'Nother Press Release

11th District Republicans:

For Immediate Release

September 6, 2005

Steven J. Corodemus (732) 744 - 1998
Sean T. Kean (732) 241 - 9718
Info@CorodemusKean.com

CORODEMUS AND KEAN SAY DOHERTY AND REILLY MUST COME CLEAN ON CAMPAIGN CASH FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS CHEMICAL COMPANY THAT SELLS CANCER-CAUSING GAS ADDITIVE IN NJ

Atlantic Highlands & Wall Township, NJ: Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean today called on Matt Doherty and Jim Reilly to explain why they were singled out for a $5,200 campaign contribution from the Lyondell Chemical Company adding that Doherty and Reilly must refuse to accept any campaign money from an Assembly Democrat PAC that took $27,000 in campaign cash from that same company.

Lyondell is a major manufacturer of MTBE, a gasoline additive that the federal EPA says is a “potential human carcinogen.” MTBE is responsible for contaminating 1,500 municipal water sites in 28 states. It is estimated that it could cost taxpayers $140 billion to clean up the water supplies contaminated by MTBE.

In 2002, a California jury found Lyondell guilty of the irresponsible manufacturing and distribution of MTBE saying that Lyondell acted with malice by neglecting to warn customers of the dangers of MTBE water contamination.

On June 30, 2005, the NJ State Assembly and Senate passed (A3469/S2018), a measure to ban sales in New Jersey of MTBE groundwater contaminant. Corodemus and Kean voted for the ban. It was signed into law (PL2005) on August 18, 2005.

“Why were Doherty and Reilly singled out for a $5,200 campaign contribution from Lyondell? Why them? Why on June 20,?” Corodemus said.

According to NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) records, since January 2004 Assembly Speaker Albio Sires received $1,000 from Lyondell, Democrat Majority Leader Joe Roberts $1,500 and Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald $1,500.

On June 23, 2005 the Democrat Assembly PAC set up to fund candidates like Doherty and Reilly took $23,000 from Lyondell. Since January 2004 the Democrat PAC has taken a total of $27,000.

“Will that $27,000 find its way into Doherty and Reilly’s campaign coffers or pay for in-kind contributions,?” Kean said. “It could if they take any campaign money from the New Democratic Leadership PAC.”

Doherty and Reilly have made campaign finance reform and disclosure a cornerstone of their campaign. Doherty has said he has “an unwavering commitment to a clean environment” and Reilly says he has a record of “bringing suit against dangerous environmental polluters.”

Corodemus and Kean said that if Doherty and Reilly accept New Democratic Leadership PAC money it will be tantamount to accepting “laundered” money from Lyondell and will prove they are neither campaign finance reformers nor environmentalists.

“The people of the 11th legislative district await Doherty’s and Reilly’s response,” they added.


FACTS ABOUT LYONDELL CAMPAIGN CASH TO NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP PAC AND DOHERTY & REILLY FOR ASSEMBLY

February 11, 2004 Lyondell gives $1,000 campaign contribution to New Democratic Assembly Leadership PAC accepts Jersey Assembly

October 13, 2004 Lyondell gives $1,000 campaign contribution to New Democratic Assembly Leadership PAC

March 16, 2005 Lyondell gives $2,000 campaign contribution to New Democratic Assembly Leadership PAC

June 20, 2005 Lyondell gives $5,200 campaign contribution to Doherty and Reilly for Assembly

June 23, 2005 Lyondell gives $23,000 campaign contribution to New Democratic Assembly Leadership PAC

June 30, 2005 NJ General Assembly/Senate votes on A3469/S2018, a bill to ban the sale in New Jersey of Lyondell’s MTBE carcinogenic gasoline additive.

August 11, 2005 Jim Reilly says, of the $5,200 campaign contribution from Lyondell accepted by Doherty and Reilly for Assembly, “We returned it immediately.” – 88.1 FM Restore Radio interview with Maureen Nevin

August 18, 2005 MTBE ban signed into law PL2005

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