Yesterday, Rep. Steve Rothman made it official, that congressional redistricting will lead him to challenge not Tea Party darling Scott Garrett into whose district his home has been drawn, but Bill Pascrell, a fellow Dem elected to Congress the same year he was 15 years ago.
You can imagine the rending of garments at DCCC. And the state party. But given the imperative towards re-election hard-wired in House members, whose 2-year election cycle keeps them in perpetual re-elect, and the fact that much of the new district Pascrell now lives in is Rothman stomping ground, Rothman's move has some logic. He was mayor of Englewood 2 terms, and that's where he'll relocate back into district. He already reps nearly 55% of the people (61% of registered Dems) in the new 9th, he says. (hat/tip Daily Kos Elections for this chart, which shows Rothman 53.95%, Pascrell 42.90%).
Rothman v. Pascrell was immediate national news, a race between colleagues on the same side of most issues, sharing a party, supporting the same president in a presidential year. How awful will this race be? How personal their complaints against one another? How much will it divide the rest of us?
Mabe we have some clues in Rothman's first endorse list of 61 people; legislators, the Hudson & Bergen Dem Chairs, mayors, and municipal chairs, a Bergen-heavy list. Prominent are incoming Senate Majority Leader (and Blue Jerseyan) Loretta Weinberg, longtime Rothman ally, and both Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Assemblyman-elect Tim Eustace, the two names with the most buzz as potential challengers to Scott Garrett in the contest Rothman passed on.
Pascrell, for his part has solid support from Passaic Chair John Currie, and gave no evidence of worry. Pascrell described himself as:
"a fighter who is ready for whatever may come. I will be as relentless in the election as I have been for my constituents. I do not know the meaning of the word quit.
Rothman's full endorsement list, after the jump. If Pascrell is developing a similar list, Blue Jersey would very much like to see it.
This past week, we've seen a lot about the impact of congressional redistricting and the positioning of candidates in North Jersey for the upcoming election. Congressman Steve Rothman has declared that he will move and challenge his colleague Bill Pascrell in a primary rather than face incumbent Republican extremist Scott Garrett. Whether or not Rothman's decision is a good one, it hurts me to see two Democrats spending a million dollars to knock each other off when the money could be better spent in an all-out effort to oust Garrett, one of the worst members of Congress.
It also bothers me that the Fourth Estate has virtually ignored the important race in the Third District. Another member of the "worst congressman's club" is former NFL bad boy and current congressman Jon Runyan. Runyan's voting record is as bad as Garrett's, and over time if Runyan builds up seniority in the House, his impact will be just as deleterious.
Wagner supporters are using facebook to rally for her. Bertin has the link - so does Nick - if you haven't seen it. Anybody know if any other potential NJ-5 candidates have a social media campaign presence? - promoted by Rosi
Ever since it was first announced that Congressman Steve Rothman would be running for re-election in CD9 instead of CD5, I have talked up the idea of drafting Assemblywoman Connie Wagner to run in CD5 against Congressman Scott Garrett, based on my belief that she has the potential to be a stronger candidate in this district than Rothman, because of her capacity to attract national attention and dollars.
Just a few minutes ago, while reading a thread started by our very own Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, I discovered that a Draft Connie Facebook group has been started. Please join me in joining this group and working to build energy and excitement around this extremely important effort.
U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.) is telling Democrats he plans to challenge Bill Pascrell (D-8th Dist.) in the June primary, according to two Democratic sources with knowledge of the congressman's thinking.
A few anonymous sources are quoted for the article. An announcement from Rothman is apparently due this week.
Needless to say, I am sorry to have found this out, and I hope a strong Democrat will come forward to take on Garrett. It's obviously going to be someone without a $1.5 million war chest, but we need to support them all the same.
The Republican, elected to Congress in 2003, is one of the most vexing in an already right-leaning House of Representatives; a wingnut the tea party loves to love. The Democrat, who went to Congress in 1997, came out early for Barack Obama when nearly the entire NJ Democratic establishment was pushing Hillary Clinton, and became the president's Northeast Regional co-Chair.
