Glen Rock NJ, For the second time in as many weeks, a contractor performing a utility pole replacement project for PSE&G on Lincoln Avenue in Glen Rock, struck an underground utility line, this time forcing the evacuation of a nearby office building. On 09/06, a water main was unintentionally ruptured. Today, Wednesday, 09/14, a gas line was accidentally struck. Glen Rock PD and FD units responded to the incident along with a crew from Hawthorne Fire Company #4. The office building, at 849 Lincoln Avenue, Glen Rock, was evacuated and remained so until a PSE&G crew shut off gas service and repaired the break. No injuries were reported in the mishap.
From the PSEG website;
Call Before You Dig
Whether you plan to plant a tree or new garden; put in a sprinkler system, mailbox post or fencing; install ground rods for electrical systems; or excavate for a home addition, you need to call beforehand to know where it’s safe to dig. For your own well-being and the safety of PSE&G’s underground pipes, cables and equipment, please “Call Before You Dig”. It’s the law.
Call Before You Dig Program: To request a FREE mark out of underground facilities, call 811 or 1-800-272-1000 at least three full business days before digging starts. This call will automatically notify utility operators to mark out underground utilities lines that include natural gas, water, cable, telephone and electric.
Wait the Required Time: Wait three full business days after calling before doing any digging. Underground utilities will be marked with paint, flags or stakes. If the site does not have underground utilities, you will be notified.
Note the Expiration Requirements: The mark out permission will expire after 45 calendar days. Digging must begin within 10 days after the original mark out was requested.
Respect the Marks: Always hand dig and locate underground utilities within two feet of marked lines.
Dig With Care: Making the call before you dig will help prevent property damage and potential injuries. Please be sure to dig safely.
If you accidentally damage gas piping or smell gas when excavating, please call 1-800-880-7734 (PSEG) immediately from a safe area.
Please review the damage prevention booklet that provides additional information on safe excavating practices and the protection of underground facilities.
For additional information covering damage prevention initiatives, check out the following websites:
New Jersey One Call: https://www.nj1-call.org
Common Ground Alliance (CGA): https://www.njcga.com
811 Call Before You Dig: https://www.call811.com
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Gannett is laying off more than 100 employees at a New Jersey media company it recently purchased.
A company executive said Wednesday the layoffs are needed to improve the financial sustainability of the North Jersey Media Group, which publishes The Record, NorthJersey.com and other newspapers.
The McLean, Virginia-based Gannett purchased the news organization in July.
Tom Donovan, northeast regional president of Gannett East Group, said layoff notices will go out to 426 of the company’s employees this week. Among these, he said, more than 200 newsroom employees and about 60 in sales will remain with the company. Donovan declined to say how many people the company employs.
The layoff notices are required under state and federal law when a private company plans wide-scale layoffs.
Donovan said the changes are part of “an ambitious new reinvention” to make its newsroom and sales department more responsive to digital demands.
He said the company will invest in new equipment and “transform our strategy to better serve the sophisticated and increasingly digitally minded New Jersey audience and advertisers.”
Paul J. Larkin Jr. / David Rosenthal / @DL_Rosenthal / John-Michael Seibler
This week, the infamous “Bridgegate” scandal goes to trial, with former officials in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration facing serious charges from the U.S. Department of Justice. Not since London Bridge came falling down in 1281 has an overpass caused such a stir.
The backstory: In 2013, Christie was running for re-election. Like every other politician in that position, he was trying to round up support from other state and local pols. Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, however, declined to get on board. That is when the plot thickened.
The story is that several officials in Christie’s administration agreed to shut down some (but not all) of the traffic lanes across the George Washington Bridge into New York, creating a huge traffic jam in Fort Lee. That would “punish” Sokolich for his failure to “get in line.” It was a prank. A dirty trick. Think the end of “Animal House,” just real life.
As pranks or dirty tricks go, it was tawdry, even stupid. (Did they think no one would find out?) Christie himself described the lane closure as “abject stupidity.”
Once the story broke, Christie and his cohorts predictably took a drubbing from the notoriously tough New York media. Christie certainly paid a price in the media for the imbroglio and likely also among the electorate during his later run for the Republican nomination for the presidency.
No one has a constitutional right to avoid traffic or to use three or four lanes when approaching a bridge.
