Menendez on Finance Committee

STAR-LEDGER
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez was named yesterday to the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal fiscal policy.

Among other key issues, the committee is responsible for the pending confirmation hearings of Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner and is involved in the oversight of the federal bailout and financial-stimulus packages.

"This is a committee with an enormous impact on the issues that affect us daily, and it's important to have our state represented," Menendez, a Democrat, said. "I'm looking forward to bringing a strong New Jersey voice to our work on tax issues as well as the funding formulas for major programs that affect the Garden State."

This latest development is icing on top of his recent appointment as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which handles fund-raising and recruitment for Democrats in the Senate.