Now, the Democratic members of NJ's congressional redistricting commission have submitted a final map that pits Scott Garrett (NJ-5) against Steve Rothman (NJ-9) in one competitive district, as reported in nj.com this morning.
John Farmer, Jr. the former New Jersey Attorney General and current Rutgers-Newark Law School Dean, now is empowered to decide between proposals from the Democratic and Republican teams, six members each. What the GOP proposes is still unclear.
New Jersey's population loss loses us one seat in the House, and the Democrats' plan focuses on the north, the region that has seen the greatest shifts. The NJ congressional delegation as it stands now is 7 Democrats, 6 Republicans. The Democrats' map would create 6 safe districts for Democrats, 5 for Republicans and the competitive district one both parties - and perhaps two incumbent congressmen - would have to battle for.
Bob Menendez: Banking (chairs the Housing, Transportation, and Community Development subcommittee); Energy and Natural Resources; Finance; Foreign Relations (chairs the International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection subcommittee)
Frank Lautenberg: Appropriations (chairs the Homeland Security subcommittee); Commerce, Science and Transportation (chairs the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security subcommittee); and Environment and Public Works (chairs the Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health, Chair subcommittee)
What a horror took place on Saturday in Arizona. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is apparently well liked, extremely respected with moderate views on most issues. I spoke to "my" Congressman Steve Rothman who knows her well and serves on the Sub-Committee on Space & Aeronautics with her. We will all keep her in our thoughts as she fights for life. I just saw a report on the beautiful and talented nine year old girl who was one of the six killed by this perverted murderer. A child, born on 9/11/01 who was just elected to her student council, and who wanted to meet her Congresswoman. What a cruel moment.
I know over the next days and weeks, we will get some answers and probably more questions about just how and why this event was perpetrated. Whatever, the reasons, the nasty rhetoric, name calling, violent speech and anger in our current political discourse can't be considered just innocent byproducts. I know about and appreciate "tough" politics - I've survived a few such skirmishes myself - but I think it more than past time to start curtailing some of the excesses in our political interchanges. Fox News might be a good place to start.
Soft statements by two members of the NJ Democratic congressional delegation - Rep. Rob Andrews & Rep. Steve Rothman - have been picked up for use in a press release from Gov. Christie's front office trumpeting Bipartisan Support For Governor Chris Christie's Challenge To Federal Transit Administration. And in fact, the congressmen's presence in the release (2 among a dozen people quoted) is the only reason Christie can claim that bi-partisanship in his release. Yes, their statements were lifted (and attributed) from quotes they gave to newspapers. My question is: Why, if you're Andrews or Rothman, utter such neutralizing statements at all? Where's the outrage? Where's the rectitude? The proper response to Christie's attempt to weasel out of New Jersey paying back the $271 million we owe the federal government now is disgust at NJ trying to cheat the nation's taxpayers, is resentment and conflict of interest questions that he'll do it at $485/hour with politically connected out-of-state firm Patton Boggs that's also repping the Republicans in the coming redistricting, is at least some anger that this governor is making pound-foolish decisions that are costing more money while his team builds him a legacy crafted to make it look like he's saving us money.
Responsibility is an easy thing to recommend to others, but taking responsibility sometimes requires sacrifice and resolve. Personal responsibility is an easy thing to preach; taking personal responsibility for your actions and those you make for the people you govern is harder, and it's something Gov. Christie has not shown an inclination to do. Responsibility is more than smackdowns, legacy-building and dominating a room. It's the harder stuff of grownups.
Gov. Christie pulled the plug on a massive infrastructural project, ARC Tunnel, more than a decade in development, billions invested, an agreement meant to span over the arc of whoever was governor, between New Jersey, New York, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and the workers and people of the region.