One might think that a media firestorm and political retribution were adequate penalties for a stupid, cheap, political dirty trick. But not in 21st-century America, where the U.S. Justice Department believes that political dirty tricks are actually crimes. The Justice Department has charged Bridget Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, along with David Wildstein and William Baroni, officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with multiple federal felonies for their parts in the Great Gridlock Shenanigans. The 37-page, 9-count indictment alleges these officials committed theft of federal government property, fraud, the deprivation of the civil rights of New Jersey residents, and that they conspired to do all of the foregoing. (If the defendants had dynamited an empty bridge, they would have committed fewer crimes.)
Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of conspiracy and implicated his alleged co-conspirators. He will likely regret that because, as explained below, he pleaded guilty to nonexistent crimes.
What property did they steal? The bridge is still there—and probably the traffic, too.
What property did they misuse? The government alleges that the defendants misused “the time and services of unwitting Port Authority personnel.” Really? If that is a form of theft, then the Justice Department inspector general should investigate to make sure no DOJ employee uses a DOJ fax machine to send a permission slip to a child’s school, or uses the government’s WATS line to call a sick parent, or uses an office computer to check the scores on ESPN, or wastes away the day chatting with colleagues—or any of the other matters that go on in the federal government on a daily basis.
What was the fraud? Neither the defendants nor anyone else derived any personal financial benefit from the scheme. Was the fraud an implicit representation that politicians would not act like politicians? Puhleeze! We’re talkin’ “New Joisey” here! Besides, any DOJ prosecutor who thinks that politicians do not pull stupid stunts like this one is guilty of defrauding the federal government for telling his superiors that he is savvy enough to be a DOJ prosecutor.
The only benefit that Christie’s associates got was schadenfreude. If that is sufficient to violate the fraud statute, the Supreme Court has been wasting its time trying to interpret that law because, as Cole Porter wrote, anything goes.
Most outrageous is the civil rights charge. What civil right did the defendants violate? The constitutional right not to be ensnarled in traffic? Fuggedaboutit! Perhaps there is a constitution somewhere that includes a Traffic Clause (right after the Sanity Clause), but the American Constitution sure doesn’t.
The Constitution guarantees everyone a right to interstate migration, not interstate commuting — and certainly not speedy interstate commuting, let alone a right to “localized” driving, as the government’s indictment alleges. No one has a constitutional right to avoid traffic or to use three or four lanes when approaching a bridge. Besides, the defendants didn’t corral Fort Lee residents. There are numerous bridges, tunnels, and ferries into New York. Perhaps someone should show the prosecutors a map.
Look at this matter another way. It would not violate the Constitution for officials to funnel traffic into fewer lanes to repave the bridge. The only difference between that scenario and this one is that these officials are said to have acted with the intent to injure someone—not the commuters, however; they were just the delivery vehicle for the pain.
The defendants’ intent was to injure Mayor Sokolich—not physically, just politically—for not being a “team player.” Yes, that is a shoddy way to treat the public (which always seems to take it in the shorts whenever politicians act like, well, politicians). But the Constitution protects us against political mischief. It lets us vote the perpetrators out of office. That is the proper remedy, not a criminal prosecution.
In a case involving alleged political misconduct (a trade association’s gifts to politicians), the late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that “a statute in this field that can linguistically be interpreted to be either a meat axe or a scalpel should reasonably be taken to be the latter.” Here, the DOJ prosecutors have gone with a scythe.
A lawyer representing Kelly wrote that “the intentional causing of traffic” has never been the subject of federal civil rights allegations. “No other federal criminal case,” according to counsel, “has been prosecuted anywhere, at any time, with facts even remotely similar to the facts there.” We haven’t looked everywhere, but, by God, we sure hope he’s right.
Last spring, the Supreme Court unanimously spanked the DOJ in McDonnell v. United States for trying to stretch the federal criminal law to punish tawdry political behavior. McDonnell was not an anomaly. It was just the latest in a series of cases (including McNally, McCormick, Sun-Diamond Growers, Skillingand Yates) in which the Supreme Court has told the Justice Department that it is up to Congress—not the DOJ—to come up with newfangled crimes and to define them with precision.
The prosecutors need to listen to the music, not just read the lyrics, in the court’s opinions. The district court should have dismissed this indictment in an opinion that read simply, “GMAB.” Were this case to result in a conviction and ultimately reach the Supreme Court, the court will need to send the DOJ to its room without supper yet again. Why? Because with this indictment the Justice Department has essentially flipped off the court.
It is a good thing that there will be a presidential election in November. It offers every hope that there will be a new attorney general come January 2017. The Justice Department could use some adult supervision.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – State voters are being promised that millions of dollars in new funding will flow to programs for senior citizens and the horse racing industry and to help a struggling Atlantic City if they approve a ballot question authorizing two new casinos near New York City. But what they’re not being told is what tax rate the new casinos in the northern part of the state would pay or how much new money would be available.
