Frank LoBiondo once again took a ride with Scott Garrett and Rodney Frelinghuysen opposing fair pay for women. I'm sure women are very thankful for the lack of support:
Adler
Andrews
Holt
Pascrell
Payne
Rothman
Sires
Lance
Smith
Frelinghuysen
Garrett
LoBiondo
Democrats are in blue, and Republicans are in red.
Frank Pallone voted for the bill on Jan 9, but did not vote this time. Both Senators Menendez and Lautenberg supported the legislation in the Senate. Capitol Quickies shed some light on why they needed a second vote in the House:
The House of Representatives on Tuesday had to vote a second time on the bill, after the Senate broke out from the bill a more controversial, related proposal the House had lumped in that would allow women to get compensatory and punitive damages if the equal-pay law is violated.
It now heads to President Obama's desk for signature.
Meanwhile, Rob Andrews is having a Sarah Palin moment, with an explanation that leaves major questions unanswered (If the airlines gave Andrews a check for his clothes and he signed it over to his campaign - what happened to the clothes? If Andrews kept them, then doesn't he have to claim them as being a gift from the airline?) on what would normally be a stupid little story. And four of the remaining fourteen members of the Jersey delegation to Congress worked together to pull down $2 million for St. Peter's College in Jersey City.
Yes, this is the kind of "pork" that Dick Zimmer wanted to cut. Far from being "pork", this is a program that has immediate consequences for New Jersey - plasma is used to purify water, and our growing population will need more purified water in the very near future. Beyond that, it will help create a truly world-class research center in Northern Jersey. If New Jersey wants to stop its brain-drain, it needs to build regional universities that can draw the best and brightest and keep them here. This is an important step in the right direction, and will likely draw private investment dollars to help keep down the cost of higher education in the future.
Having ranted earlier on FISA and MCA, I'd like to thank our senators for voting to block retroactive immunity, even if it was in a losing effort. I hope they continue to try to improve the bill.
Albio Sires is the only New Jersey Democrat who voted for it. Thanks to our other Representatives as well.
Yes, you read that right: Why Is Rob Andrews Ducking Debates???
Let us not forget that in the fall of 2007 the whole NJ congressional delegation held a meeting that was intended to specifically air out and deal with the questions around who would be the Democratic nominee for Senate in 2008.
Obviously, it would have been in the best interests of the party and of the people of NJ (if you believe that electing a Democrat to the Senate is a good outcome) that a bloody and divisive primary battle be avoided if possible.
Clearly, the incumbent, Senator Lautenberg wasn't/isn't ready/willing to retire.
He, obviously, was able to convince all the participants present at that table that evening that he was sufficiently competent to run again and to continue to do a good job as a Senator.
Then all agreed to "back off" and to allow him to run unopposed by anyone present.
OK, so now that we've set the scene a wee bit....where does my question
There is a snippet of news that came out a few days ago that I believe deserves a bit more of a spotlight. To quote... http://www.bluejersey.com/show...
In October 2007 Congressman Andrews, along with each of the other NJ Democratic House members, had dinner with Senator Lautenberg. During the course of the evening, Congressman Andrews, pledged his full and complete support for Senator Lautenberg's re-election campaign - as did each of us. We did so enthusiastically, and with no quid pro quo or conditions. Now, Congressman Andrews is breaking his promise to each of us and to Senator Lautenberg...
...It is now clear that Congressman Rob Andrews has failed to gain the necessary support to realistically compete in this race, and therefore, we urge Congressman Andrews to end his campaign.
The thrust of that diary was whether or not there should be debates, and that question was fairly well ventilated; however the event described in the above quote raises some deeper questions.
Today, Congressman Andrews called for seven debates, while his fellow members of Congress called on him to get out of the race. First from Andrews release...
"The voters deserve to see where the two of us stand on the war in Iraq, the state of our economy, education and health care reforms," Andrews said. "He has been in the Senate a long time. He should have nothing to be afraid of."
Andrews said the debates would be sponsored by New Jersey's seven largest regional newspapers.