Fine. It's done. Governor had his reasons, which I don't agree with at all. But he's governor. He's the decider. But what goes along with a decision of this magnitude is consequences. The governor knew going into this decision what those consequences were, and chief among them was the responsibility to pay back the federal government for resources it laid out on our say-so, on our promise we were committed. We might get out of this - via skillful lawyering, and settlement of a bad debt - but the fact is, if we do it will be good but it won't be right. We owe the nation's taxpayers their outlay back. We owe. Congressmen Andrews and Rothman could have done better talking to the press, they unwittingly allowed the Governor's front office to pull quotes that legitimately give the press the impression key Democrats stand behind Christie, his tunnel bungle, and his efforts to slide away from the consequences.
Entire press release - with Rothman and Andrews quotes prominent placed near the top, of course by Christie's front office - after the jump.
Ever hear the absolute worst about somebody who's been nothing but good in your dealings and hope to hell it's all a mistake? That is the way I feel about news I heard 5 minutes ago, that Bob Decheine, Steve Rothman's longtime Chief of Staff, was arrested for soliciting a minor, and has been let go from the congressman's office.
According to an announcement today from Rothman's office, Decheine was arrested Friday afternoon in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a police department sting operation that netted 11 arrests, including Decheine. Ads were placed on a "known website" and followed up with phone or text messaging between each "John" and what they thought was a 15-year-old, but was an undercover officer. The process sounds similar to one depicted in the popular To Catch a Predator series on NBC's Dateline.
Rothman's statement called the alleged criminal act "shocking, appalling and indefensible."
This includes a basic paper trail and a manner in which the votes can be audited and verified, among other basic things. But the reality of this all is that in many many states, voters are still facing the same issues with respect to potentially stealing elections. Just because there was a big win in 2008 doesn't mean that the same vote theft and shenanigans that went on in 2000, 2002 and 2004 are gone. In fact, many other countries still use the same paper in a locked box as their means of voting - and they have the winner declared pretty damn quickly as well.
But I guess when the companies that make and run the voting machines for the overwhelming majority of the votes are major contributors to one of the political parties, that is integrity enough. We should just trust them, right? It's only one of the most basic rights and it's not like elections have consequences, right?
Let me preface this conversation by stating that I supported Senator Frank Lautenberg's re-election campaign during both the primary and general elections last year, but...
1) ...after seeing him speak in public numerous times at a dramatically reduced level of performance than in the past...
...and...
2) ...after last week's gubernatorial election results...
...and...
3) ...assuming that the aspiring Governors that are currently serving in the State Senate and State Assembly are not going to be willing to rescind the power that the Governor currently has to fill vacated U.S. Senate seats, I think that Democratic Party leaders, electeds, and rank-and-file members should reach out en masse to Senator Frank Lautenberg and ask him to resign his seat.
The tea party went to Washington yetserday with people demonstrating and protesting on Capitol Hill. Reports say that Americans for Prosperity were the driving force behind the organizing:
ThinkProgress has video of AfP workers handing out signs and talking points to the Tea Partiers the group shuttled in from other areas. According to one AfP staffer, the group paid for 40 buses to bring protesters to today's event.
They said they brought 25 buses from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Congressman Rothman took some time to speak with protesters that were his constituents and Steve Lonegan had this observation on Rothman choosing to speak with them:
"We thank the congressman for having the guts to come out here - whether we agree with him or not," Lonegan said, and many in the crowd voiced agreement.
Late yesterday, Hopeful posted a diary asking that you contact Rep. Adler's office with respect to the House "robust public option/Medicare+5" bill that Speaker Pelosi was hoping to bring for a vote.
We also found out that Reps. Steve Rothman (NJ-9) and Albio Sires (NJ-13) may also be on the fence, so we are asking that if at all possible, can you call all three of their offices and urge them to support the Speaker and 70% of Americans for REAL healthcare reform.
Here are their numbers, both in DC and here in NJ:
John Adler:
DC-202-225-4765
NJ-856-985-2777
NJ-732-608-7235
Steve Rothman:
DC-202-225-5061
NJ-201-646-0808
*************
I'm told we may have until around 2PM today, so anything you can do this morning is extremely helpful. And as Rosi said last night:
If you live in their congressional district be sure to tell the staffer.
If you don't live there, but work there, or spend vacation time or money there, tell them that. And of course, be brief and polite to the staffer who takes your call.