On Tuesday, a state lawmaker proposed specific tax rates for the new gambling halls. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo told The Associated Press a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack might be taxed at 35 to 40 percent while a costlier one in Jersey City could pay 15 to 20 percent.
“We’ve lagged behind in terms of being transparent,” said Caputo, a northern New Jersey Democrat and former casino worker. “There’s no use kidding anybody about that. The tax rate needs to be established.”
The proposal came as pro- and anti-casino expansion forces are pouring millions of dollars into ads in the nation’s most expensive media market to influence the outcome of the November referendum.
By Sara Jerde | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 13, 2016 at 5:56 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Gov. Chris Christie has again nominated Gurbir Grewal to be Bergen County prosecutor.
Christie announced late Monday that he would ask the state Senate to approve Grewal, who has been serving as acting county prosecutor. Christie previously nominated Grewal for the job in 2013, but the Senate did not approve the appointment.
Grewal was appointed acting prosecutor by Christie in January when former County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli retired from the job.
By Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 13, 2016 at 2:45 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 3:29 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD — The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority plans to address a host of legal issues raised by a group opposed to its plans to issue $1.15 billion in public bonds on behalf of American Dream Meadowlands.
The Sports Authority agreed on Aug. 25 to issue the bonds to help finance the stalled retail and entertainment center.
On Sept. 6, an attorney for the New Jersey Alliance for Fiscal Integrity wrote a letter to the authority claiming the deal was flawed. Thomas Calcagni, an attorney for the alliance, criticized the bond sale in the 11-page document.
Washington DC, Legislation to end bailouts for big banks, toughen penalties for wrongdoing on Wall Street, promote economic growth, and provide desperately needed regulatory relief for small community banks and credit unions passed the House Financial Services Committee 30-26 today.
The legislation – the Financial CHOICE Act – ends the Dodd-Frank Act’s taxpayer-funded bailouts of large financial institutions; relieves banks that elect to be strongly capitalized from growth-strangling regulation that slows the economy and harms consumers; imposes tougher penalties on those who commit financial fraud; and demands greater accountability from Washington regulators.
“Democrats just voted against a bill that increases penalties against those who commit financial fraud. They just voted against a bill that ends taxpayer-funded bailouts, and they just voted against legislation that provides relief from Washington’s crushing regulatory burden for small banks, credit unions and consumers,” said Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), the sponsor of the bill.
“The bill holds Wall Street accountable with the toughest, strongest, strictest penalties ever – far greater than those in Dodd-Frank. And as recent headlines attest, obviously stronger penalties are needed. It requires banks to be well capitalized to prevent another financial crisis and puts in place the toughest penalties in history to protect consumers from fraud and deception.
“The Financial CHOICE Act will help grow the economy for all Americans, not just those at the top. It promotes strong and transparent markets to revitalize job creation in our poorest communities and ensures every American has the opportunity to achieve financial independence, no matter where they start out in life.”
The Financial CHOICE Act, which stands for Creating Hope and Opportunity for Investors, Consumers and Entrepreneurs, received strong support from community banks and credit unions, small business groups and conservative organizations. Large financial institutions did not offer their support for the bill.
Democrats on the Committee – despite having spent months criticizing the Financial CHOICE Act – refused to offer a single amendment to the bill.
For more information on the Financial CHOICE Act, visit www.financialservices.house.gov/choice/.
