New Jersey continues to be the land of corruption as money from Connecticut helping reelect NJ congressman Frank Pallone gets into his way of FDA oversight.

The 2008 Campaign Money Flow To Frank Pallone

Pallone FDA Oversight Of Campaign Contributor RenGen

Connecticut residents Gerald Bisbee and his wife contributed $32,100 to the New Jersey candidates.  Gerald Bisbee is the Chief Executive of RenGen Biologics. His $2,300 contribution came on 10/31/2008, days before the election. Gerald also contributed $1,000 on 12/29/2007 for the first round of attention. The $3,300 total is 17.5% of the $18,650 received from Connecticut for Pallone’s 2008 campaign spending.

ReGen is headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey and operates a manufacturing facility in Redwood City, California. All three states are controlled by the Democrat party.

Prior to the 2008 election ReGen was having trouble getting a “fast track” FDA approval for Menaflex, a knee implant designed to treat meniscus tears, the most common type of knee injury. The FDA scientists in August 2006 and September 2007 had concerns that the knee implant would require the longer approval process that requires field testing.

The problem arose when RenGen election contributions from Gerald Bisbee found its way to Frank Pallone as well as NJ Senator Robert Menedez, NJ Senator Frank Lautenberg and NJ US House Representative Steve Rothman. Other RenGen officers also started making donations in 2007 when the knee device was rejected for fast tracking a second time. The Wall Street Journal picked up on the connection on 4/7/2009 while everyone was getting ready to file taxes and the Tea Party movement was getting underway. The total Frank Pallone received is $8,900 from all RenGen executives.

GAO Concludes FDA Fast Tracking Fails

FDA “fast tracking” has come under scrutiny in a GAO (United Stated General Accountability Office) January 2009 report.  The Democrat Senator Henry Waxman’s Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 provided FDA flexibility to elevate many medical devices to undergo a more stringent approval process requiring more proof the devices are safe. The GAO report concludes that the Waxman act  has failed! This is part of the reason the knee device safety testing was circumvented and is now in the hands of unsuspecting orthopedic doctors and patients.

March 6, 2009 FDA Special Treatment Emails Uncovered

As soon as the 2008 elections were over, ReGen’s Menaflex was fast tracked. The Wall Street Journal has obtained internal emails revealing FDA help to ReGen to resubmit Menaflex for fast tracking a third time. The WSJ article quotes Andrew von Eschenbach, who was head of the FDA through December 2008, “There’s something wrong with how that decision [to go the fast-track route] was made…”.

Pallone Heads A House Oversight Committee on FDA

The controversy has spilled into Congressional investigations with the House Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep Frank Pallone who received contributions from RenGen is the Chairperson of the Committee. The Wall Street Journal also picked up this controversy:

“Further complicating matters is that the chair of Thursday’s hearing, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D., N.J.), contacted the FDA on behalf of ReGen to discuss the knee device, and received $8,900 in campaign contributions from the company’s executives last year.”

“Mr. Pallone has said there is nothing unethical in his calling the FDA on behalf of a constituent from his home state.”

The Pallone statement is troublesome for two reasons: One is contributors not all being constituents in NJ or in his district. Two he is part of FDA oversight for the voters. The real constituents were not served! During summer TownHalls, representatives like Pallone are quick to dismiss constituents not in their districts. Connecticut is apparently an exception but neighbor NJ district residents are not.

Watchdog Christie Asks Corzine to Take Action

On September 25th NJ governor candidate Christie running on his watchdog record challenged his rival Govenor Corzine. Corzine is part of the NJ Democratic party riddled with corrupt and questionable activities. As a Governor he should stand up against this issue as Christie suggests.

What’s Best For NJ? Accountability and Oversight!

Accountability and oversight are key issues driving the Tea Party movement coupled with the general dissatisfaction with Congress among voters. Certainly having a viable bio tech industry in NJ is good. We want our companies to have the full advantages offered to get their products to market in time. The effort of RenGen to get their product fast tracked is not the issue as they pursued their interests correctly. The issue is that it happened and there are questions of political corruption with elections and the FDA, a horrifying thought. The questions are overseen by an elected Congressman who received money for his election involving the issue.

We hope ReGen’s Menaflex proves safe and reliable and contributes to the NJ economy. We also want our NJ companies clear of unbridled NJ corruption. We want our politicians clear of corruption and having Democrat Frank Pallone on his 12th term not show spine to step aside in his House FDA oversight chair role hardens this sentiment of no accountability in Congress controlled by Democrats.

NJ has gotten the tag for the State of Corruption. The 2008 elections apparantly emboldened the corruption with Rep Frank Pallone’s 2009 reelection to US House of Representatives for a 12th term.  Here we have oversight of the FDA from elected official Frank Palone receiving campaign money from companies regulated by the FDA. RenGen bought the attention of NJ Washington representatives and they delivered.

Will Contribution Money Motivate Favors In Government Run Health Care?

Further troublesome is that Frank Pallone is strongly supporting a Government Run Health Care System. He has dismissed the protests against nationalized health care at his August town hall meetings. The horrifying question opened is how outside campaign money in the future will get anyone special treatment while others are denied under a Government Run Health Care System. If it is ok to go to bat for a contribution giving constituent outside of NJ with the FDA,  will it also be acceptable with the agencies he wants handling our health care?

Call Frank Palone To Step Aside on the House Health Subcommittee

Call Frank Palone’s offices and request he step down from the Chairship of the House Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Request further he provide any information necessary to clear his and all NJ Congressman involvement with the post 2008 election fast track approval of Menaflex after two rejections over 3 years.

Pallone Vote Supporting ACORN Illegal Activities

We are also concerned with other misguided actions of Frank Pallone with his vote supporting ACORN funding, shown on video to funnel money to support illegal immigration of underage women for sex slaves. Read more at “NJ Congress Representatives Vote Condones ACORN Hurtful Actions To Those In Need“.