Early present for The Boss

SENATE RESOLUTION HONORS SPRINGSTEEN

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/16/05
BY GREGORY J. VOLPE - GANNETT STATE BUREAU

TRENTON - After he was shunned by the United States Senate, Bruce Springsteen was honored Thursday by the state Senate for the 30th anniversary of his "Born to Run" album.

Dancing and clad in a Santa Claus hat, Springsteen fan state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, tried to get the Senate chamber to sing along to Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

After the obvious jokes about Lesniak's music-leading ability, he touted Springsteen as a hero and advocate for New Jersey.

"In those 30 years Bruce has become not only a national hero, but a world-wide hero," Lesniak said. "And wherever he goes, there's two things he always does. He always talks good about the state of New Jersey — and people know that he comes from this state, he's proud of this state, he's written about life in this state its ups and its downs. And he also always raises money, for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey most particularly."

Lesniak also announced his intent to introduce a bill to create a "Born to Run" license plate that would benefit the food bank.

The Senate approved a resolution congratulating Springsteen and the E Street Band for 30 years of "musical greatness."

Last month, New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Jon S. Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, tried to honor Springsteen, but Republican leaders wouldn't call the resolution for a vote. Springsteen endorsed and made campaign appearances for Sen. John Kerry in his presidential campaign against President Bush in 2004.