Organizations offering praise for the Financial CHOICE Act include the following:
“The [Financial CHOICE Act] would provide meaningful regulatory relief to help community banks foster economic and job growth in their local communities.” — Independent Community Bankers of America
“This bill provides significant regulatory relief essential to restoring economic growth. Republican members of Congress have repeatedly promised to get rid of Dodd-Frank and stop taxpayer funded bailouts. Now they have the opportunity to fulfill that promise by bringing the Financial Choice Act to a vote in the House and Senate, and sending the bill to the President’s desk.” — Heritage Action
“Chairman Hensarling’s CHOICE Act would be a win for Main Street consumers, workers and small businesses. Since Dodd-Frank was passed in 2010, access to free-checking has decreased while lobbyists’ importance has increased. The CHOICE Act helps reverse this trend.” — Main Street Growth Project
“Americans for Prosperity applauds your leadership in reining in the overbearing financial regulations that threaten growth and threaten consumer financial stability. Repealing and replacing the failed policies established in the Dodd-Frank Act will mean that Americans will have greater access to capital, which will lead to greater job growth, personal wealth, and overall economic prosperity. We are proud to support the CHOICE Act, and we urge your colleagues to support it.” — Americans for Prosperity
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] is precisely the right combination to get the American economy moving again. The CHOICE Act offers sensible regulatory relief for qualifying institutions, protects the American taxpayer and consumer from another Wall Street meltdown, and holds federal financial regulatory agencies accountable.” — Independent Bankers Association of Texas
“….several components of this legislation target reforms specifically to facilitate investment in small business. The inclusion of these provisions and others will provide regulatory relief and modernization that will allow the private sector to fuel economic growth in our 21st century economy.” — Small Business Investor Alliance
“This is an important bill that will truly reform rules governing the financial system, encourage innovation across the system, vastly improve access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and transform a regulatory structure that lacks accountability, is too secretive, and ignores its responsibilities concerning small businesses.” — Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
“We greatly appreciate the Chairman’s efforts in Title III of the bill to reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau). This title will help to ensure the Bureau serves as a non-partisan regulator that operates within the framework of the law by giving Congress more oversight authority, taking into account the opinions of all stakeholders, and properly weighing the impact its regulations have on the availability of credit.” — Consumer Bankers Association
“NAR is pleased that the FCA [Financial CHOICE Act] includes provisions that will enhance transparency, accountability and fairness in our financial system. As a result, the FCA will help expand financial product choice and promote economic opportunity. These provisions are an important step towards making property ownership a reality for hardworking Americans and U.S. businesses.” – National Association of Realtors
“If we want the economy to improve — if we want to give all Americans the chance to prosper again — we need to put an end to Washington’s destructive regulatory agenda once and for all. Thankfully, an increasing number of elected officials in Washington are fighting against the harmful effects and unintended consequences of these onerous regulations. Leading the fight in Congress has been House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), who recently outlined a comprehensive plan to turbocharge the American economy. His new legislation, The Financial CHOICE Act, aims to curb regulations to create opportunity and choice for investors, consumers, and entrepreneurs nationwide.” — Conservative Coalition Letter of Support
“If signed into law, the bill would end the era of too big to fail, and would move banking and financial decisions away from Beltway and back to Main Street. This bill is balanced, meets key conservative criteria, and should continue to move through the House to final passage.” — FreedomWorks
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] would begin the process of implementing sensible, necessary reforms to the U.S. financial system. That system has been saddled with an ineffective regulatory structure and an array of conflicting legislative and regulatory requirements that, individually or collectively, constrain growth. The Chamber believes the Financial Choice Act is a positive first step for unlocking the capital markets to better facilitate the financing of America’s economic growth and job creation.” — U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“….the CHOICE Act offers a strong alternative to Dodd-Frank and the regulatory morass it created. Rather than creating a flurry of complex rules in response to the financial crisis, Congress should have mandated higher capital requirements for financial institutions. That is why NTU is enthusiastic about the CHOICE Act’s “off ramp” from the bulk of the current Dodd Frank regulatory regime.” — National Taxpayers Union
“….the CHOICE Act and the substantial regulatory relief it provides…will generate meaningful economic and job growth in our communities.” — Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] address[es] the challenging credit conditions that home builders and home buyers continue to experience as a result of an overly zealous regulatory response to the financial crisis. NAHB appreciates your efforts to initiate regulatory reform to support a more robust recovery.” — National Association of Home Builders
“….it is vital that we take heed of any policy that claims to “fix” the voluntary actions of consumers. Price controls go against everything we stand for as a country and do nothing but redistribute wealth, damaging the lives of hardworking Americans. The first step forward is reform. The Financial CHOICE Act is that first step.” — Red State
“….the Financial Choice Act if passed will restore competition in the marketplace by removing arbitrary government price caps. Additionally, it will allow banks the ability to recoup the money they spend on fraud protection from the retailers that reap the benefit of the use of debit cards. Consumers will once again have affordable access to basic banking services, and small businesses will have the freedom to negotiate processing fees that make sense based on the type of goods they sell. In short, all true conservatives in Congress should rally behind Neugebauer and Hensarling’s bill, because it will cut back on big government red tape and allow the free market to thrive again.” — Liberty Unyielding
Today, we honor the memory of those we lost on September 11, 2001. On that day, the lives of nearly 3,000 people were tragically cut short at the hands of those who sought only suffering and destruction. The innocent victims were our fathers, our mothers, our daughters, our sons, and our friends. They were the brave and selfless few that raced to help in the minutes, days, and weeks after the attacks. Today we honor their sacrifice.
