Rep Scott Garrett on Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule: Another roadblock between people and their financial goals
Apr 6, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced their finalized rule for retirement advisors—known as the “fiduciary rule”—that could turn retirement planning into an unaffordable luxury. The hyper-partisan rule was unveiled at the liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress, with a group of Democrat lawmakers.
“Saving for the future shouldn’t be a privilege for the wealthy, and Washington doesn’t need to put another roadblock between people and their financial goals. By ignoring the advice of the SEC and Congress, the DOL’s rule will increase the cost of retirement advice for lower- and middle-income Americans while creating a preferred class of rich investors. I will continue to fight for everyone’s right to get good financial advice because—unlike this administration—I believe in the people of New Jersey to make the best choices for their families and their futures.”
The DOL fiduciary rule could result in many people finding out that their accounts are too small to qualify for professional advice because providers will be forced to only service large accounts. In many cases, minimum account balances will increase substantially, effectively shutting down the ability of average investors to receive advice. It could also limit access to financial products that people are able to utilize when developing a retirement savings portfolio.
In October, Congressman Garrett voted for H.R. 1090, the Retail Investor Protection Act, which would block the DOL’s rule and ask for advice and expertise from the Securities and Exchange Commission before implementing any new rules.
Scott Garrett working on rail car safety in Bergen County
April 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, considered New Jersey’s most vulnerable House incumbent, will now face two RINO (Republican in Name only) Republican primary opponents before he can take on well-funded and Clinton connected and Wall Street connected Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer in November.
Garrett has been under attack from his own party for a whole host of issues for years .He has received little to non campaign support form DC.
Garret has come under fire from his own party for not towing the party line and supporting DC’ s borrow and spending binge , not supporting the preordained GOP speaker candidate for the House , and more importantly opposing “to big to fail ” financial regulation .
Peter Vallorosi of Newton and Michael Cino of Demarest have filed petitions with the state Division of Elections to challenge Garrett in the state’s June 7 primary. Mr. Cino lost to Garrett in a landslide in the 2012 GOP congressional primary.
The New Jersey’s media claims Garrett has been also been criticized for allegedly saying he would not support the House Republicans’ fundraising arm because it backed gay candidates. Many insiders view the ‘gay issues” as a smoke screen.
However in a recent interview, the seven-term incumbent insisted that his litmus test was whether a candidate backed the Republican platform’s opposition to same-sex marriage, not the sexual orientation of a particular nominee.
Garret is a House Financial Services subcommittee chairman, and has been prolific fundraiser among Wall Street and banking employees. In response to his media alleged comments, some companies have said they will no longer make political action committee contributions to his campaign. However, Garrett banked $2.4 million for his re-election campaign through Dec. 31., while his Democratic opponent, former White House speechwriter Josh Gottheimer, entered 2016 with $1.3 million in the bank.
file photo Scott Garrett sinking the crony driven Ex Im bank
Garrett Statement on SIFI Designation Struck Down by Courts
Mar 30, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement after a federal judge struck down a systemically important financial institution (SIFI) designation by the Financial Stability Oversight Council for the first time ever today.
“FSOC’s ( Financial Stability Oversight Council ) perfect storm of secrecy and intimidation has created a shadow regulatory system that concentrates power in Washington at the expense of hardworking Americans, and I’m pleased to see the judicial branch took a stand for the Constitution with their decision. Now that the courts have spoken, it’s time for Congress to step in and pull back the curtain on FSOC so the American people can see what this secretive body is really up to.”
Garrett has led the call for much-needed transparency and accountability at the FSOC. He is the author of H.R. 3557, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) Transparency and Accountability Act. This bill passed the Financial Services Committee in November.