"Senator Lautenberg has made it clear to the people of New Jersey that he should be anointed to their Senate seat rather than face his opponent in fair and open debates on the issues that matter most to our families," said Andrews, 50, of Haddon Heights. "I sincerely hope he changes his mind and shows the voters the respect they deserve as they decide who is better equipped to represent them in the United States Senate. Senator Lautenberg can do that by facing me one-on-one so the people of New Jersey can draw their own conclusions. There will be no staffers to do our bidding, no surrogates, no hiding. Just Senator Lautenberg and myself, explaining our views to the citizens we seek to represent"
I'm sure readers here have some opinions on where the candidates stand on the issues, so I'll let you all talk about the merits of the debate proposal. While Andrews was trying to get Lautenberg to debate, members of the Congressional Delegation including Pallone, Payne, Pascrell, Rothman, Holt and Sires called for him to abandon his primary challenge...
In October 2007 Congressman Andrews, along with each of the other NJ Democratic House members, had dinner with Senator Lautenberg. During the course of the evening, Congressman Andrews, pledged his full and complete support for Senator Lautenberg's re-election campaign - as did each of us. We did so enthusiastically, and with no quid pro quo or conditions. Now, Congressman Andrews is breaking his promise to each of us and to Senator Lautenberg...
...It is now clear that Congressman Rob Andrews has failed to gain the necessary support to realistically compete in this race, and therefore, we urge Congressman Andrews to end his campaign.
[Update: has anyone called and heard back? It's not just to find out, but to tell them we're out here and believe in defunding the war!]
Today 87 United States Representatives signed a letter to President Bush informing him that they will no longer vote for supplemental funding for the Iraq War except for withdrawal.
... You are requesting an additional $45 billion to sustain your escalation of U.S. military operations in Iraq through next April, on top of the $145 billion you requested for military operations during FY08 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Accordingly, even more of us are writing anew to underscore our opposition to appropriating any additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq other than a time-bound, safe redeployment.
In July there were only 70 signators to the letter, meaning we gained 17 new members of Congress unwilling to fund this ridiculous war.
Reps. Rush Holt, Donald Payne, Frank Pallone and Steve Rothman signed both letters.
Reps. Albio Sires, Bill Pascrell, Rob Andrews are notable in their absence, indicating they are willing to give another check to Bush so we can lose another six or seven hundred Americans to an unnecessary, poorly conceived and idiotically executed war.
I'd ask if they could read a poll, but that would be insulting and imply that they all support the President and his little Middle Eastern exercise in nation building.
Of course, the fact that they haven't signed the letter kind of implies that all by itself.
Also voting to fund children's health insurance both today and in the previous bill were Republicans Mike Ferguson, Frank LoBiondo and the state's entire Democratic Congressional delegation: Rob Andrews, Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, Steve Rothman and Albio Sires.
Republicans Jim Saxton, Rodney Frelinghuysen and Scott Garrett once again shamefully voted against providing health insurance for children.
Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, which has veto-proof support in the Senate but is about 25 votes shy in the House. Governor Corzine has threatened legal action to prevent the administration from leaving thousands of New Jersey kids without medical care.
Four New Jersey Representatives were among the 70 House Democrats plus Republican Ron Paul to sign a letter telling President Bush that the only further Iraq war money they will vote for will be to fund a safe withdrawal from Iraq.
Congressmen Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Donald Payne and Steve Rothman should be commended for taking a leadership roll to end this disaster. Holt, Pallone and Payne have consistently led the way on Iraq since the start of the war. Hopefully it won't take too much longer for Sires, Pascrell and Andrews to catch up. The power of the purse is the only power they have. Use it.
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to inform you that we will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.
More than 3,600 of our brave soldiers have died in Iraq. More than 26,000 have been seriously wounded. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed or injured in the hostilities and more than 4 million have been displaced from their homes. Furthermore, this conflict has degenerated into a sectarian civil war and U.S. taxpayers have paid more than $500 billion, despite assurances that you and your key advisors gave our nation at the time you ordered the invasion in March, 2003 that this military intervention would cost far less and be paid from Iraqi oil revenues.
