What will New Jersey’s next U.S. Senator do to reduce America’s dependency on oil? The Hall Institute posed that question to the candidates to kick off our Virtual Debate for the 2008 U.S. Senate election. To read the responses from Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer, visit the Hall Institute Virtual Debate Page.

The Business Climate — Burdensome regulations, high taxes, spiraling healthcare costs, and under-investment in workforce training and the transportation systems are the top concerns cited in a new study of New Jersey’s business climate. The study, Economic Policies and Solutions: Making New Jersey a Better Place for Business, was conducted by independent researchers for the New Jersey Policy Research Organization, the policy-research affiliate of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

What the Study Means — Commenting on this study, Attorney Michael M. Shapiro warns that the state’s business climate is in trouble and may be headed for darker days. In A Troubling Sign for New Jersey’s Economic Future, he urges Governor Corzine and the Legislature to read the study and its recommendations with great care.

Public Pensions — Hall Institute Executive Director Michael P. Riccards addressed another fiscal topic in last Sunday’s Bergen Record. A first step for pension reform was the lead story on the newspaper’s Opinion Page.

Visit the Hall Institute online at WWW.HALLNJ.ORG to read these articles and other topical material:

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• Hall Institute Forum — Our public affairs television program.
• Hall Institute Radio Podcast Forum — Audio discussion of timely and topical public policy issues.
• A School Funding Scrapbook — Commentary on education issues and policy.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Since its inception in 2005, the institute has posted more than 400 white papers, research essays and op-ed articles on its website at www.hallnj.org in an effort to generate debate and discussion and develop solutions to the problems confronting the state and its residents.

The institute has conducted several special events, including NJ2008, a series of public forums on the state’s role in the 2008 presidential campaign. In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. At present, we are sponsoring a Similar Virtual Debate for the state's 2008 U.S. Senate election.

The organization produces public affairs television, podcasts and blogs, and also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website. A third volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, is posted on the Hall Institute website.

Earlier this year, the institute acquired the Bay Area Center for Voting Research, a non-partisan think tank based in Berkeley, California, leading to the start of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – California.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey State House, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.