LoBiondo denies endorsement report: THIS IS NOT ACCURATE

by: Jason Springer

Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:45:00 PM EST

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Freeholder Director Beyel said I endorsed John McCann ("Beyel said U.S. Rep Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, also endorses the slate").  THIS IS NOT ACCURATE.

I was not part of the decision making process by the Cape May County Republican organization.  I was not asked for my opinion nor consulted with in any discussions concerning the party's decision not to endorse Jerry at any time.

Once I found out about it as the rest of you did, I made it clear I would not be involved in the committee preference vote process.

But now it is being reported that I am.  I AM NOT.

Primaries all over the state for the GOP

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 10:45:00 AM EST

I do not think Leonard Lance can be beaten in a Republican Primary. Even if David Larsen won, he would be cut out in redistricting in 2012."

Then in the seats held by Democrats, there are a few primary races to run against the Incumbent. There are numerous candidate running in the 3rd district and Justin Murphy could also get support from the tea partiers as he runs again this year. There is also the primary to run against Rush Holt as Mike Halfacre and Scott Sipprelle will face off in a right v. further right battle and there may be more candidates to jump in the race. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and others have expressed interest in challenging to run against Frank Pallone as well. The tea partiers are even saying they may put someone up against Scott Garrett from the right, if that's possible in comments to stories that are being written. The amount of candidate running in GOP primaries can be seen as an indication of the enthusiasm and also anger out there with the public right now, who only want to see 8% of incumbent re-elected right now.

By contrast, the Democrats in New Jersey don't seem to like primaries as much. The only primary challenge I've seen so far is one against John Adler, but his warchest will make that an uphill climb. I know inside political circles they tend to shy away from primaries, because it makes you spend resources you want to conserve for the general election battle and take stands you often don't want to defend. But sometimes primaries can better prepare candidates for the trial by fire that is a general election campaign. Even if the GOP candidates don't win their primary challenges, the incumbents will already be in campaign mode given the voter angst right now. The competitive primaries to challenge Democratic incumbents will season them for the rigors of a race. With the climate  and public opinion where it is, it's important that candidates don't wait to start their campaigns and these primaries insure that the GOP won't.

Innevitability

by: gary stein

Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 11:13:24 AM EST

.  

Van Drew won't challenge LoBiondo "this cycle"

by: Jason Springer

Sat Jan 23, 2010 at 10:13:15 AM EST

If a Democrat beats Congressman Frank LoBiondo in this November's election, it won't be State Senator Jeff Van Drew doing it. Van Drew has confirmed to Coastal Broadcasting that he will not be running against LoBiondo in this November's election. The State Senator will be up for reelection 2011, along with Assemblyman Nelson Albano and Matt Milam. Cape May Councilman David Kurkowski ran against LoBiondo in 2008, in the Republican's most recent victory.

"I'm not going to be running in this cycle," said Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic.

GOP members of Congress are using twitter much more, but are they using it well?

by: Jason Springer

Sat Jan 16, 2010 at 01:18:11 PM EST

It may have been sort of a counterintuitive thought at one time, but it's become pretty well-established that Republicans on Capitol Hill have embraced Twitter more than Democrats.

But just how much congressional Republicans are out-Tweeting the Democrats may be a bit of a surprise. According to a new study from the public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, House Republicans have pecked away on Twitter more than five times more frequently than their Democratic counterparts - sending out 29,162 tweets all told through Jan. 3, compared to 5,503 for Democrats.

The study also found that about two-thirds of Congress' 132 active Tweeters are Republicans.

Many congressional Twitter users don't follow others or reTweet items, Mr. Senak said in an interview. "It can be more like one-way communication, which is not really what Twitter was designed for," he said. Mr. Senak, who writes a blog about the F.D.A., said curiosity about how lawmakers were discussing health care was a major reason he started the Twitter study.

Lautenberg on Chemical Safety

by: Hopeful

Wed Dec 02, 2009 at 03:40:49 PM EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, today issued the following statement at an afternoon hearing on the nation's chemical safety laws.  Lautenberg is preparing legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act.

               "Let me thank everyone for being here as we focus on better protecting the health of our families by updating our chemical safety laws.

