislature. So true believers on both sides of the question will go head to head on this week's due process. That Sunday morning at 10 can't hear on and Jan. Tazzy, thank you. There were a real political fireworks in Atlantic City yesterday. Donald Trump lashed out at the Whitman administration and state senator Bill Gormley for their efforts to move the Atlantic City Marina tunnel forward. Our two political insiders, Republican Roger Bodman and Democrat Jim McQueenie, were at the event they disagree on the handling of the project that's at the heart of this dispute. Jim there's a battle of the Titans going on in Atlantic City, but sometimes as you know you got a look of a little bit below the surface to find out what's really going on. You know on the surface of things down there, an unknown named Don Hurley's, a policeman

in Atlantic City, has run against longtime powerful state senator Bill Gormley. But it's really Donald Trump behind the scenes that's putting in the money they say and really causing Gormley all kinds of headaches. Well I tell you Roger, it's hard to find myself in agreement with Trump, but on this one he's really onto something. This tunnel project they're talking about, the state is going to contribute $300 million or so with the private developer, Steve Win picking up maybe $20 or $30 million of that, about 10% or so. To get a tunnel from the expressway over to another part of Atlantic City, a way mind you from Trump's plan. Well, we can argue the merits or de-marits of that particular tunnel proposal and you know I happen to disagree with you. I think it's a great idea in Atlantic City needs that kind of infrastructure to spur billions of dollars worth of development. But be that as it may. The political issue here really is Donald Trump not only versus Gormley, but now versus Christine Todd Whitman. He came out swinging at her yesterday just as well. But he's making a pretty good point again. It's hard to find agreement with Donald Trump when he says things, but in this case here that great sucking sound you hear is basically all that money for road improvements around

the rest of the state being sucked in for private development. That's Vegas if you're building this high. Not only are you generally politically off track, in this case in terms of the infrastructure and transportation improvements here off track, you know, there's $1.8 billion construction program. My former life as you know, I was a DOT commissioner of this state, a $1.8 billion construction program this year put being put out by the state DOT. A small portion of that less than $100 million is going to Atlantic City. Roger, it doesn't take into account the fact that many of the mayors that we saw there were all worried about that money being drained from their projects, Route 17, 4, Route 10. That was Bergen County, Jim Bergen County is the number one. Jim Bergen County is the number one recipient of transportation money. It's the politics to watch. Well, be that as it may. Steve Win is an exactly coming to a place of rotting board wax walks and mud flats and I think he can afford to pay his way around the rest of the state pay for the toll. Meanwhile, we'll have to see how it develops meanwhile back to you. Good thing they weren't in the same studio.

Coming up next on NJNU, so look at the day's business happenings, unemployment numbers are in. Are they really as good as they seem? The Bergen County luxury car company recalls a popular model. Is there more to this story than just the hard numbers, Dick? Well, Kent, here's a little test.

Chewer faults, unemployment is down. That's good news. Yes, of course. Well, depends on who you talk to in this case. The White House, however, is crowing about the latest jobs data. The Labor Department in Washington says the national unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percent in March. That pegs the jobless rate at 5.2 percent of the available workforce. According to the government, there were 175,000 new jobs added to payrolls last month, and nationally, wages rose. But Patrick Gogan, an economist with the New York New Jersey Economic Research Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University, says numbers on jobs creation are misleading. We're saying that we're gaining jobs in the service sector, that on average are lower quality, lower paying jobs, even though there are some very high paying service sector jobs, such as in the financial sector, and we're losing goods producing, manufacturing jobs. And the end result is that the gains are not as great as what the unadjusted numbers show. Gogan, study says that if the type of jobs being created is taken into account, New

Jersey actually has gained 16 percent fewer jobs in the post-recession 90s than the numbers would indicate. Gloucester County-based checkpoint systems has called off a proposed merger with Altrak Corporation of Texas. Checkpoint says it had insurmountable conflicts with Altrak over marketing methods. Late yesterday, checkpoint also warned that its first quarter earnings will come in well below expectations. Well, that double whammy sent checkpoint stock into freefall today, falling nearly $3 a share. Checkpoint is what of South Jersey's largest employers making and marketing electronic surveillance systems and closed circuit TV used for security purposes. It also makes electronic tags for merchandise used to prevent shoplifting. My wall-based Jaguar USA is recalling about 2,400 of its hot selling XK-8s. Jaguar says they need to inspect the rear suspension for a possible defect that could cause a rear wheel to collapse in extreme conditions. The sleek, expensive roadsters have been a key to the revival of the British carmaker,

which has traveled some rough road because of reliability problems with its vehicles. The Maytag repairman may get lonelier into Jersey. This guy works for PSE and G, yes, the utility. Public service has gotten regulatory approval to get into the appliance repair business. Under the plan, PSE and G can offer service contracts on air conditioning systems, ranges, ovens, dryers, and hot water heaters, regardless of the age of the appliance. The utility says it's ready to compete with other appliance repair services, such as those offered by Sears and General Electric. Finally, a good day for stocks. After five losing sessions, the markets ended a dismal week on a high note to Dow industrial's gain 48 and 3 quarters today, to close the week at the 65-26 level. However, for the week, the Dow lost more than 214 points or 3.2 percent of its value. The Abec's composite was trimmed another point today, but the NASDAQ composite had a second day of strong recovery, with a gain of about 23 points.

