We Have To Act

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

Last week, I attended President Obama’s speech at Georgetown University where he outlined his Climate Action Plan. The crisis in not waning. We have to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We have a moral obligation to act.

As the climate changes there will be stronger superstorms, worse floods, more withering droughts, and more intense wildfires. These natural disasters are already imposing horrific costs in dollars and lives.

The science is overwhelming, but many of my colleagues in Congress would prefer to deepen our dependence on fossil fuels. President Obama must do all he can administratively to reduce carbon pollution and mitigate the threats of global climate change while Congress fiddles. As a scientist and an elected leader I remain committed to even stronger legislative action in the fight against climate change.

One Step Forward, One Giant Leap Backwards

The Supreme Court finally overturned the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As a founding member of the Equality Caucus, I have long supported marriage equality. The Courts ruling to end of DOMA is an important step in our nation’s efforts to extend the civil rights of all Americans. But we must go further. Last week, I joined my colleagues in the house in reintroducing the Respect for Marriage Act to ensure respect for State regulation of marriage. It is past time for Governor Christie to stop blocking same-sex marriage in New Jersey.

Sadly, while the Court overturned DOMA, it also struck down an essential part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which has helped guarantee the right to vote for every American regardless of their race.

By forbidding the Department of Justice from acting to prevent voter discrimination in America, the Supreme Court leaves no option but for Congress to act, if we are to be true to our founding values of liberty and justice for all. I look forward to working with Civil Rights icon Representative John Lewis to correct this decision and protect the voting rights all Americans.

Honoring Their Service

I was recently contacted by the spouse of a Marine Corps veteran who could not be buried with full military honors because of missing paperwork. After contacting the relevant officials to cut through the red tape the veteran was laid to rest with the dignity and respect he had earned.

If you need help to resolve a problem with a government agency please let me know so I can do everything possible to help. You can call 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or send an e-mail at http://holt.house.gov/contact.



Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Christie: Far Right

By Josh Levitt
Buono for Governor


Governor Christie’s core political strategy is to take whatever action necessary to benefit his own political career. When the Governor wanted to look bipartisan, he embraced President Obama. But yesterday, the Governor, seeking to appeal to presidential primary voters, sprinted to the far right and aggressively attacked President Obama. This comes just days after Christie criticized the Supreme Court for overturning the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and pledged to veto any marriage equality bill here in New Jersey. It’s clear that Governor Christie’s chief concern is competing against Rand Paul and Marco Rubio in 2016, not standing for what’s right in New Jersey.


Chris Christie slams President Obama
By Maggie Haberman//Politico
So much for the Chris Christie-President Obama bromance. The New Jersey governor, distrusted by conservatives after his hug of Obama following Hurricane Sandy, slammed the president at a town hall meeting on Friday as “more concerned about being right than he is concerned about getting things done.” He also repeatedly described himself as a “conservative” leader.

Chris Christie says Obama ‘can’t figure out how to lead’
By Sean Sullivan//Washington Post
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) criticized President Obama, casting him as someone who “can’t figure out how to lead.” Speaking at a town hall meeting, Christie went after Congress’ image and the president, saying: “That’s what happens when you have someone in the executive office who is more concerned about being right than he is concerned about getting things done.” Christie has been criticized by conservative critics of cozying up to Obama too much.

Chris Christie: Obama 'Can't Figure Out How To Lead'
AP
Republicans accused New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie of getting too cozy with President Barack Obama after Superstorm Sandy. But during a visit Friday to a Republican stronghold, the governor went out of his way to put some distance between himself and the Democratic president. Before taking questions from the public, Christie spoke about the problems in Washington and "a president who can't figure out how to lead." The Republican governor, now running for re-election, says Obama is more concerned about being right than "getting things done." When a woman thanked Christie for his warm response to Obama after Sandy and referred to the criticism he took for it, the governor cut her off. He says he didn't vote for Obama and added, "I don't want him to be president."

Chris Christie Turns On Obama
By Catherine Thompson//Talking Points Memo
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Friday that he is a "conservative Republican" governor that will not be the "same kind of leader" for the state that President Barack Obama is for the country, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Christie, who is seeking reelection this fall, took a hard line on his sometime arcade-game pal Obama, whom he once praised for his leadership during Hurricane Sandy. “I know when you look at Washington right now, you shake your head at a president who can’t figure out how to lead, at a Congress that only 11 percent of the people in the last poll I saw approve of the job they’re doing,” Christie said at a town hall meeting. "That’s what happens when you have someone in the executive office who is more concerned about being right than he is concerned about getting things done."

Christie: Obama 'can't figure out how to lead'
By Jenna Portnoy//The Star-Ledger
Gov. Chris Christie veered to the right this morning, twice touting himself as a “conservative Republican” and taking a shot at President Obama within the first 10 minutes of a town hall meeting in Sussex County. Unlike his famous praise of Obama’s leadership during Hurricane Sandy, Christie today said Obama is not an effective leader. “I know when you look at Washington right now, you shake your head at a president who can’t figure out how to lead, at a Congress that only 11 percent of the people in the last poll I saw approve of the job they’re doing,” Christie told hundreds inside the Vernon Township High School gym. “That’s what happens when you have someone in the executive office who is more concerned about being right than he is concerned about getting things done," Christie said. "But I’m not going to be that kind of leader of New Jersey.”

