We are at the halfway point of the Hall Institute Virtual Debate for New Jersey's 2008 U.S. Senate election. To learn where Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer stand on the major issues confronting our nation and our state, visit our Virtual Debate Page or click on one of the links below.

Environment — Do you favor U.S. ratification of the Kyoto treaty? What steps should the U.S. government take to deal with the issues of what has been called global warming?

Lautenberg Response

Zimmer Response

Iraq — Should any long term American agreement with Iraq be considered as a treaty and therefore go before the Senate for ratification? How long should the U.S. remain committed militarily in Iraq?

Lautenberg Response

Zimmer Response

Health Care — Do you favor universal mandatory health care? If so, how should it be funded?

Lautenberg Response

Zimmer Response

Social Security, Medicaid & Pharmaceutical Drugs — Do you favor any major changes in the Social Security program? Do you favor any changes in the Medicaid program? Do you favor any changes in the current government pharmaceutical drug plan?

Lautenberg Response

Zimmer Response

Energy — Presidents have consistently cited the need for less dependence on oil. What alternative sources of energy would you support?

Lautenberg Response

Zimmer Response

• 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.
• A School Funding Scrapbook — Commentary on education issues and policy.
• Hall Institute Forum — Our public affairs television program.
• Hall Institute Radio Podcast Forum — Audio discussion of timely and topical public policy issues.
• 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.