While lives were taken and property was destroyed, what the terrorists were truly seeking to attack that day was our resolve and our spirit. They wanted the American people to cower and relinquish the most fundamental right that we hold dear—our freedom.
Unfortunately for them, our armed forces abroad and our first responders here at home—the most dedicated and well-trained people on the planet—have never backed down from a challenge since our country was founded nearly 250 years ago. And these brave men and women have the unwavering support of millions of Americans who cherish their freedom and stand by those who fight for it.
As we pause to remember all that we lost on that day 15 years ago, we must remember that our flag still proudly flies here and across the world. We must remember that the terrorists failed to take what they wanted most—our nation’s belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And as our country continues to face adversaries here and abroad, we must remember just how precious life and freedom truly are.
Let us never forget those we lost 15 years ago today. May God bless the United States of America.
Washington Twp NJ, An on-duty Washington Township police officer sustained non life threatening injuries when her marked police cruiser was involved in a minor collision with a passenger vehicle on Thursday afternoon, 09/08. She was transported by ambulance to the Hackensack University Medical Center’s North Campus in Westwood. The crash occurred on Pascack Road near the Seasons restaurant. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by flatbed tow trucks. No information was available at the crash site as to whether the police officer was responding to an emergency at the time of the incident. The other vehicle’s driver, an adult female, was uninjured in the mishap.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House passed a legislative package to help American innovators access capital that included Rep. Scott Garrett’s (NJ-05) Private Placement Improvement Act. The Accelerating Access to Capital Act, H.R. 2357, is a package of three bills that will help level the playing field and make it possible for small businesses to raise capital by lessening the burdens of complex and costly securities regulations imposed by Washington. Garrett is Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises.
“If we want bigger paychecks and more opportunity in New Jersey, it starts with ending the excessive regulations from Washington that are hurting our economy,” said Garrett. “Instead of clearing a path for success, federal regulations cost small businesses with less than 20 employees 45 percent more per employee than their larger counterparts, essentially stepping on innovators at a time when they are most vulnerable.
“The Accelerating Access to Capital Act recognizes that having one-size-fits-all federal regulations that make no distinction between someone just starting out and some of the biggest companies in the world is inherently unfair. We can, and must, level this playing field by tailoring regulations to smaller businesses to help the next great American success story. Today’s vote was a good first step.”
The Private Placement Improvement Act would prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from implementing onerous requirements on companies that raise capital through private channels. Despite statutory requirements to promote capital formation, the SEC has largely failed to prioritize streamlining regulations that could help small companies access investment capital.
It’s Not #CreepyClowns that Parents Should be Worried About
There’s been a lot of talk about creepy clown sightings these days. It’s true. Recently in both North and South Carolina, there have been reported sightings of, for lack of a better term, creepy clowns prowling around neighborhoods, scaring children. Some reports claim that these clowns could be a publicity stunt while others claim that these people have a much more sinister intent, which is supported by reports of some attempting to lure kids closer with money.
Well, we know that there are a lot of good, hard-working clowns right here in Jersey. Heck, you might even work with one or two (wink). Of course, it’s probably their part-time job, unless you all work for a circus. With that being said, we’re happy to report no suspicious or creepy clown activity here in Jersey
But these recent event gives us an opportunity to talk about safety tips that you can give your kids. After all, the kids are back in school, which means many are walking to and from home. You see, a scary-looking clown beckoning children closer may be all that is needed to have your child do the right thing, which is to walk in the other direction. It’s the unassuming person, man or woman, who your child should be wary of. Here are some tips:
*Talk to your kids
*Tell them who they can expect to come and get them in an emergency (family member or close friend)
*When walking to school, there is strength in numbers—walk in a group
*Never get into a stranger’s car
*Keep a safe distance from strangers asking for directions or help
*Tell your kids to yell, scream and kick if grabbed by a stranger
*Look around, stop looking for Pokemon—be aware of your surroundings
*If a stranger claims to be a cop but is not in uniform, kids should find a trusted adult
Let’s talk about that last tip for a minute. Are your kids familiar with the faces of the local police? Don’t just rely on the cops visiting schools. Drop by a station anytime to have your kids meet the troops or local police who patrol your area! It’s a great way get to know the troops and for the troops to get to know you and your kids!