H.R. 3557 would:
Subject the FSOC to the Government in the Sunshine Act
Subject the FSOC to the Federal Advisory Committee Act
At all FSOC meetings, allow for the participation of all members of the Commissions and Boards represented
Require that any vote taken by the principal of a Commission or Board represented must first be taken by that Commission or Board and the principal must then in turn vote that same decision at the Council
Allow for Members of Congress on the Congressional oversight committees of FSOC to be able to attend all FSOC meetings
Garrett has made enemies by his unrelenting disapproval of Dodd-Frank which has codified the disastrous “too big to fail” policy and mega Wall Street bail outs . “Garrett says , “the Dodd-Frank Act has stifled economic growth, made it more difficult for Main Street businesses to obtain credit, and increased the likelihood that taxpayers will be on the hook for additional Wall Street bailouts. Most importantly, this law has and has made it harder for Americans to find a job, buy a home, and save money for their family’s future. ” Garrett went on , “Despite creating new bureaucracies that have imposed thousands of pages of rigid, invasive, and unworkable regulations, Dodd-Frank did nothing to reform the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose actions caused the 2008 financial crisis.
While Garrett’s Democrat challenger Josh Gottheimer is a champion of more big government , more corporate welfare ,and more wall street bailouts.
Norwood NJ, “Republican” Norwood Councilman Allen Rapaport demonstrated more of the cowardise that has so typified the GOP establishment. deciding to defect from his county party organization’s support of Scott Garrett (R-5), the incumbent Republican congressman in his district. Thursday morning, Rapaport joined Garrett’s Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer in Paramus to declare his decision to endorse him over Garrett , finishing his political career.
With this move Rapaport joins and other failed politicians with Gottheimer in support of Wall Street bailouts , big banks .
Rapaport’s decision to endorse Gottheimer comes hot on the heels of the January party switch of “Double dipper “Sheriff Michael Saudino. The once-Republican will now be running as a Democrat on the November ballot. Yudin’s challenger for the BCRO chairmanship Paul DiGaetano, like the rest of the BCRO, he is supporting Garrett.
Ridgewood NJ, Joshua S. Gottheimer is a lawyer, speechwriter, and public policy adviser. He has been active within the Democratic Party as a speechwriter for Bill Clinton and an advisor for the presidential campaigns of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. He is currently running for the United States House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 5th congressional district.
The New York Times called Gottheimer a “Protégé of Clintons” saying , “few can claim as direct a connection to the former secretary of state as Mr. Gottheimer, who began his career as a young speechwriter in the Clinton White House and advised Mrs. Clinton’s 2008 campaign. Mr. Clinton and Chelsea Clinton have already quietly appeared at a Manhattan fund-raiser in late October, where Ms. Clinton introduced Mr. Gottheimer as something of a family member.” https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/26/nyregion/protege-of-hillary-and-bill-clintons-targets-us-congressional-seat.html
On February 8th the FBI disclosed in a federal court filing, that it is looking into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. On March 2nd the Justice Department granted immunity to a former State Department staffer, who worked on Hillary Clinton’s private email server, as part of a criminal investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information, according to a senior law enforcement official.
While the Ridgewood blog has already reported that Gottheimer is being funded by Wall Street interests looking to expand the current “too big to fail” policies and make Wall Street and Corporate bailouts even more frequent something Garret is vehemently opposed too. The NYT again reported ,”Mr. Gottheimer reported raising around $1 million for his campaign through September. A review of his filings found that about one dollar in six came directly from fellow alumni of the Clinton White House and campaigns — many of whom are scattered across powerful companies like Time Warner Inc., Bloomberg L.P. and Goldman Sachs — or from major donors and employees of consulting firms tied closely to the Clintons. “https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/26/nyregion/protege-of-hillary-and-bill-clintons-targets-us-congressional-seat.html
And all this before any mention of the Clinton foundation ,which the National Review called an , ” elaborate slush fund, includes numerous donors and even one-time board members with dodgy backgrounds, shady dealings, and even criminal convictions that should repel rather than lure a once and perhaps future president of the United States. Peter Schweizer’s meticulously researched new best-seller Clinton Cash” (complete with 635 endnotes) delineates this ultimate power couple’s sordid circle. https://www.nationalreview.com/article/419791/clinton-foundation-reeks-crooks-thieves-and-hoods-deroy-murdock
Happy 75th anniversary to M&M’s! I’m proud to represent such an iconic American candy that is made right in Hackettstown! Such a source of New Jersey pride.
