NJ-11

Not that he needs it...

2006-10-04T15:20:00.000-04:00

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

2006-04-11T12:45:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-04-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

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

2006-03-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-16T15:08:00.000-05:00

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?

2006-03-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-09T12:06:00.000-05:00

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?

MTBE is a problem in every town in the district

2006-02-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

The red areas are impacted with MTBE above the NJDEP standard. The yellow areas are impacted with something else, mostly BTEX or chlorinated solvents

All of the towns in the legislative district have instances of MTBE contamination. Some of them have even impacted water supply wells.

NAME	ADDRESS	KCSL_	BENZENE	MTBE	TBA	PCE	VO
Booton Customer Operating Ctr.	Parsippany Blvd.	NJD981491707	Yes	Yes
United Parcel Service Facility	799 Jefferson Rd.	NJD980755706	Yes	Yes	Yes
Texaco Service Station	4 N. Beverwyck Rd.	NJD986580744	Yes	Yes
Amoco Service Station #2063	859 Rt. 46 E.	NJC876026055	Yes	Yes	Yes
Exxon Service Station #3-2600	Rt. 46 & Sandra Dr.	NJD986599835	Yes				Xylenes, ethylbenzene
Goodyear Auto Center	740 Rt. 46 W.	NJL800312993				Yes
Amoco Service Station #4320	277 Rt. 46 W	NJD986610046	Yes	Yes	Yes		Xylenes, ethylbenzene, toluene

Here are the sites that have a Classification Exception Area (CEA) assigned in Parsippany. All are under the review of the NJDEP Bureau of Underground Storage Tanks (BUST):

These are the sites where the responsible party has submitted a file showing the extent of groundwater that is contaminated by their site. Therefore, the sites on the list are limited in that the site is known to have had a release, a party has accepted responsibility, and the investigation has proceeded to the point that a prediction can be made as to the extent of the release for the near future. There are many other sites on the Known Contaminated Site List (KCSL – intro – list of sites in Parsippany) that have no CEA. There is also, obviously, no unknown contaminated sites on the list.

These are the water supply authorities in the district that have had lawsuits filed against MTBE producers according to EWG :

New Jersey American Water Company, Inc.
Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority
United Water Arlington Hills, Inc.

Good article about the petro companies

Should Frelinghuysen be bragging about his stand on MTBE?

2006-02-17T12:02:00.000-05:00

This is a long posting, but as an environmental geologist who has worked at dozens of sites around New Jersey contaminated by MTBE, this is an issue that I have been following very closely for several years.

Here is Frelinghuysen bragging about repealing the use of MTBE as a fuel additive.

I can see why his office releases so many items about environmental issues. For most people in this district, environmental issues are a top priority, even if they don’t fully understand the nuts and bolts of the problems or issues. It’s an easy issue to say you are doing something even that is not the full story.

After voting to shield MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits, Frelinghuysen should be afraid to have MTBE anywhere close to his name. It is especially surprising that he would vote to protect these manufacturers from taking responsibility for their dangerous product since there were several lawsuits seeking damages for actual contaminated water supplies in his district! There is some speculation that the only reason the EPA is lifting these rules is because the protections that Frelinghuysen thinks the MTBE manufacturers should have could not be passed, so litigation has worked in forcing the petroleum companies in recalling a dangerous product.

Here is some technical info for background:

-MTBE is a fuel additive that increases the octane number of gasoline and is cheaper to produce than the other chemicals in gasoline.

-There are conflicting reports of the health effects from MTBE, but it is unquestioned that MTBE can make a water source unusable due to its foul odor. I can’t imagine many people not worrying about the health effects even if they are not fully researched

-The quality of MTBE that makes it so dangerous is its miscibility, that is, it is completely soluble in water and is not at all slowed down by the properties of soil, like other gasoline components like Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes. It just takes off when it hits the water. This is a very basic chemical property known to the chemical companies before they pressed the EPA to use MTBE

-Underground storage tank systems leak. Even with modern systems, a percentage of them will release product into the ground. Knowingly putting a product that is known to be unusually mobile in groundwater is unconscionable. That is what these companies have done.

Here is a map of the area in the district that is known by the NJDEP to be contaminated by MTBE. Sorry for the resolution, I could get more info if anybody is interested, but all of the labeled red dots are sites with MTBE contaminated ground water. Most of them are labeled. These sites have been fully characterized to the specifications of the NJDEP, so many others are still in the process of delineation and reporting.

(click to enlarge)

I am not sure what he is saying with the funds for tank cleanups. I don’t know of any federal funding mechanism in New Jersey for the cleanup of UST’s that are not owned by the federal government. If anybody has anything to clear that up, let me know.

What I do know is that these companies pushed for policies to sell their product that they knew to be dangerous. Due to the unhealthy power the petrochemical industry has in our government, policies were enacted to require this additive, even at a time when it was known that slightly more expensive products, like ethanol, could be used that would be much safer. After the damage has been done, our congress, including Frelinghuysen, thought that damages should not be paid for by these companies that pushed for its use as an additive. Now that that campaign has been lost and the petrochemical industry is facing paying for their damaging policies, Frelinghuysen is bragging about all he has done for New Jersey’s MTBE problem.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means

2006-02-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

Superfund was a trust fund fed by taxes on chemical and petroleum producers. It kind of makes sense, since that’s who makes money off of products that persist in the environments and endanger public health. The fund was used to start cleanups at sites where damage to the environment and public health is the highest risk. Only the worst of the worst are cleaned up under the CERCLA laws that started Superfund. This money was very important because it enables the EPA to initiate the investigation and remediation of the site when no responsible party has been identified or where prosecution is needed to go after the responsible party. The fund also paid for prosecution, where several times the cost of the project is recovered to replenish the superfund.