               This is a joint hearing of my Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, and the full Environment and Public Works Committee.

               I'd like to thank Chairman Boxer for agreeing to hold this hearing and for her tireless leadership of the Committee.

               Right now, there are hundreds of industrial chemicals in our bodies.  That goes for nearly everyone in America.

               In fact, just this morning, the Environmental Working Group released the results of a two-year study that found nearly 250 different industrial chemicals in the blood of 10 babies who were exposed to the substances while still in the womb.

               While some of these chemicals may not be harmful, others clearly are.

               That means these children face the possibility of chronic, life-long health problems from the day they are born.

               I ask unanimous consent to enter the Environmental Working Group Study into the record.

               According to a 2002 study, five percent of cancers, 10 percent of neurobehavioral disorders and 30 percent of asthma cases in children are associated with toxic chemicals.

               It is time to sound the alarm-America's system for regulating these toxic chemicals is broken.

               Industrial chemicals are everywhere: from flame retardants in furniture and carpets, to other chemicals in cleaning products, personal care products, food containers and even children's products.

               The current law-the Toxic Substances Control Act-puts a high burden on EPA to prove chemicals are "unreasonably dangerous" before the agency can take steps to restrict their use.  

               The burden is so high, in fact, that EPA has been able to ban only five of the more than 80,000 substances on EPA's inventory of chemicals on the market, and it has only tested about 200.

               This means the majority of chemicals used in products that make their way into our homes and our children's hands are untested.

               We must strengthen our chemical laws and give Americans confidence that products are safe before they are sold and used throughout the United States.

               Most of the thousands of chemicals we use everyday are safe, but we need a law that will separate those safe chemicals from the ones that are not.

               And I believe we are in an excellent position to accomplish that goal, with a broad group of agencies and organizations coming to the table to work for reform.

               President Obama's Administration is here today, represented by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, our good friend from New Jersey.

LoBiondo cuts Medicare Doctor Reimbursements, hopes everyone forgets.

by: Hopeful

Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 05:17:51 PM EST

"For the past seven years, I've supported efforts to protect our doctors and their staffs from scheduled Medicare reimbursement cuts, which in the end would affect the care they are able to give their patients. Today, I voted for a plan that would prevent the scheduled doctors' reimbursement cuts, would not add to the deficit, and would ensure future South Jersey seniors are not shouldering the costs. Regrettably, it was not the bill that was approved by the full House today," said LoBiondo.

What's interesting about this?  It's not just that LoBiondo voted against getting rid of the cuts, after all, the press release is clear enough. It's not that he claims to have voted for a Republican alternative, when there was no such vote that day. No, those are all in the days work.

The impressive bit of hypocrisy is that the cuts are due to the "Balanced Budget Act of 1997" (H.R. 2015) which, of course, Frank LoBiondo and his Republican colleagues made law. These cuts are entirely his creation! When the Republican party actually cared about deficits -- at least the name of the 1997 law says they did --  they created a "Sustainable Growth Rate" formula which would have reduced the deficit by paying doctors less. Whether it's a good idea or not, I don't know, but it is the law thanks to Frank LoBiondo's 1997 votes, whatever press release he sends out in 2009.

Sadly, we can expect that no reporter will ever notice the contradiction.

Also available at Frank LoBiondo record.

DNC takes on Leonard Lance & Frank LoBiondo

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 09:06:00 AM EST

DNC targets Lance and LoBiondo over opposition to healthcare

by: Jason Springer

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 05:30:00 PM EST

Through this campaign, the DNC will send a message to Republicans who have reflexively said no to health insurance reform by urging them to do the right thing and support reform when it comes to the House again for a final vote.  The campaign will include press releases, Op-Eds and letters to the editor, local events and will leverage the energy and enthusiasm of the DNC's grassroots supporters and its email list in holding these members accountable for their vote.  The effort may also include paid advertising.  DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan released the following statement on the effort:

"You would think a Member of Congress should think twice about voting against health insurance reform that their families and small businesses so desperately need and want.  But you have to think to vote against health insurance reform in a Congressional District won by President Obama just a year ago could be a political death knell at a time when Americans are clamoring for solutions to vexing issues like health care," said Sevugan.  "These members not only represent districts that voted for President Obama, but also where health insurance reform, as in the rest of the country, is badly needed and where passing it will be politically popular.  Some on the very far right wing would have people believe that voting for health insurance reform is a mistake politically - when the truth is that any Republican who votes against reform, especially those from districts won by the President, will undoubtedly place themselves in real political peril."

