(06/07/06) TRENTON ? New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Kevin Ryan was rushed to the hospital Wednesday morning after collapsing in the Statehouse Annex.

According to aides, Ryan began coughing during a budget committee hearing and excused himself from the proceedings. Witnesses say he then collapsed in the men?s room on the fourth floor. Ryan, 39, was rushed to a hospital in Hamilton. He was able to walk to the ambulance under his own power about 40 minutes after getting sick.

Aides claim Ryan was joking and worrying about his work schedule while entering the ambulance. A Human Services spokeswoman says the commissioner recently battled a bout of pneumonia, but was never hospitalized. The spokeswoman believes Ryan has just pushed himself too hard. Ryan was released from the hospital at about 4 p.m. and is resting at home.