The Superfund is now at zero. Why do we still call it ‘Superfund’? Is that some kind of joke? The program is funded by taxpayers now, instead of polluters. More of the same from this congress from shifting the costs off of industry and onto the taxpayers.

Superfund annual report

In 2004 the EPA reports the following was spent on Federal Remedial Projects

-2.5 B spent on department of energy sites (taxpayers)

-2.0 B spent on department of defense sites (taxpayers)

-1.3 B spent on Superfund sites appropriated by congress (taxpayers)

-0.9 B paid for by polluters

That does not seem like good use of taxpayer dollars to me. Why should we be paying to clean up products that other people made a ton of money selling producing, mishandling, whatever.

New Jersey’s DEP is one of the most efficient and progressive agencies in the country. Damages are sought on behalf of the taxpayers to pay for natural resource impairment. And the NJDEP does not cost the taxpayers anything. All expenses are paid for by using recovered damages, fees for report reviews, etc. Why can’t the EPA operate on the same principals?

It is clear we can’t count on this congress to do anything about the EPA. It takes a huge disaster to show what they have done to FEMA, the EPA has been bleeding for years and is now almost useless. Remember Whitman at ground zero? That is you taxdollars at work, the PR machine rolling. Don’t worry about a thing, we’ve got it covered.

With all of the problems at the EPA, why is it that most of the times you see a picture of Rodney Frelinghuysen, he’s got his sleeves rolled up at a superfund site, listening sharply. He always brags about appropriations to environmental programs, even though the amount we get in New Jersey is very low compared to other states, and whatever we get has been paid for by our taxes that are much higher of a share than other areas. Is there anybody else that will fight to actually make polluters clean up the mess they have made in our state? Is there somebody who will not accept incompetence and cronyism at one of our most important agencies?

Frelinghuysen misleads constituants about human rights violations

2006-02-16T11:25:00.000-05:00

I can't imagine there is anybody, whether they agree with it or not, that doesn't think that the US has a policy of torturing it's detainees from "The War on Terror".

-The UN thinks we should shut down GITMO

-The governments of European countries want answers also.

But Frelinghuysen, after a trip he sent himself on to the Caribbean with our money, thinks all is well at Guantanamo. I can't find him speaking out against torture in any other context. He tries to frame the debate by making it about the conduct of the troops. I don't think he should be able to get away with such cowardice by claiming that outrage at human rights violations carried out in our name is against the troops and not the people who we trust to oversee the military.

-News of prisoner abuse increasing the risk to our soldiers

-a news account of the trip, the delegates did not speak to any prisoners, but did taste the food, and did witness an interrogation.

-Did he even vote against the 'McCain torture ban'?

Is the ability of a government to detain a person with no due process and deny people's basic human rights the very definition of an authoritarian regime? That's what Frelinghuysen stands for, if he doesn't speak out against it.

Funeral of Social Security?

2006-02-08T15:07:00.000-05:00

An odd statement form the White House:

"The Democrats were laughing all the way to the funeral of Social Security modernization," White House spokesman Trent Duffy told me in an interview Tuesday, but "the president still cares deeply about this. "

I'm not really sure what he is trying to say there, it certaintly seems like a bad choice of words when discussing the proposal to take over $700 billion out of the Social Security program.

Congressman Frelinghuysen doesn't seem too sure about anything when it comes Social Security changes. More caution here. I am wondering how he is going to vote.

Alternative Minimum Tax

2006-01-31T16:05:00.000-05:00

Still the biggest problem in the U.S. economy, according to rich guys: rich guys shouldn't have to pay takes:

"Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., suggested Bush reform the tax system to provide middle-class people more relief."

"Our economy has created 4.6 million new jobs in just 2 1/2 years while the unemployment rate has fallen to pre-9/11 levels. Yet the Alternative Minimum Tax continues to be a burden on thousands of working families in New Jersey," Frelinghuysen said in a statement. "I encourage the president to make tax reform a top priority."

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) was created because people became outraged to learn that many families in the upper tax brackets were not paying anything at all in taxes. While the 60k to 100k tax bracket may be middle class, the lowest percentage of families who have to pay the AMT are in this bracket.

Who has to pay the AMT? mostly "working class families" that make their income off of long term capital gains. The real problem is inflation. The AMT is not adjusted for inflation, so in this area with such high cost of living, the AMT is starting to burden more actual working class families in this area.

The real problem is inflation, debt, and spending, and spending, and spending

No fans of Hammer in Morris?

2006-01-18T10:59:00.000-05:00

Fred Snowflack is very easily convinced that Rodney Frelinghuysen has no ties to the Tom Delay. I'm not as sure. Even if "Frelinghuysen and DeLay never drank beer together at a Washington Nationals game", he still:

-votes to table a bill for a special council to investigate the house leader

-Accepted donations from Americans for a Republican Majority

I seems like there is a low bar for being a fan. The most telling fact is Frelinghuysen's record of almost always voting along party lines.

Another indicator of Frelinghuysen's stance on his party’s ethics will be in the upcoming leadership election. Supporting Roy Blunt, the Hammer's Whip, is a vote for business as usual.