Asked about the DNC's targeting of LoBiondo, Galanes asked, "Are they targeting John Adler? ... Just curious."

Senate approves extension of unemployment benefits

by: Hopeful

Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:01:16 PM EST

Following weeks of Republican obstruction, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today voted to approve legislation that would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks in every state and an additional 20 weeks in New Jersey and other states where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent.  The legislation will also extend and expand the first-time homebuyers tax credit.

"It is shameful that weeks of senseless Republican obstruction has stood in the way of families receiving unemployment benefits," stated Lautenberg.  "Extending unemployment benefits will boost the economy, benefit thousands of out-of-work New Jersey residents and millions of families across the country.  This legislation also takes important steps to further promote home ownership and boost the housing economy.  I applaud passage of this legislation and urge my colleagues in the House to approve it as quickly as possible."  

Here is Senator Bob Menendez's statement:

Bad News for Frank LoBiondo in the NY-23 Special Election

by: Hopeful

Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 02:06:55 PM EDT

This must be a very unwelcome development for Frank LoBiondo. To be sure, he's "pro-life" and part of the Gingrich's Revolutionary Class of 1994, so he has right-wing credentials she doesn't. But his occasional moderate votes are increasingly unwelcome to conservatives both inside and outside of Congress. His vote in favor of the energy bill earned him attacks nationwide by outraged conservatives. There's many who would love to get rid of him.

Now, LoBiondo, unlike Scozzafava, has lots of money and the advantage of incumbency. It's now possible to imagine a successful challenge to him, but it's extremely unlikely. But today we see one more step down a road along which moderate Republicanism is extinguished.

Frank LoBiondo bans contractor misconduct, is trying to cancel all Lockheed contracts!

by: Hopeful

Tue Sep 22, 2009 at 10:23:31 PM EDT

LoBiondo has co-sponsored H.R. 3571, which reads:

To prohibit the Federal Government from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain indicted organizations.

Now, Frank LoBiondo's no dummy. He knows that crooked contractors won't give up their money easily. That's why he and his Republican friends chose the name "Defund ACORN Act," to throw everyone off the scent. You see, even if ACORN stole every cent it was granted in the last decade, it wouldn't even make the top thirty list of contractor misconduct.  And, as Lobiondo and we all know after the AGI bonus outrage, a Bill of Attainder aimed at punishing specific people or companies is unconstitutional. So who will LoBiondo defund with his new rules?

Here's one: Lockheed-Martin, in the past a big supporter of LoBiondo, is responsible for $577 million in misconduct in 50 separate cases according to POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database .  

It's too bad Representative Alan Grayson figured out that so many crooks would be caught in LoBiondo's net. Feel free to add to his google spreadsheet of contractor abuse so that Grayson can file the list of crooked contractors in the legislative history.  

I'm sure my interpretation of LoBiondo's intentions is accurate. After all, it's not possible that Frank LoBiondo only cares about fraud by a non-profit that helps poor people of color?

Lobiondo wants more government healthcare spending, just not reform

by: Jason Springer

Fri Aug 21, 2009 at 04:45:00 PM EDT

The very day after Congressman LoBiondo slammed health care reform for requiring increased government spending on health care, he sent out a press release announcing earmarks he had arranged to be inserted into an appropriations bill. LoBiondo's earmarks provide government money directly to private health care providers.

That kind of government funding of private health care is going on through earmarks in almost every congressional district in the country. The spending is massive. The fact is that LoBiondo already supports a system of government involvement with the private health care system. The difference between the Democrats' health care reform program and LoBiondo's approach is that the Democrats' reform offers some oversight and process improvements in return for government money. LoBiondo's system just throws government money at the problem.