Financial Services Committee Passes Two Garrett-Sponsored Bills
Bills would enforce Constitutional rights and give Main Street businesses new tools to succeed
Mar 2, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Today the Financial Services Committee passed two bills introduced by Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. The bills were H.R. 4638, The Main Street Growth Act, and H.R. 3798, The Due Process Restoration Act.
“One of the biggest concerns I hear from my constituents that the executive branch has run wild and Congress needs to regain control to protect the Constitutional rights of all Americans. For that reason, I’m pleased that today the Financial Services Committee passed my bill to restore the due process rights of all Americans by allowing them to have their case before the SEC heard by a federal court. I’m also happy to announce that my bill to allow Main Street businesses to raise capital by accessing public markets passed the committee. Because if we want to revive America’s economy, we need to give Main Street businesses the tools they needs to innovate and succeed.”
H.R. 3798, The Due Process Restoration Act Would:
Provide a mandatory right of removal allowing the defendant to request that the case be moved to a district court
Grant a right of removal to defendants who are subject to a cease and desist order and monetary penalty that the commission is seeking
Raise the burden of proof for cases that remain in the ALJ to a higher “clear and convincing evidence” standard
The Main Street Growth Act Would:
Authorize the creation of “venture exchanges” which would be registered as a national securities exchange with the SEC and be specifically tailored to list the shares of emerging growth companies and companies that issue shares under the newly finalized “Reg A+”
Exempt venture exchanges from Regulation NMS, Regulation ATS, and would be exempt from extending unlisted trading privileges to companies that list on them;
Subject venture exchanges to all of the existing anti-fraud and investor protection statutes administered by the SEC
Permit all investors— not just Silicon Valley billionaires or the well-connected—to invest in companies that list on venture exchanges.
Ringwood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) today called upon U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck to share groundwater test results and future testing plans for the Ringwood Superfund Site after recent groundwater tests raised additional concerns about the presence of toxic substances at the site.
These reports found 1,4-dioxane, a probable human carcinogen that may result in liver, kidney, and upper respiratory damage, at levels close to 100 times the state maximum standard. Alarmingly, the EPA first had knowledge of a positive identification of this substance in November 2015, but failed to notify the public.
“As you know, the EPA’s management of the site is a decades old and ongoing concern for New Jersey residents,” wrote Garrett in the letter. “I believe that public health issues need to be dealt with in a transparent manner so that residents are well-informed about the safety of their communities and surrounding areas.”
Congressman Garrett’s Specific Requests:
Information and Reports from the EPA about the Ringwood Superfund Site
All groundwater test reports currently in the EPA’s possession; and
A list of known toxic substances and the levels of such substances found at the site.
The EPA’s Future Plans for Groundwater Testing at the Ringwood Superfund Site
The EPA’s plans for additional groundwater tests of known toxic substances present at the site;
A list of toxic substances that may be present at the site, but that the EPA has not tested for; and
The EPA’s plans for additional groundwater tests of toxic substances that may be present at the site and have not been tested for in past groundwater tests.
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement after a senior SEC enforcement official last week defended the Commission’s increased use of in-house administrative law judges.
“It’s extremely distressing to see a senior SEC enforcement official so callously disregard the Constitutional and due process concerns that have been raised over the SEC’s in-house tribunals. The Commission is missing the point that this isn’t about how many cases are won or lost – it’s about protecting every American’s due process rights and their ability to have a fair trial. The SEC has become more concerned about making headlines than executing an effective enforcement program, and these comments are reflective of that approach.”
Garrett continues to put pressure on the SEC unlike Garrett’s Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer who is a big proponent of Dodd – Frank and the institutionalization of the “too big to fail ” policies for all financial institutions . Gottheimer would have the government continue to bail out poorly run banks and Wall Street firms .
Garrett is the author of the Due Process Restoration Act that would rein-in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s controversial overuse of in-house administrative law judges and ensure that all Americans are given due process by allowing defendants the option of having their case heard before a federal court.
In the wake of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which granted the SEC expanded administrative enforcement powers, the SEC started trying an increasing number of alleged wrongdoers before its in-house administrative panels rather than in the federal courts established by Article III of the Constitution.
The SEC has heard repeated criticism of these in-house panels from defendants who feel they weren’t given due process, former SEC judges who felt pressure to rule in favor of the Commission, and U.S. District Judges who find the panels unconstitutional.
