Garrett Votes Against Police...Again

by: rmfretz

Tue May 15, 2007 at 10:30:52 PM EDT

In yet another classic example of saying something during the campaign and voting differently once down in Washington, Representative Scott Garrett joined 33 other Representatives in opposing the "COPS Improvements Act of 2007." The Bill restores many of the funds stripped from community policing programs over the last few years, and establishes new grants for anti-terrorism training for officers, training grants for veterans to join law enforcement, and technology upgrades.

Garrett and the Ghost of Nor'Easter Future

by: rmfretz

Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 12:13:06 AM EDT

With Representative Scott Garrett's tour of some of the flood damaged towns in the Fifth, he reports he's seen first hand how hard hit the area is and how extensive the damage has been. I have little doubt his staff is going to do everything they can to help residents get FEMA aid if the disaster area declaration comes down. His staff always receives high marks for fulfilling this aspect of their duty, it's a shame Garrett cannot have the same said about him.

At issue is not this particular flood, there's really nothing that could have changed the outcome of this particular storm. However, over a month ago Garrett voted against providing funding for projects to prevent the overwhelming damage suffered in our District, state and region. While a storm like we just had will cause flooding, the extent of the damage would be lessened with a modern sewer system. With his vote against Representative Bill Pascrell's bill to provide funding to upgrade combined sewer systems, Garrett in essence was voting in favor of more extensive than necessary flood damage.

Good Votes, But We need a Source

by: rmfretz

Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 12:18:07 AM EDT

So far, it's been a pretty good week for the Fifth. Representative Scott Garrett has voted pretty much the way I think most of the people in our District would have, with the exception of a vote against outlawing blades used to make cockfights more gruesome. Other than that, we've seen him vote for environmental protection, money for transit security (as a daily rider of NJ Transit, this is a big one for me), more money for disabled veterans, and probably most surprising, his vote for limiting the term of interim Federal prosecutor appointments.

As great as all this is, one thing about this week is more problematic than supporting the cockfighting blades. In both the Garrett Gazette and on the floor the other night, Garrett imparted this little bit of "wisdom."

Let's take a look at what the Democrat budget proposal would do to a family of four from Bergen County earning $70,000 per year. According to a study done by the New York Times, that family saw their tax bill slashed by 20% after the Republican congress passed tax relief measures between 2001 and 2003. To roll those tax cuts back now would take around $1,500 out of that family's budget today.

The search turned up a lot of recent stuff, including: The Garrett co-sponsored 2003 Bush Tax cuts are giving foreign businesses a competitive advantage over domestic ones; The Democrats balance the budget without providing AMT relief (same as Bush); The AMT now impacts 23.4 million of the nation's 90 million taxpayers with help from the Bush tax cuts; and a story about how long term health insurers are denying care for thousands of senior citizen policyholders. With all of this and much more, I couldn't find the study Garrett cited.

My hope is that this is not another example of Garrett misrepresenting the truth after having such a good start to the week. A link or where we could find the article in a hard copy would be helpful if somebody has one. With all sides firing up the spin machines over their budget proposals, I'll have enough to write about without needing another example. However, if in fact the article doesn't exist, that opens up a whole new can of worms.

New Jersey's Power Rankings in Congress

by: Babs NJSD

Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 11:21:23 PM EDT

Ironically, Frank Lautenberg would be a lot higher in seniority had he not retired for 2 years. I would expect Senator Menendez to rise quickly in the next few years as long as the Senate Democrats maintain and increase the majority.

http://www.congress....