We agree with a clear and growing majority of the American people who are opposed to continued, open-ended U.S. military operations in Iraq, and believe it is unwise and unacceptable for you to continue to unilaterally impose these staggering costs and the soaring debt on Americans currently and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA); Rep. Barbara Lee (CA); Rep. Maxine Waters (CA); Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA); Rep. Rush Holt (NJ); Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY); Rep. Diane Watson (CA); Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ); Rep. Barney Frank (MA); Rep. Danny Davis (IL); Rep. John Conyers (MI); Rep. John Hall (NY); Rep. Bob Filner (CA); Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY); Rep. Bobby Rush (IL); Rep. Charles Rangel (NY); Rep. Ed Towns (NY); Rep. Paul Hodes (NH); Rep. William Lacy Clay (MO); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR); Rep. Albert Wynn (MD); Rep. Bill Delahunt (MA); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC); Rep. Hilda Solis (CA); Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY); Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY); Rep. Michael Honda (CA); Rep. Steve Cohen (TN); Rep. Phil Hare (IL); Rep. Grace Flores Napolitano (CA); Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL); Rep. James McGovern (MA); Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL); Rep. Julia Carson (IN); Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA); Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ); Rep. John Olver (MA); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX); Rep. Jim McDermott (WA); Rep. Ed Markey (MA); Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA); Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ); Rep. Rubin Hinojosa (TX); Rep. Pete Stark (CA); Rep. Bobby Scott (VA); Rep. Jim Moran (VA); Rep. Betty McCollum (MN); Rep. Jim Oberstar (MN); Rep. Diana DeGette (CO); Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA); Rep. Artur Davis (AL); Rep. Hank Johnson (GA); Rep. Donald Payne (NJ); Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO); Rep. John Lewis (GA); Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY); Rep. Neil Abercrombie (HI); Rep. Gwen Moore (WI); Rep. Keith Ellison (MN); Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI); Rep. Donna Christensen (USVI); Rep. David Scott (GA); Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL); Lois Capps (CA); Steve Rothman (NJ); Elijah Cummings (MD); and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).
The Vega camp claims Sires wanted to retain control over some aspects of municipal government. Sires people claim this was not the case and that Vega not only began removing Sires appointees from the city the moment Sires left, but actually put anti-Sires people into key city positions.
First of all, let me just point out that if "Sires people" cut ties with Vega because Vega fired people Sires hired, then they are basically confirming what Vega is saying. Honestly, West New York is such a tiny little sliver of this Congressional district that if Sires is worried who is keeping their plum jobs here, Joe Vas might actually have a chance at upending him.
In other words, Albio needs to grow beyond West New York fast. Vega, who appears intent on cutting his own throat, should be his last worry. He's shown that, if given the opportunity, he'll make the absolutely worst political decision possible. Get the hell out of his way!
NJ Transit fares will be going up on June 1. The fare hike is needed to offset a $60 million deficit. Rates are going up almost 10% and the morning "peak" period will be shortened by 30 minutes.
Congressman Rush Holt, along with Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today introduced legislation to end vote suppression:
Recent elections have been marred by allegations of deceptive practices that frequently focus on minority or low income neighborhoods. According to several non-partisan organizations, voter suppression through deceptive practices and intimidation are on the rise. In 2006, registered voters in Virginia received phone messages falsely warning them that the "Virginia Elections Commission" had determined that they were ineligible to vote, and over 14,000 Latino voters in California received letters asserting that it was illegal for immigrants to vote. [...]
"It is a travesty that American citizens are still routinely prevented from exercising their constitutional right and civic duty of voting through despicable tactics of suppression. Passage of this important legislation will make it clear that disenfranchising voters through intimidation or through willful deception about the time, place, or eligibility for voting is unacceptable and illegal," said Holt.
In addition to the six leaders of this legislation, Congressman Albio Sires is one of over 40 other co-sponsors. Details of the legislation are below.
After passing the minimum wage bill, the freshman Congressman from New Jersey's Fightin' 13th got stuck with the job of Substitute Speaker while the others went out to hit the bars before having to endure the President's speech tonight.