And where does the money for Frank LoBiondo's kind of health care earmarks come from? Because it comes from the government, it comes either from taxes or deficit spending. LoBiondo can rant and rave about how he's against higher taxes and bigger deficits in order to pay for health care reform, but his actions speak louder than his words. In action, LoBiondo supports increased health care spending on health care, resulting in higher taxes, and bigger deficits. What LoBiondo opposes is health care reform to ensure that all this spending actually translates into better services for patients.

Does LoBiondo want to get rid of Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP too?

by: Jason Springer

Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 01:30:00 PM EDT

"A government bureaucrat cannot get in the way between a patient and a doctor," he said. "The provisions are not cost effective and not best for the patient."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Along with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, CMS also implements the insurance reform provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The Social Security Administration is responsible for determining Medicare eligibility and processing premium payments for the Medicare program.

And why is a government bureaucrat so much worse than an insurance bureaucrat? If LoBiondo is so serious about what he's saying, let him introduce legislation to get rid of these programs.  Otherwise, he should find another talking point to justify his opposition to covering people.  

Quote of the Day: Without substantive and substantial changes, I will not support it.

by: Jason Springer

Sat Aug 08, 2009 at 10:25:28 PM EDT

August gives us an opportunity to take a step back, re-examine and rethink the entire package, and spend the time to write legislation that keeps its focus on ensuring access for patients, protecting the doctor-patient relationship and promoting the results-oriented goal of healthy outcomes.

I believe the final bill should include provisions that make preventative care more accessible; eliminate restrictions on coverage for those with preexisting conditions; recruit and train more primary care physicians; and an increased investment in community health centers. And the bill must include real, critical reforms, such as medical malpractice reform, that would bring down the total cost of health care.

The current House bill is not that bill and, therefore, without substantive and substantial changes, I will not support it.

District breakdown of House Health Care Bill Impact

by: Jason Springer

Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 10:15:00 AM EDT

The Committee has prepared, for each member, a district-level analysis of the impact of the legislation. This analysis includes information on the impact of the legislation on small businesses, seniors in Medicare, health care providers, and the uninsured. It also includes an estimate of the impacts of the surtax that is used to pay for the legislation.

America's Affordable Health Choices Act would provide significant benefits in the 7th Congressional District of New Jersey: up to 18,200 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 8,100 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D; 800 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs; health care providers would receive payment for $30 million in uncompensated care each year; and 21,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

• Robert E. Andrews (NJ-1)
• Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2)
• John H. Adler (NJ-3)
• Christopher H. Smith (NJ-4)
• Scott Garrett (NJ-5)
• Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6)
• Leonard Lance (NJ-7)
• Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ-8)
• Steven R. Rothman (NJ-9)
• Donald M. Payne (NJ-10)
• Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (NJ-11)
• Rush D. Holt (NJ-12)
• Albio Sires (NJ-13)

NJ House GOP votes against Paying as you go

by: Jason Springer

Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 12:15:00 PM EDT

Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009 YES NO Adler Andrews Holt Pascrell Payne Rothman Sires Frelinghuysen Garrett Lance LoBiondo Smith

Democrats are in blue, and Republicans are in red.

For too many years, reckless budgetary policies put our nation at risk and contributed to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Now, Congress has an opportunity to change the direction of our country's annual budgets by building strong statutory safeguards that limit the level of annual government spending.

The principle of "pay-as-you-go" is very smart and simple. Congress can only spend a dollar if it saves a dollar elsewhere. Setting reasonable spending guidelines will guarantee a bright future for generations of Americans. Currently, our national debt stands at an unprecedented level of $11.2 trillion. This amount will keep rising each year we have an annual deficit. To eliminate our deficits we must spend within our means.

2nd Quarter House Fundraising

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 01:15:00 PM EDT

Congressman Adler raised the most money in the 2nd quarter with over $518K, followed by Congressman Pallone and then Garrett.

Congressman Pallone has the most Cash on Hand by far and away with over $3.7 million. He has twice as much as the next member, Congressman Rothman who is followed by Pascrell and then Lobiondo.

Congressman Adler raised the most form individuals at over $267K, followed by Pallone, Garrett and then Rothman.

Congressman Adler raised the most from PAC's at over 250K, followed by Pallone, Lance and Frelinghuysen.