The Commission announced that it will be giving more legal safeguards to defendants that come before its in-house administrative panels. Unfortunately, the SEC’s proposed changes fall well short of addressing many of these concerns and its enforcement practices continue to violate the separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution.
Garrett: President Should Not Visit Cuba Until Murderers are Returned to U.S. Menendez : It is totally unacceptable for the president of the United States to reward a dictatorial regime
Feb 18, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced the president will visit Cuba and meet with President Castro as early as next month:
“I’m disappointed that President Obama is willing to travel to Cuba knowing full well that the Castro regime mocks our laws and continues to harbor convicted New Jersey cop-killer Joanne Chesimard and terrorist William Morales. Despite repeated calls from me and my colleagues, the president has yet to mention the extradition of U.S. fugitives as a condition of building diplomatic relations. Cuba’s refusal to return the fugitives is insulting to everyone who has waited years to see these cold-blooded killers face justice, and the president must prioritize the extradition of U.S. fugitives in all future negotiations with the Cuban regime.”
Garrett has been a longtime critic of the Cuban regime and has repeatedly called on their government to extradite and terrorist William Morales so they can face justice for their crimes.
While NJ Senator Bob Menendez also criticized the Presidents visit :
“It is totally unacceptable for the president of the United States to reward a dictatorial regime with a historic visit when human rights abuses endure and democracy continues to be shunned,” Menendez, who is Cuban-American, said Thursday. Menendez spoke at the Union of Cuban Ex-Political Prisoners.
“Despite the lack of reciprocity from a despotic and reinvigorated Castro regime, the president is rewarding this oppressive regime with a visit,” Menendez said. “In the case of Cuba, we should at very least expect that Joanne Chesimard will step off Air Force One with U.S. marshals.”
Ridgewood Nj, Congressmen Scott Garrett confirmed his offices have received some calls about this IRS fraud. Please spread this information from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to friends and family so they know to be on the lookout for these phony phone calls.
Sources tell the Ridgewood blog that scammers feel people are more vulnerable near tax time .
The IRS generally contacts people, first, by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes. The IRS will not ask for payment using a prepaid debit card, a money order.
“The IRS is Calling Me? Can This Be For Real?” (TIGTA PSA English) 60 seconds
Fraud is real. Just hang up on Fraud. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is warning taxpayers to be on high alert for scammers who impersonate IRS employees in aggressive phone calls that demand money. Don’t believe them; just hang up! For more information and to report a contact, visit us at www.tigta.gov.
Several residents reported having received a phone call from a man identifying himself as Dennis Gary with the treasury department, The caller requests that you call him back to avoid an enforcement action from the IRS. This is a scam do not call the number back. One of several numbers tied to the scam is 303-479-3380.
The IRS does not:
1 Call you to demand immediate payment. They will not call about taxes you owe without first mailing you a bill.
2 Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the chance to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
3 Require you to use a certain payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4 Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5 Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what to do:
• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to talk about payment options. You also may be able to set up a payment plan online at IRS.gov.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to TIGTA at 1.800.366.4484 or at www.tigta.gov.
• If phone scammers target you, also contact the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov. Use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” to report the scam. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.
. Remember, the IRS currently does not use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issues. For more information on reporting tax scams, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box.
Ridgewood NJ , Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.) now faces scrutiny over his “reported comments” that he was not contributing to the House Republicans’ fundraising arm because it backed gay candidates and “Democrats think he is more vulnerable and he might be more vulnerable, but we don’t have empirical evidence that he is more vulnerable.” https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/08/will_voters_remember_nj_rep_scott_garretts_comments_next_fall.html
Since this is revelation of “reported comments” , some say leaked by DC establishment republicans during the Speaker John Boehner feud who were uncomfortable with a real Republican chairing a powerful financial services subcommittee watched closely by the industry and filled with lucrative donors .
The New Jersey media who works hand in hand with the states Democratic party has been filled with Garrett donor defection stories .
So now the hated “Wall Street” has suddenly been elevated to the moral arbitrator of all things , despite heavy donations to the Clinton Campaign with its dubious ties to serial women abuser and accused rapist ex- President Bill Clinton as well as its ties to Twitter would be porn star ex Congressmen Anthony Weiner .