This is on HR2, which calls for increasing the federal minimum wage to $7.25/hour. It's far from a living wage, but it's a good step forward. It won't make too much a difference in New Jersey since here it is $7.15/hour.
I'm proud that 12 of 13 of our Representatives in the House voted for this legislation. Of those, 9 were sponsors of the bill (in bold). Only Rep. Garrett - who voted each time for giant tax cuts for the ultra wealthy - voted against the bill.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that the House Democratic Steering Committee approved a second committee assignment for Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-13) to the prestigious Foreign Affairs Committee.
Committee jurisdiction includes relations with foreign nations, international economic policy, international commodity agreements including all agreements for cooperation in the export of nuclear technology and hardware, protection of American Citizens abroad and expatriation, and the United Nations Organizations.
"I look forward to serving on a committee that allows us to review our nation's foreign policy especially our policy toward the Middle East," said Congressman Sires.
"It is a privilege to be afforded the opportunity to participate in the restoration America's prestige and to work towards strengthening our diplomatic relations with the international community. "
Tom Lantos (D-CA) will Chair the committee. Ileana Ros-Lethinen (R-FL) will serve as the ranking Republican member on the committee
The Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a series of hearings on Iraq this month.
So very much happened in politics these past few days. Here's a bit of a roundup:
8-term incumbent Assemblyman Steven Corodemus (R-11) announced he will not seek re-election. This is now a very competitive district.
In 2005, Corodemus and 11th district running mate Sean Kean held off a furious, well-financed Democratic challenge in the state's fourth most expensive race. Corodemus won by just 1,649 votes after winning by nearly six times that margin the previous election.
In Washington, Sen. Lautenberg is leading on homeland security. On Thursday, he introduced the Surface Transportation and Rail Security (STARS) Act of 2007, with transportation security measures to improve people's safety as they travel by trains or cars, and improve cargo safety as it is shipped by trains or trucks. The provisions originally appeared in the SAFE Ports Act, but were stripped out by House Republican leaders in the 109th Congress.
On Friday, Sen. Lautenberg and Sen. Menendez were two of five Senators to re-introduce the 9/11 Heroes Health Improvement Act of 2007. The bill provides medical and mental health monitoring and treatment grants to those whose health was affected at Ground Zero and Fresh Kills as well as those who responded to the Pentagon attack.
Wally Edge points out that Menendez goes from 100th in seniority to 90th in the new Senate. (Lautenberg is 73rd.) Meanwhile, New Jersey's most junior member of Congress, Rep. Albio Sires, is the most senior new face in Congress, since he was briefly a member of the 109th.
Former Middletown school board President Patricia A. Walsh has announced she will seek the Democratic nomination for the 13th district Assembly seat. The 13th is currently represented by Republicans.
Labels matter. So does symbolism. Now that the civil union law is a done deal, we can start to anticipate what the blowback will mean in more subtle ways then we may have previously considered. For example, how to intorduce your partner at a Christmas party? (So, Bluejersey, what do you call your partner, anyway?)
New Jersey's GOP wants to honor former President Reagan by naming something after him. Personally I have plenty of suggestions, but it's Christmas so I'll be kind. Just this once.
Our state's newest Representative, Albio Sires (NJ-13) will serve on the Financial Services Committee in the upcoming Congress. Rep. Sires wants a spot on the International Relations Committee as well. We'll know soon enough. Cuban-born Sires represents some much-needed diversity in the NJ delegation. Just how much do you know about Albio Sires, anyway? Get a little primer here.
Governor Cozine takes a retrospective on 2006, the year that was. Find out what grade he gave himself for his first year in the Governor's mansion. Here's a hint: it's not a B-minus. In an unrelated sign of what might be in the horizon in '07, Corzine seems to be softening his position just a bit on video lottery terminals. Oy.
Some good holiday reading for political junkies and history buffs alike, this piece takes a look at New Jersey's robust roll during the Revolutionary War. Did you know that NJ was the site of more battles for our nation's independence than any other state? Make sure you check out the slideshow as well!
Finally, a sweet piece about a Rutgers grad who works to make sure that Santa finds some of New Jersey's neediest. A perfect heartwarmer for the holidays. What can I say, I am a sentimental guy.