Senate:
Name Rank in State Score Rank in Senate
Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) 1 23.06 31
Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) 2 13.75 72

House:
Name Rank in State Score Rank in House
Rep. Pallone (D-NJ-6) 1 30.07 17
Rep. Andrews (D-NJ-1) 2 23.07 68
Rep. Holt (D-NJ-12) 3 21.02 91
Rep. Rothman (D-NJ-9) 4 20.02 107
Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ-8) 5 17.77 153
Rep. Payne (D-NJ-10) 6 14.03 218
Rep. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ-11) 7 13.53 231
Rep. Saxton (R-NJ-3) 8 12.57 245
Rep. Sires (D-NJ-13) 9 12.00 271
Rep. LoBiondo (R-NJ-2) 10 9.03 346
Rep. Smith (R-NJ-4) 11 8.53 367
Rep. Ferguson (R-NJ-7) 12 7.78 387
Rep. Garrett (R-NJ-5) 13 6.28 411

Garrett- CEO Pay AOK

by: Sidd Finch

Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 07:47:41 AM EST

House debates shareholder role in executive pay

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers clashed today on whether shareholders should have a louder voice in approving executive pay, while a top regulator scolded companies for failing to deliver the clear-cut pay disclosures now expected by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

OK. So something needs to be done about executive pay disclosure. Not about the amount, mind you, about the fact that compensation isn't adequately reported to shareholders.

The SEC action "makes it easier to go forward," said Frank, who has argued that shareholders have the right -- and the wisdom -- to have a say in what's appropriate pay for their executives.

"To have a say." We're not talking about putting a cap on CEO pay here. (That's an argument for another time.) All that's being said is that shareholders have a right to know. If a representative put their constituents first, this would be a no-brainer.

Defending the Defenseless

by: rmfretz

Sat Mar 03, 2007 at 04:10:31 PM EST

With it's recent ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court took a major step forward in defending the defenseless. By striking down a number of eligibility restrictions that served as barriers for the developmentally disabled and their families to receive care, our fair state will take a major step forward to providing for those most in need of help. The question now becomes one of money, priorities and morals.

You know, it's a Hell of a Feeling.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 09:51:25 PM EST

It's a hell of a feeling, and I have more feelings to go.

Someone please tell me what this guy stands for...

by: Sidd Finch

Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 08:01:48 PM EST

I'm not always on the same page as the US Chamber of Commerce, but you'd think "anti-tax" zealot Ernie Garrett would be, especially when it comes to tax relief legislation. Maybe it's only tax cuts for the wealthy that he supports and we're on our own. (Unless, of course we want to make a decision about how we live our lives. I digress...)

February 13, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, urges you to support H.R. 976, the "Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007." This legislation provides tax relief to assist small businesses' job growth.

Garrett strikes again...

by: Sidd Finch

Wed Feb 07, 2007 at 12:10:04 PM EST

Holy hypocrite, Batman!

North Jersey Republicans said balancing the budget, which Bush and the Democrats have said is a goal, requires hard choices. Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, said the president's budget represents "a positive step" toward that goal, and warned against Democrats' raising taxes to afford more spending.

"Every family in America must set priorities and make difficult decisions when putting together a household budget, and the federal government should be no different," said Garrett, a member of the House Budget Committee. "I hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle will remember that ... every dollar that goes into the federal budget is a dollar that comes out of a family budget."

Simple Math:

by: Sidd Finch

Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 01:56:38 PM EST

Garrett to NJ College Students: DROP DEAD

by: Sidd Finch

Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 02:04:15 PM EST

An extra $260 may help with college costs

Tens of thousands of North Jersey college students would get more financial aid this fall from a sweeping $463.5 billion spending bill approved Wednesday by the House.

The bill, which faces quick action in the Senate, provides the first increase in four years to the maximum Pell Grant, a program for needy college students.

...

How They Voted on HR 5

by: City Belt

Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 12:28:21 PM EST

The Bill: H.R. 5
Date Passed: Jan. 17, 2007; 5:35 pm
About: This bill would drop the interest rate on federally-subsidized student loans from 6.8 to 3.4 percent over five years. At a time when tuition costs continue to rise, and student reliance on loans grows, this is a welcome piece of legislation, and, like many of the bill's supporters, we hope that it is one piece of a larger body of legislation to help Americans afford undergraduate education, at the very least.