For all of the coulrophobics out there, we apologize for the pic, but it was necessary. Sadly, at the end of the day, if all of the bad people out there stuck out as much as a person dressed as a clown, we wouldn’t have write posts like this.
Glen Rock NJ, A crew working for PSE&G that was setting new utility poles on Lincoln Avenue in Glen Rock struck and ruptured a water main near Cornelia Place on Tuesday afternoon, 09/06. Traffic on Lincoln Avenue in both directions was disrupted while personnel from Ridgewood Water repaired the leak and the utility company resumed work setting poles. No injuries were reported in the incident. Hawthorne PD officers provided traffic control during the disruption.
Hackensack NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett today announced the Veterans for Garrett coalition and unveiled its district-wide leadership team. The members of Veterans for Garrett are all actively involved in various veterans’ affairs and veterans’ organizations, and include Roy Bud, a Bergen County Vietnam Veteran; Frank Crotty, a Bergen County Vietnam Veteran; Fmr. Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano, United States Navy; William Dobbins, a Warren County Vietnam Veteran; Senator Michael Doherty, Captain United States Army; Patty Green; Col. John “Jack” O’Neil (Ret.); Lt. Col. Larry Peterson (Ret.); and Bob Salvini.
“The sacrifices made by these brave men and women are the reason we are able to enjoy our freedom and liberty today,” said Rep. Scott Garrett. “I am incredibly honored that the members of this coalition have agreed to join me in this re-election effort so that I may continue to serve those who have served our state and our nation.”
In an open letter addressed to fellow veterans, Veterans for Garrett said, “We are dedicated to the appropriate recognition of all veterans for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our great nation and to assuring prompt and proper medical care for them upon their return to civilian life. Thus, we are proud to announce our support for Congressman Scott Garrett and it is our hope that he will be able to count on your support as well.”
The letter also detailed Congressman Garrett’s impressive record of working vigorously on behalf of America’s veterans, which includes the following:
Scott Garrett helped lead the New Jersey Congressional delegation in ensuring reduced waiting time for medical attention and to improve the care provided by the Veterans’ Administration. Scott Garrett has strongly supported the Veterans Choice Program allowing veterans to seek care outside of the VA system if they choose. Scott Garrett co-sponsored the VA Accountability Act, authorizing the discharge of employees at the VA for poor job performance or misconduct. Scott Garrett is a co-sponsor of the Toxic Exposure Research Act which establishes a national VA center to study and treat the long-term problems experienced by veterans and their children as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals. Most significantly for veterans in Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, Scott Garrett has been the moving force behind the VA’s decision to open a new VA Clinic in Newton, making VA care much more accessible to veterans in Northwest New Jersey. On behalf of the first responders suffering from medical conditions related to the September 11th terrorist attacks, Scott Garrett is a proud co-sponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
September 6th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Wyckoff NJ , the campaign season kicked off a little early with Congressman Scott Garrett holding a rally to an over flow crowd at the Wyckoff public library .Garrett hit on his usual themes focusing deficit reduction, working people keeping more of their own money ,Bergen County rail safety, creating more economic opportunities and focusing his criticism on Dodd Frank and among many things it’s institutionalization of “Too big to Fail”.
The well attended event featured GOP Chair Paul DiGaetano whipping up the crowd in a further indication of a major shift of Bergen County Republican Organization politics. It is no secret of past strains between the BCRO and the Congressman . DiGaetano’s appearance was a welcome sight to many Garrett supporters who have long looked at the BCRO as the enemy.
Garrett spoke about the Choice Act ,” Washington desperately needs transparency. Dodd-Frank created bureaucracies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that gave immense power to a single, politically appointed director who makes economic decisions on your behalf. The CFPB tells you what financial products you can have or not have because they think they know what’s best for you when it comes to loans, mortgages and car purchases.”
He continued ,”Our plan makes the CFPB, and other unaccountable agencies, into bipartisan commissions. We would also require all financial regulations to undergo strict cost-benefit tests to make sure they’re not doing more harm than good. And we would change the system to ensure that all major financial regulations are approved by Congress before they are imposed on the American people.”
During the Q&A Garrett took a swipe at the Bergen Record’s coverage of him ,reminding a Record reporter that (unlike the Ridgewood blog) no Record reporter has ever come to any of his DC press conferences.
Rep. Garrett summarized , “Spending more money than we have is dangerously short-sighted and continues to stifle the economic future of our country. I will continue fighting to rein-in Washington’s out-of-control spending so our children and grandchildren can have an opportunity to achieve their own American Dream.”
