Somebody Call a Doctor

The scandal that is UMDNJ doesn't want to go away. We now learn that the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey went about creating a no-show job for a former NJ State Senator Wayne Bryant (D). He was given a position at the school, which was created especially for him and then only showed up occasionally to receive his paychecks. And that's not all of his woes either:

The report has been sent to U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, who is already investigating whether Bryant improperly used his office to steer money to UMDNJ. Christie's office is also examining allegations that the senator used his influence to allow UMDNJ to keep thousands of dollars in grants that should have been returned to the state.

Neither Christie nor the monitor's office would comment.

Informed of the monitor's findings by a reporter, Corzine said he did not want to say too much until he had a chance to digest the report. But, he said, "if the circumstances laid out (by the monitor) prove to be factual, that would be troubling."

A major political force in South Jersey, Bryant has faced increased scrutiny over whether he has personally benefited from his legislative activities and other government jobs.

The state's Economic Development Authority recently approved $360,000 in rent subsidies for a Pennsylvania bank where Bryant served as a member of the board of trustees; Bryant's law firm has done work for two bistate agencies; and Bryant has sponsored bills to help a Camden network of health clinics run by his younger brother, Mark. At one point, Bryant held four government jobs.

This is just the latest in a series of scandals that rocked the college, including Medicaid and Medicare fraud that led to federal monitoring of the school. The school doens't need reassurance, it needs a good and thorough housecleaning, which Gov. Corzine appears incapable of doing.