And the standard of poorest 500 added 7.5. Bond, however, took it on the chin in light of the decline in March on employment, with the benchmark 30-year treasury off 20-30 seconds, and it's yield rising to 7.12 percent. Those unemployment figures can't pretend, perhaps a strong economy, and once again, the likelihood they say that the Fed will raise interest rates again. You haven't been able to talk like that about stocks, though, quite a while. No, not for a while. All right, Dick, thank you. Still to come tonight. A look at our fabulous weather forecast just ahead, and Jerry's here now with a look at what's coming up at sports. Well, Kent, yesterday it was Rutgers, today, Rutgers, today, Ryder names in New Head Coach, the story next. Well, the other are you, God, a new coach, too, and they've kind of kept it all in the

family. That's right. It didn't take long, Kent. Ryder University didn't have to go far to fill Kevin Van and Spot. His move to Rutgers yesterday gave one of his old protege's a chance to move up. I really only have one word to say, and that's yes. After 10 years of serving as an assistant to former Ryder coach, Kevin Van and Don Harnham can now add head coach to his resume. The Harnham Van and connection spans a decade and includes years at the College of New Jersey, as well as Ryder. Now that Van and has moved on to Rutgers, Harnham now gets to show what he's learned from his mentor. He couldn't figure out why when he was on his way for the final interview at Rutgers that I held the door open for him. I had a big red carpet that went right to his car and there was a band playing right next

to his car. I didn't hire him, Kevin. I don't know what that was about. The two help guide Ryder to a 14 and 14 record this season. Harnham says they have basically the same coaching philosophy, therefore he won't change a lot with the program. However, aside from the X's and O's, there's a very personal side to the new appointments for both men. He was the best man in my wedding, his wife and my wife are best friends, and actually his wife is how I met my wife, so yeah, it's tough. I think it's going to be tough for him, just to comradery every day in the office and just the comfort level that we both have with each other. We do think a lot of like, and that might be one of the toughest things that we're both going to have to deal with right now is not seeing him every day, and I'm sure in the off season we're still going to see each other a lot, but with the schedule that you have during the season, it's going to be really tough. And Bannon says they won't play each other, so don't look for a Rutgers Ryder series. The devil's take on the Tampa Bay, a Tampa Bay tonight at the Metallands, New Jersey

still one point behind the first place flyers in the Eastern Conference, and New Giants said Coach Jim Fossil had his first look at his team in spring drills today. He says he likes what he sees so far. James, for whatever reason, they seem very receptive for change. All these guys, and I told them last night, if you think that all the problems with this 6 and 10 walked out the door with the last staff were in trouble. It has to be, we have to take it upon ourselves, he's never got it, everybody's going to pick it up. That time in the season, we were talking about football, they've still got a little basket ball going, and of course hockey is still in full swing. And the compliments at this time in the year for football. Right. They rock. Well, another beautiful day across New Jersey today, highs got into the upper 60s in most places. The Atlantic City State Marina reported in at 75 degrees this afternoon, and there's more of this nice weather to come for the weekend. A look at our air quality, cold, yellow conditions ahead for the northeastern part of the state for tomorrow.

And here's a look at the forecast in northern New Jersey for tonight, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s overnight, tomorrow, a mostly sunny day, highs in the mid 60s. In South Jersey, tonight, clear, lows in the mid 40s, tomorrow, sunny with highs in the mid 60s. Well, what's yellow in bloom right now and a sure sign of spring, daffodils, thousands of them. And what a lovely sight on a beautiful day, daffodils, everywhere you look here in Mount Holley, 60,000 of them planted throughout the historic town, in front of the courthouse, the library, and the firehouse. Just about everybody in town got involved in the planting project for kids to business owners. And now they're reaping the pleasurable benefits. And if you want to mark your calendar, Mount Holley will host its annual daffodil festival arts and craft show Saturday, April 19th. That's our news for tonight. I'm Kent Manahan for Dick and Jerry and all of us enjoy the weekend. And everyone, we'll see you again on Monday night.