Francis J. Blee

Francis J. "Frank" Blee (born May 29, 1958) is an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1995-2008, where he represented the 2nd legislative district. Blee was appointed in 1995 to fill the unexpired term of the late Assemblyman John Gaffney. [ [http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB4763FF7CBCAF8&p_docnum=23&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=H5FD5FSWMTE4NTg0NzQ0OS4yODY4NjU6MTo3OnJhLTE4ODg "ABSECON REPUBLICAN JOINS STATE ASSEMBLY"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", September 19, 1995. Accessed August 8, 2007. "Blee, a Republican, was appointed to fill a vacancy left by the death of Assemblyman John Gaffney in Atlantic County's 2nd Legislative District."]

Blee was the Republican Whip in the Assembly from 2002 to 2008. He served in the Assembly on the Budget Committee, the Tourism Committee and on the Legislative Services Commission. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/blee.asp Assemblyman Blee's Legislative Website] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 17, 2007.]

Blee sponsored legislation which established the nation's first statewide screening and education program for the Hepatitis C virus. This bill was signed into law by Governor of New Jersey Christine Whitman in 1998. Blee also sponsored legislation establishing a 15-member Drug Utilization Review Board which has review authority with respect to the Medicaid program, New Jersey's Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program, the AIDS drug distribution program and any other State and federally funded pharmaceutical benefits program. The board reviews and evaluates these pharmaceutical benefit programs to make certain they are operating efficiently. Assemblyman Blee sponsored the "Senior Gold Prescription Drug Discount Act" which significantly increases the income eligibility level for Seniors to qualify for prescription drug coverage, allowing over 100,000 previously ineligible seniors to participate in this program.

Blee served on the Absecon City Council from 1991-1995, serving as Absecon's youngest ever Council President from 1992-1993.

Blee graduated with a B.A. from Dickinson College in Political Science and received a D.C. from Life Chiropractic College (now known as Life University). He is a resident of Absecon. [ [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=8134 Assembly Member Francis J. 'Frank' Blee profile] , Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.]

District 2

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District for the 2006-2007 legislative session were:
*Assemblyman Jim Whelan, and
*Senator James J. McCullough

References

External links

* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/blee.asp Assemblyman Blee's Legislative Website]
* [http://www.frankblee.org Assemblyman Blee's Campaign Website]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=8134 Assembly Member Francis J. 'Frank' Blee profile] , Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.njvoterinfo.org/cb/blee.html New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003]
* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/BleeF2006.pdf New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)]
* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/BleeF2005.pdf New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)]
* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/BleeF2004.pdf New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)]