At a September possible Democratic candidate Gottheimer fundraiser that came less than a week after James Cicconi, the RINO Republican head of external affairs at AT&T Inc., and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Peter Scher hosted another one for the Democrat.Attendees included executives from Blackstone, Comcast, Verizon, McGraw Hill, U.S. Telecom Association, Tribune Media, United Health, Ogilvy & Mather, Raben Group and Akin Group. The invitation for the event had said it was “an excellent opportunity to oust one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives.”
Bloomberg News, which was the first to report plans for the Cicconi fundraiser, said some business executives had already been growing tired of Garrett. They were apparently bothered by his vote against big spending former Speaker John Boehner,and were troubled that he has opposed the crony driven , taxpayer funded corporate welfare, Export-Import Bank.
Garrett has said about the Ex-Im bank, “It’s hard to imagine anything more unfair and un-American than having the government financially support mega-corporations at the expense of small businesses and American workers. But that is exactly what has been happening, and it will continue to happen if we don’t let the Export-Import Bank expire next month. It rewards those with close relationships with Washington bureaucrats and makes victims of startups that dare to compete against them—literally picking winners and losers in our economy.
“Ex-Im has transformed the role of government from a disinterested referee that guarantees a free and open marketplace into a biased actor that tilts the scales in favor of its friends in businesses. We have the opportunity to save capitalism from cronyism and to fulfill a promise to the American people to work for them instead of a select few with special connections in Washington. For the sake of the American taxpayer and the preservation of the free enterprise system, Congress should put the Export-Import Bank out of business.”
Garrett has also made enemies by his unrelenting disapproval of Dodd-Frank which has codified the disastrous “too big to fail” policy and mega Wall Street bail outs . “Garrett says , “the Dodd-Frank Act has stifled economic growth, made it more difficult for Main Street businesses to obtain credit, and increased the likelihood that taxpayers will be on the hook for additional Wall Street bailouts. Most importantly, this law has and has made it harder for Americans to find a job, buy a home, and save money for their family’s future. ” Garrett went on , “Despite creating new bureaucracies that have imposed thousands of pages of rigid, invasive, and unworkable regulations, Dodd-Frank did nothing to reform the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose actions caused the 2008 financial crisis.”
The Democrats great hope is Joshua S. Gottheimer ,so who really is Joshua S. Gottheimer . Gottheimer was (born c. 1975) is an American lawyer, speechwriter, and public policy adviser. He has been active within the Democratic Party as a speechwriter for Bill Clinton and an advisor for the presidential campaigns of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. He has also worked for Burson-Marsteller, the Federal Communications Commission, Ford Motor Company, and Microsoft. He is currently running for the United States House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 5th congressional district. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gottheimer )
So Mr Gottheimer is another PR person like Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn not sure many residents will share any enthusiasm given the bad taste the Jim Mac Greevey mouth piece has left in Ridgewood .Gottheimer it seems is funded by Big Government ,pro Wall Street bailouts, pro-corporate welfare , pro-crony types looking to remove the last impediment to getting their hands on more tax payer money.
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement after President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address:
“Tonight’s State of the Union address seemed like a victory lap for the president, but for many Americans victory is still nowhere in sight. The six million people still looking for full time employment haven’t seen victory. Neither have those who lost their health care or preferred doctor because of ObamaCare. Or the future generations who will be burdened with debt because of the reckless spending of this administration.
“We must work hard to unleash the American spirit so everyone can pursue their dreams. That means meaningful reforms that reduce regulatory burdens, fix the broken tax code, and rein in the national debt. These are solutions that will empower Main Streets in New Jersey, not bureaucracies in Washington, D.C.
“Additionally, I was troubled by only one fleeting mention of the nuclear deal with Iran and nothing about the U.S. Navy vessels and their crews that are being held captive by Iran. This deal is fundamentally flawed and Iran cannot be left on a path to obtain nuclear capabilities in a few short years.
