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Trustees of UMDNJ spent big on limos (and pricey laptops, Blackberries, wireless email service)
Star-Ledger ^ | Friday, February 03, 2006 | TED SHERMAN AND JOSH MARGOLIN

Posted on 02/03/2006 4:19:33 AM PST by Liz

Several members of the governing board of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ received perks worth thousands of dollars, including computers and chauffeur-driven rides.....costing the state institution more than $14,000.....

The records also show the head of the university's citizen advisory board....reveal the university spent $83,700 to shuttle Mary E. Mathis-Ford back and forth from Pennsylvania in a luxury car.

The disclosures came as officials continued trying to unravel what happened to $36.8 million sent by the Legislature to UMDNJ last year as an additional allocation. Some state officials thought the money was intended to shore up University Hospital, the Newark facility that is being financially drained by the demands of charity care.

The ongoing revelations have included rampant travel expenses by senior administrators, nearly $2 million in golden parachutes to former executives, and $3 million in performance bonuses.

According to records released in response to an Open Public Records Act request, Jonathan Orenstein, a dentist from Cherry Hill, was furnished with car service that has brought him to nearly every board meeting since he was appointed by Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2004....including a $600 bill from a Metuchen limousine service that was on standby for 15 hours, taking Orenstein from his office in Marlton to UMDNJ in Newark.....then to Farmingdale in Monmouth County, then back again to Newark for the trustees' public meeting at 3 p.m.

Reached at his office, Orenstein said he could not recall why he went to Farmingdale. UMDNJ has no facilities there. Two university sources said he went there to play golf.

Eric Pennington, the current acting chairman of the board....a Newark attorney, also has received a $2,630 laptop computer and a $339.98 Treo 650 Smartphone, a digital hand-held organizer that offers cellular and wireless e-mail service, and Web access.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
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The disclosures came as officials continued trying to unravel what happened to $36.8 million sent by the Legislature to UMDNJ last year as an additional allocation. Some state officials thought the money was intended to shore up University Hospital, the Newark facility that is being financially drained by the demands of charity care.

Oops. University Hospital is a typo---should read University Money-Laundering Center.

1 posted on 02/03/2006 4:19:34 AM PST by Liz
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To: Calpernia; Fedora

UMDNJ ping


2 posted on 02/03/2006 4:21:55 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: Liz

Witness the future if national healthcare is enacted.


3 posted on 02/03/2006 4:28:06 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (9-11 is your Peace Dividend)
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To: Erik Latranyi

"Witness the future if national healthcare is enacted."

Exactly! Just like our current education system. Administrators and Superintendents get millions in pay, drivers, pensions and expense budgets: teachers buy extra crayons out of their own pay.


4 posted on 02/03/2006 4:33:13 AM PST by txzman (Jer 23:29)
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To: Erik Latranyi

Story does not detail previous reports of UMDNJ's multi-million dollar looting of Medicare/Aid which is now under investigation by the US Senate.


5 posted on 02/03/2006 4:53:49 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: Liz

Living large !


6 posted on 02/03/2006 4:55:55 AM PST by csvset
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To: Liz
As an aside, my company just replaced all of our cellphones with dual purpose Blackberry's for all of our field staff. Our cellphone bills have gone down 70%. We get unlimited data service for $10 per device each month. We now text and e-mail each other instead of burning cell minutes.

Not that this excuses the excesses outline here, but the Treo's may not be one of them.
7 posted on 02/03/2006 5:00:06 AM PST by IamConservative (Who does not trust a man of principle? A man who has none.)
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To: Liz

Being a member of the minority party in New Jersey means never having to explain yourself. EVER! So shut up and go away or we'll have governor corzine investigate you!


8 posted on 02/03/2006 5:01:43 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (We will never murtha to the terrorists. Bring home the troops means bring home the war.)
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To: Liz

Could you put me on your CMDNJ ping list, too, if you have one?