If you know somebody in the district, please shoot them an email with the phone number - you can make a difference this morning.
Also, if you could tweet this and post to your Facebook status, that would be great too. After all, elections have consequences, right?
Congressmen Rothman and Garrett faced off on CNN over the health care debate following the President's speech last week.
Congressman Rothman said the speech changed the healthcare debate dramatically, but Garrett said the President made a case he's made since day one. Garrett said what Obama is saying isn't in the Senate or House plans that are being considered and said he actually reached out to the President after the speech to hand him a packet with over two dozen Republican bills and suggestions. He made that statement in response to Rothman saying he's waiting for GOP ideas, to which Rothman said Garrett didn't offer any specific programs on his website about insurance companies dropping people when they're sick, providing competition so insurance companies can't keep raising rates and no suggestion of what to do with American citizens who are uninsured. Then Rothman made the case for the public option, to which Garrett attacked the house bill. Have a look.
Our interest here, however, has to do with the Washington custom of earmarks, the practice of lawmakers adding appropriations to budget bills for favored projects in their state or district. In total, earmarks often represent billions of dollars in federal spending. Earlier this year, Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Bergen, proposed a $15 million earmark for Insitech. That's a lot of money for a non-profit trying to attract firms to do business with the army. The earmark has not been approved yet, but the new federal budget does not start until Oct. 1.
Here's where things get interesting. A spokesman for Rothman told the Daily Record last week that she didn't know anything about the earmark. InSitech's CEO said he couldn't talk about it, and spokesmen for Picatinny and Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, who normally proposes earmarks for the base, said they were unaware of it.
How fascinating that a proposed expenditure of $15 million in federal money is so easy to lose.
That's a lot of money for no one to know anything about. There has to be more to this story, because something doesn't add up. And how does Frelinghuysen have a significant amount of money earmarked for his district and he has no idea bout it? That's effective representation.
Congressman Rothman has been holding his town halls around the district to talk to residents about the healthcare reform bills. Here is some video of people that were voicing their opposition to the plans, where the Congressman says very clearly that he has not taken a position on whether to support or oppose the plans that are out there:And here is video from Whitehouse.com of the town hall the Congressman held in Wallington. Rothman isn't alone for the Democrats that aren't yet on board apparently. John Adler isn't sold either:
Several times throughout the meeting Adler made it clear that he was OPPOSED to the health care bill and would vote AGAINST it.
Congressman Pallone and others held a press conference call yesterday to discuss the impact our broken health care system is having on Seniors and the importance of passing the health insurance reform that follows President Obama's Health Insurance Guarantees. It looks like the Congressman may need to start making calls to his own colleagues here in New Jersey to make sure that happens.
Congressman Rothman announced the upcoming dates and locations of his listening tour around the 9th district. They're listed on his Congressional website. But these events have the potential to be unlike any in past years, because of a concerted effort to disrupt any public discussion from occuring. Via Think Progress:
The lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:
- Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: "Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."
- Be Disruptive Early And Often: "You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early."
- Try To "Rattle Him," Not Have An Intelligent Debate: -The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions."
Think it's a joke, check out what they did to Congressman Lloyd Doggett in Texas and Senator Arlen Specter in PA. Congress members need to be prepared because the wrong reaction will live on youtube much longer than the discussion they are trying to engage in. It's one thing to have a discussion about the issues with your representative, it's quite another to astroturf a crowd with people that have no intentions of discussing anything at all. And it's a shame too, because some people are bringing up legitimate concerns, but the party of 'No' continues to overshadow them too.
As members of Congress headed home for break, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed out their version of the healthcare bill. They wanted to arm members of Congress with the facts, so they put out district by district breakdowns:
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.
You can see the benefits by district for each member of Congress:
You can see the full bill text and a summary put out by the committee as well. If you support this bill, your member of Congress needs to know about it. If you call, get your member of Congress to take the pledge. Our representatives are being inundated with phone calls and emails opposing healthcare. We need people who support the healthcare overhaul to start putting some action behind the talk, otherwise we'll be counting the time until the next chance to do something about healthcare.
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