“If the president wants to work on cutting red tape and regulations, I invite him to join the House Financial Services Committee in looking at the 400 new rules imposed by Dodd-Frank and their massive compliance costs that are being passed along to hardworking families. If he wants to put the American people first, I encourage him to look at the ObamaCare repeal bill that would put health care back in the control of the American people that he vetoed last week. And if he’s serious about the future of America, please Mr. President, deliver a budget next month that actually balances to preserve prosperity for our children and grandchildren.
“We can do better, and this year the House will continue to put forward ideas and legislation that put Americans in the driver’s seat to recovery. I invite the president to join us.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement before President Obama’s final State of the Union address this evening:
“Like a bad New Year’s Resolution, for the past six January’s President Obama has come before Congress and the American people and delivered a State of the Union address that promises that this year things will be different. But despite all of the president’s words and promises, our economy continues to struggle, the national debt threatens the future of our country, and the nuclear deal struck with Iran and lack of a clear strategy against ISIS make the world a more dangerous place for the United States.
“Tonight is a chance for the president to leave the rhetoric and failed policies behind him and come to Capitol Hill with something new. Hardworking Americans deserve an outline for a people first, pro-growth economy, a real plan to balance the budget, a strategy to protect the United States, and an emphasis on the rights and liberties granted by the Constitution. Those are 2016 resolutions that everyone can get behind.”
Rep. Scott Garrett is a senior member of the House Budget Committee and Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises.
By Rob Jennings New Jersey Herald
Posted: Jan. 8, 2016 12:01 am
Sussex County’s two representatives in Congress met Thursday with a top official at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, seeking support for opening a clinic in northwestern New Jersey.
U.S. Reps. Scott Garrett, of Wantage, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, of Harding, spoke behind closed doors on Capitol Hill with VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin.
Shulkin was president of Morristown Medical Center until last spring, when the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination by President Obama to the VA post.
Garrett and Frelinghuysen, in separate interviews afterward with the New Jersey Herald, recapped the meeting.
Garrett said, “We were expressing our concern about the lack of adequate facilities here and to get a clarification on exactly what the VA is doing.”
Frelinghuysen said, “I think we made some progress.”
“He was very positive in his reaction to our request,” Frelinghuysen said of Shulkin.
The meeting was prompted by a Nov. 24 letter from Frelinghuysen to VA Secretary Robert MacDonald after Frelinghuysen, who said he had been led to believe that the clinic was nearing approval, subsequently learned of an apparent moratorium on new facilities.
Garrett said, based on their discussion Thursday, the moratorium was actually a short-term delay aimed at giving Shulkin an opportunity to assess the sprawling system.
Garrett said he is optimistic about the clinic’s prospects for approval, though Shulkin offered no commitments.
“I think it was a productive meeting. We made our cases strongly. It was heard,” said Garrett, whose 5th District includes most of Sussex County.
“We put a strong case that our veterans in Sussex, and also in Warren, are important. They’ve served. They’ve put their lives on hold,” Garrett said.
“A lot of them are just not taking advantage of the services that are available and that is in part due to the distance,” Garrett said.
The VA’s New Jersey Health Care System consists of two “main campuses” in East Orange and Lyons, with additional “satellite outpatient clinics and access points” in Brick, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hamilton, Jersey City, Morristown, Paterson, Piscataway and Tinton Falls.
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), a senior member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the House voted for the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, a budget reconciliation bill which would repeal ObamaCare:
“Many New Jersey families I speak to are suffering from the devastating effects of ObamaCare. People have lost access to their preferred health care and doctors, out-of-pocket costs have increased, premiums have skyrocketed, and some have actually opted to completely forego insurance and instead pay a mandated fine to save money.
“To help these struggling families, today I voted for a budget reconciliation bill that will repeal ObamaCare and relieve our families of the burden placed upon them with this failed health care law. It’s time for President Obama to look at the devastation ObamaCare has caused to hardworking Americans and sign this bill to repeal it.”
The budget reconciliation process eliminates the option of a Senate filibuster and requires the Senate to hold an up or down vote on the bill. Having passed both chambers of Congress, this will be the first time ever that an ObamaCare repeal measure will be presented to the president for his signature or veto.
Click here for a one-page summary of H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015. For further information on the FY2016 reconciliation process, click here.
