Not that he needs it...

One of Frelinghuysen's generous donors is the PMA group, a lobbying group that specializes in defense contracts and a huge number of earmarks.

Failing gade for Frelinghuysen by Republicans for Environmental Protection

The Republicans for Environmental Protection’s 2005 congressional scorecard give Frelinghuysen a score of 62%. Here are some of the votes that helped him get this failing rating.

-A motion to waive a parliamentary challenge against the Defense Appropriations Conference Report, which was essentially a motion to accept Senator Ted Stevens’ (R-AK) last-minute attachment of a provision authorizing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

-H.R. 3893, Congressman Joe Barton’s (R-TX) bill to expedite the construction of new oil refining capacity in the United States by providing incentives that include waiving environmental protections and allowing refineries to be located in national wildlife refuges.

-An amendment offered by Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to amend the Mississippi River-Illinois Water Way Project to tie lock and dam construction authorization to the validity of the usage and economic benefit claims made by proponents to justify the project.

-House Concurrent Resolution 95, the FY 2006 Budget Resolution establishing federal budget revenue and spending targets, which included the assumption of revenues from oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Such revenue assumptions clear the way for Arctic Refuge drilling authorization to be included in subsequent budget reconciliation legislation, and thus not subject to a Senate filibuster.

-H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congressman Barton’s energy bill that subsidizes new fossil fuel development at the expense of the environment, while largely ignoring efficiency and clean energy technologies that can reduce oil dependence, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and safeguard America's natural heritage.

It really is surprising how many times Frelinghuysen has voted to open up our national wildlife refuges to drilling considering he has come out to say that he was against drilling in the arctic.

Weapon dealers think Rodney Frelinghuysen is a swell guy.

The National Defense Industrial Association, a lobbying firm for military contractors gave Frelinghuysen an award. They probably gave him the award for scrutinizing them so well in his job on the appropriations committee.

He is even bragging about how much his buddies at DynCorp and Kellogg Brown and Root like him.

Eisenhower on the military-industrial complex:

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction...

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Frelinghuysen's declining environmental voting record

Maybe one of the items in the 1994 Contract with America had some truth in it. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s environmental record has declined for the past nine years. (I have not been able to find the LCV ratings for 1995-1996, I will add them if anyone has them available)

I guess he didn’t agree with that part.

blue11th on the Contract with America

Frelinghuysen voted against the Environment with CAFTA

I have been highlighting some of the votes against the environment that Rodney Frelinghuysen has given us over the last couple of years. Only going by local news stories, one would think that Frelinghuysen is working hard at cleaning up our environment, or at least trying to protect it. A closer look at his voting record shows that he has made some very serious votes against the environment.

CAFTA, along with being anti-worker (in the U.S. as well as Central America) is very anti-environment. The League of Conservation voters has a short summary here. This agreement is huge and complicated, but the scariest for me is the obscene rights it generates for multi-national corporations. Governments can be sued for lost profits because of environmental laws. Patent infringement language also restricts people being able to make decisions over environmental, ecological, and possibly most importantly, agricultural issues. In one case that took advantage of ‘free trade’ laws, a Canadian farmer was sued after Monsanto found out that the farmer’s field contained plants that were patented by Monsanto, and they sued even though he did not plant the ‘Roundup Ready’ plants, they had invaded his crops. Central America will be wide open for these corporations with already poor environmental laws and these new rights gained for the multinational corporations.

How does any of this benefit our district? Surely some of us might make some money from Monsanto stock, but is it worth it?

Here is some good information about Neoliberal policies and the Environment. Good .pdf about effects trade agreements of California’s stringent laws.

Should you be allowed to know what is in your food?

The Republican congress is really pushing that they are independent from the administration with this shipping port noise, but the curious thing is, they still act in complete unison. Here is the most recent dismantling of the institutions we have built over generations to protect us:

House acts to end some food label warnings

There are hundreds of laws that have been passed by states to regulate food safety. I guess this can not be allowed. Rodney Frelinghuysen thinks that only the administration, their cronies at the FDA, and his corrupt congress should be allowed to decide what is safe for us and what we should know about the food we eat. Not elected state representatives. Not the scientists that should be running the FDA.

I have been really angry that there has not been any movement to make food companies report what is in their products. If you are concerned about eating genetically modified products, shouldn’t you have the right to be able to find out what products they are in? Shouldn’t we be able to choose foods that meet California’s strict organic standards?

Food safety information

Here is information about GMO’s

Here is a list of foods that have GMO’s

** Don’t forget Boonton’s Farmer’s Market This Summer **

Rodney Frelinghuysen is anti-National Forest

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003’? In our current GOP government-speak, that reads ‘let’s give away our ancient forest systems to some guys who gave us some money’.

Logging does not lower fire risk. Logging companies do not remove brush and undergrowth unless it gets between the timber and their machines. Why would they? The only way this bill makes any sense is if you look at it with the view that logging inherently betters our national forests.

This bill is an insult to anyone who has any respect for our natural heritage, or who believes that our national identity is partially defined by the awe inspiring natural landscape of this country. This legislation makes it easier for the forest service to pay the timber industry to come into our national forests and destroy them for us. Thanks Rodney!

Rodney Frelinghuysen voted for H.R. 1904. Why would he vote for such an irresponsible bill? Was it the donations from the Hardwood Federation for his last two election cycles? Or is it just because that’s how the republican leadership told him to vote?

All of the federal institutions set up to protect us and our property, whether public or private, have been decimated by the current congress and administration. FEMA, EPA, FDA and the defense agencies seem to have been sold to corporate interests. This assault has been conducted on many fronts, from the administration and its rubber stamp senate installing industry advocates to head the agencies, and from our congress passing these ridiculous laws that weaken existing safeguards and standards.

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 is what happens when policy is made without any regard for science, public property, or conservation.

Here is another vote by Frelinghuysen to transfer public lands to corporate interestes without public input.

What is going to be left of our government even after we get rid of these corrupt politicians?