Merry Christmas folks!! Hope it's a good one for you and yours.
The Star Ledger is reporting that Pelosi appointed Pascrell to the Ways & Means committee.
And Albio Sires went for financial services. Big surprise.
And here's what the chair of Intell, Sylvestre Reyes, border agent from Texas knows about Al-Qaeda, from CQ. Why couldn't it have been Rush Holt???
Reyes stumbled when I asked him a simple question about al Qaeda at the end of a 40-minute interview in his office last week. Members of the Intelligence Committee, mind you, are paid $165,200 a year to know more than basic facts about our foes in the Middle East.
We warmed up with a long discussion about intelligence issues and Iraq. And then we veered into terrorism's major players.
To me, it's like asking about Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland: Who's on what side?
The dialogue went like this:
Al Qaeda is what, I asked, Sunni or Shia?
"Al Qaeda, they have both," Reyes said. "You're talking about predominately?"
"Sure," I said, not knowing what else to say.
"Predominantly - probably Shiite," he ventured.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
Al Qaeda is profoundly Sunni. If a Shiite showed up at an al Qaeda club house, they'd slice off his head and use it for a soccer ball.
That's because the extremist Sunnis who make up a l Qaeda consider all Shiites to be heretics.
Al Qaeda's Sunni roots account for its very existence. Osama bin Laden and his followers believe the Saudi Royal family besmirched the true faith through their corruption and alliance with the United States, particularly allowing U.S. troops on Saudi soil.
It's been five years since these Muslim extremists flew hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center.
Is it too much to ask that our intelligence overseers know who they are?
Civil War
And Hezbollah? I asked him. What are they?
"Hezbollah. Uh, Hezbollah..."
He laughed again, shifting in his seat.
"Why do you ask me these questions at five o'clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?"
"Poquito," I said-a little.
"Poquito?! " He laughed again.
"Go ahead," I said, talk to me about Sunnis and Shia in Spanish.
Reyes: "Well, I, uh...."
I apologized for putting him "on the spot a little." But I reminded him that the people who have killed thousands of Americans on U.S. soil and in the Middle East have been front page news for a long time now.
It's been 23 years since a Hezbollah suicide bomber killed over 200 U.S. military personnel in Beirut, mostly Marines.
Hezbollah, a creature of Iran, is close to taking over in Lebanon. Reports say they are helping train Iraqi Shiites to kill Sunnis in the spiralling civil war.
"Yeah," Reyes said, rightly observing, "but . . . it's not like the Hatfields and the McCoys. It's a heck of a lot more complex.
"And I agree with you - we ought to expend some effort into understanding them. But speaking only for myself, it's hard to keep things in perspective and in the categories."
What do these eleven House seats have in common, you might ask? All eleven were held by Democrats before the election, but all eleven are now held by different Democrats after the election. These were our eleven open seats, at least eight of which can be considered safe blue districts (OH-06 is a swing district, and IL-17 and OH-13 are both about the same as CT-04, the district held by Republican Chris Shays). For people who are interested in helping to build a Democratic majority that is responsive to the interests of the people-powered progressive movement, these are exactly the type of seats where you should be directing your resources. Beyond Republican-held seats, beyond primary challenges to safe Democratic incumbents, the open, safe Democratic seat is exactly the sort of district we need to pay more attention to in 2008. Unfortunately, in the 2006 cycle, this was a type of district the online component of the progressive movement, the netroots, virtually ignored...
ahf8 responded:
This was a total failure on our part. Albio Sires is a corrupt machine hack, and is a former Republican. He's not as liberal as Bob Menendez was for this seat, and Joe Vas, Mayor of Perth Amboy, who ran in the primary, was much more of a grassroots progressive. If the netroots had gotten involved in this race, we could have made a difference.
and teferi:
You've got to be kidding me (none / 0)
Vas may have been more liberal than Sires, but he made so many missteps and blunders during his primary campaign that I shudder to think of what he would have done in the House.
We'll get another chance in 2008 with a better candidate. In the meantime, things could be a lot worse than having Sires in that seat.
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