The members of the NJ delegation that raised more from PAC's than individuals were Congressmen Andrews, Payne, LoBiondo, Frelinghuysen, Pallone and Lance.

Congressman Adler raised more than any Frontline Democrats across the country.

		Total Contrib	COH	Indiv	PAC
1.	Andrews	$151,500	$173,442	$66,050	$85,450
2.	LoBiondo	$95,025	$1,167,179	$33,725	$61,300
3.	Adler	$518,563	$869,275	$267,918	$250,448
4.	Smith	$66,658	$117,494	$35,708	$30,950
5.	Garrett	$252,211	$228,888	$134,211	$118,000
6.	Pallone	$379,381	$3,770,842	$159,331	$220,050
7.	Lance	$201,868	$263,807	$56,156	$145,712
8.	Pascrell	$209,725	$1,316,328	$106,625	$103,100
9.	Rothman	$175,650	$1,858,569	$128,150	$47,500
10.	Payne	$90,731	$1,148,992	$21,725	$68,006
11.	Frelinghuysen	$133,801	$484,226	$61,945	$133,801
12.	Holt	$116,360	$509,221	$64,660	$51,700
13.	Sires	$179,050	$263,494	$103,050	$76,000

Even Christie campaign co-chairs disagree with Christie on Corzine & Energy

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 01:00:00 PM EDT

In announcing his plan, Christie tried to attack Corzine saying he hadn't done enough, while also trying to hook himself to the Obama train. But statements by Republican members of Congress, in justifying their support for the Energy legislation, stood in square opposition to the argument that Corzine hasn't helped New jersey lead the way.  First Leonard Lance:

"The fact of the matter is New Jersey and the Northeast are well ahead of the curve on many of the key elements of the legislation before the House.

"Here at home, the state of New Jersey is already subject to limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants under the ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. And our state renewable portfolio standard is more aggressive than the federal program contained in the bill.

"New Jersey serves as a national model for its investments in new, clean energy technologies that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and created thousands of jobs. I heard from a number of New Jersey's leading businesses that firmly believe today's legislation would strengthen our state economy through innovative and sustainable job creation. It is time for other states to follow New Jersey's leadership and do their share to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate development of low-carbon energy sources and green jobs."

"This is by no means a perfect bill but, for New Jersey businesses and families, many of the federal standards that will be created are mirroring state standards long on the books. For the past decade, New Jersey has been forward-looking in its energy policy and sought to establish diverse, renewable alternative sources of energy to meet the state's needs. From the development of biofuels based on crop waste and planning for additional nuclear reactors, to building small and large-scale wind farms and countless solar panel projects, individuals and municipalities recognized opportunities and took action.

"In the process, new local businesses were founded and jobs were created in the emerging 'green industry' here in New Jersey. What must happen next is the growth of domestic manufacturing of the materials needed for alternative energy production, such as solar cells, wind turbines and environmentally-friendly buildings. This legislation rightly focuses on growing that manufacturing base, creating green jobs and finally establishing our energy independence. The positive effects will be felt nationally and here in South Jersey. These are objectives I have long believed and advocated for as part of a national energy policy."

CQ Politics releases 2009 Vote Study

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM EDT

Congressional Quarterly has analyzed the roll call voting patterns of members of Congress since 1953. The three principal studies involve:

The frequency with which lawmakers vote with the president when he clearly indicates his preferences (Presidential Support).

The frequency with which they vote with their party, on occasions when a majority of Republicans oppose a majority of Democrats (Party Unity).

And the frequency with which they show up and cast "yea" or "nay" votes (Voting Participation).

	Pres Support	Party Unity	Participation
John Adler	88	86	97
Rob Andrews	96	99	99
Rodney Frelinghuysen	58	80	99
Scott Garrett	15	98	97
Rush Holt	96	99	98
Leonard Lance	69	74	100
Frank Lobiondo	77	65	100
Frank Pallone	96	99	96
Donald Payne	88	99	96
Bill Pascrell	96	95	89
Steve Rothman	96	99	98
Albio Sires	96	97	97
Chris Smith	77	64	97

Frank Lautenberg	97	100	99
Bob Menendez	97	100	99