9 posted on 02/03/2006 5:03:32 AM PST by patriciaruth (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1562436/posts)
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To: patriciaruth

OK.


10 posted on 02/03/2006 5:06:29 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: csvset

Why worry? Dumb taxpayers are paying for all of it.


11 posted on 02/03/2006 5:08:23 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: Liz

You mean money stolen from working people goes to useless, leech bureaucrats for limos and free computers?

Nooooo!

Never heard of such a thing.


12 posted on 02/03/2006 5:09:47 AM PST by sergeantdave (And on the second day The Lord created February - the slowest month of the year.)
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To: txzman

This is the paradigm teachers union looting case:


Driver paid $97,500 from teachers union
By Arlo Wagner THE WASHINGTON TIMES July 7, 2005
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050706-100228-2349r.htm


The chauffeur of the former president of the Washington Teachers Union testified yesterday in the $4.6 million embezzlement trial that he earned $97,500 annually plus other benefits, but did not say the compensation was in exchange for his cashing checks and concealing money for union officials.

Leroy Holmes said that in addition to the salary, he received free health insurance, a cell phone, insurance on his two cars and pickup truck, a $1,875 Christmas bonus, a down payment for a 2001 Cadillac DeVille and half of the monthly $800 payments. When asked by U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannie Rhee whether he ever questioned the benefits, Holmes replied: "Why should I? It was good."

Holmes has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder funds. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if prosecutors do not ask that his sentence be reduced because of the testimony. Holmes will resume testifying today against former union treasurer James O. Baxter II, 50; former office manager Gwendolyn Hemphill, 63; and former accountant James A. Goosby Jr., 56.

Mr. Baxter and Mrs. Hemphill are accused of embezzling millions of dollars. Mr. Goosby is accused of helping hide the thefts by filing false financial reports.

In addition to driving union President Barbara A. Bullock on official business, Holmes took officials on lavish shopping sprees that were financed with the union dues of teachers, prosecutors say. Bullock pleaded guilty and is serving nine years in prison.

Holmes also cashed checks for Mr. Baxter and Mrs. Hemphill. He said the largest check was for $20,000. The indictment states that $1.4 million in checks were cashed by Holmes. Holmes said Mr. Goosby prepared his income-tax returns in a way that would protect against an audit of union finances.

Also testifying yesterday was John Traina, a D.C. schoolteacher for 32 years who later became a member of the union's executive board, then the board of trustees. He said that the board and the trustees relied on Mr. Baxter to oversee the union finances, but that the board and the trustees were never given details.

Mr. Traina said that when Mr. Baxter was asked about details, he might not report or would give a uninformative answer. For example, he said, members heard that the union was not paying some bills, but at the next meeting, Mr. Baxter said all the bills were paid.


13 posted on 02/03/2006 5:15:17 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: sergeantdave

Nice Claude Rains impersonation.


14 posted on 02/03/2006 5:16:50 AM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: Liz

Add me to this ping list please.


15 posted on 02/03/2006 10:37:40 AM PST by RepubMommy
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To: Liz
Reached at his office, Orenstein said

"Do you know who I am?"

16 posted on 02/03/2006 10:50:09 AM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: Onelifetogive

......and in a day or two, when informed he broke criminal laws, Orenstien will discover he's a (sob) "victim".....


17 posted on 02/03/2006 12:28:39 PM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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To: Erik Latranyi

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1563271/posts
Healthy People 2010


18 posted on 02/03/2006 12:38:48 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Liz
Thanks for the ping!

According to records released in response to an Open Public Records Act request, Jonathan Orenstein, a dentist from Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill, eh? I understand that's an interesting neighborhood.

19 posted on 02/03/2006 1:39:51 PM PST by Fedora
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To: Fedora

Dr Jon better watch out for dose cement overshoes.


20 posted on 02/03/2006 2:48:33 PM PST by Liz (You may not be interested in politics; doesn't mean politics isn't interested in you. Pericles)
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