The Chris Christie-Barack Obama Love Affair Is Officially Over
By Brett Logiurato//Business Insider
New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie has officially begun a rightward shift as he gears up for a re-election bid in 2013 — and a possible presidential run three years later. Two days after blasting the Supreme Court for striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and pledging he would again veto any gay marriage bill that reaches his desk, Christie took his most significant shot at President Barack Obama in a while. "I know when you look at Washington right now, you shake your head at a president who can’t figure out how to lead, at a Congress that only 11 percent of the people in the last poll I saw approve of the job they’re doing," Christie said at a town hall meeting Friday, according to The Star-Ledger. "That’s what happens when you have someone in the executive office who is more concerned about being right than he is concerned about getting things done," Christie said. "But I’m not going to be that kind of leader of New Jersey."

Christie, touting 'conservative' credits, says Obama 'can't figure out how to lead'
By Alexandra Jaffe//The Hill
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) slammed President Obama as an inadequate leader at a local town hall on Friday, in what appears to be a shift from what had previously been a friendly relationship with the president. He also touted himself as a "conservative Republican" at the event, according to the Star-Ledger — comments that, taken together, set tongues wagging about his potential presidential aspirations. “I know when you look at Washington right now, you shake your head at a president who can’t figure out how to lead, at a Congress that only 11 percent of the people in the last poll I saw approve of the job they’re doing,” Christie said during the town-hall event.

Buono Statement Following Christie’s Unacceptable Vetoes

New Brunswick, NJ –Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Barbara Buono issued the following statement:

"Governor Christie's week can be summed up as a 'profile in cowardice.' He chose Friday night to deny women health services, pander to gun lobbyists, veto legislation to keep jobs in New Jersey and thwart a full expansion of Obamacare. All this after he bashed the Supreme Court's decision to end DOMA and refuses to comment on its decision to gut the Voting Rights Act. He would rather please Republican primary voters in Iowa than stand up for the Garden State and its working and middle class families."

Christie's out of touch values take center stage

by Josh Levitt
Buono for Governor

Governor Christie’s policies and statements are consistently out-of-touch with New Jersey values. Now, following Governor Christie’s support of the DOMA ruling and his staunch opposition to marriage equality, the rest of the nation is taking notice. See for yourself below…

Somebody Wants To Be President
By Charles Pierce//Esquire
Chris Christie, reasonable conservative Republican, would like the hayshakers in the Iowa megachurches that he has their backs. "It's just another example of judicial supremacy rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for," Christie said on his monthly radio show, as quoted by The Star-Ledger. "I thought it was a bad decision." The Republican said the majority opinion in the case - written by Justice Anthony Kennedy - was an affront to the lawmakers, and former President Bill Clinton, who helped make DOMA the law of the land nearly two decades ago. "I thought that Justice (Anthony) Kennedy's opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton," Christie said. "They basically said the only reason to pass that bill was to demean people."

NJ governor: Gay marriage ruling a 'bad decision'
AP
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling erasing part of a federal anti-gay marriage law was a "bad decision" and an example of "judicial supremacy." In January, the Republican governor and potential 2016 presidential candidate vetoed a New Jersey same-sex marriage bill. On a radio program Wednesday, he said he'd do the same to any new legislation.

Chris Christie Blasts Gay Marriage Rulings (VIDEO)
By Paige Lavender//Huffington Post
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) blasted the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, calling it "wrong." "I don’t think the ruling was appropriate," Christie said Thursday on his "Ask the Governor" radio show, according to Politico. "I think it was wrong." Christie criticized the justices, calling Kennedy's opinion "incredibly insulting" to President Bill Clinton -- who signed DOMA into law in 1996 -- and to the "340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act."

Chris Christie attacks Supreme Court for gay marriage decision
By Rachel Weiner//Washington Post
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who has walked a fine line on gay marriage, came out strongly Wednesday night against the Supreme Court’s decision to declare a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. “It’s just another example of judicial supremacy rather than having a government run by the people we actually vote for,” Christie said on his monthly “Ask the Governor” radio show. “I thought it was a bad decision.” The governor called Justice Anthony Kennedy’s opinion “incredibly insulting” to the members of Congress who voted for DOMA and President Bill Clinton, who signed it. “He basically said that the only reason to pass that bill was to demean people. That’s a heck of a thing to say about Bill Clinton and about the Republican congress back in the 90s,” Christie said.

Why Yesterday’s Supreme Court Case Impacts New Jersey, Whether Chris Christie Likes It Or Not
By Zach Ford//Think Progress
…Besides the fact that a referendum continues to be a costly, offensive, and unnecessary option, Christie could not be more wrong; in fact, Wednesday’s DOMA decision probably has a bigger impact on New Jersey than on any other state. In the 2006 case Lewis v. Harris, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state’s constitution guarantees “every statutory right and benefit conferred to heterosexual couples through civil marriage.” The Court left it up to the legislature to determine how those rights are conferred, and lawmakers at the time passed a civil unions bill. An investigation that concluded in 2008 found that these “separate but equal” unions were inferior and did not meet the Supreme Court’s expectations, and a lawsuit is already pending to challenge their unequal status.

Democrats see gay marriage decision as energizer for 2013 races
By Jessica Taylor//MSNBC
Christie later said during his monthly radio show Wednesday evening that the ruling was a “bad decision” and “another example of judicial supremacy rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for.” “For someone who prides himself on straight talking, he’s got a lot of difficulty explaining his opposition to marriage equality,” said Buono. Christie, governor of a left-leaning state, has a difficult tightrope to walk. He may be the heavy favorite for re-election in the Garden State, but he seems to have an eye on higher office in 2016 and backing gay marriage wouldn’t play as well with a GOP primary crowd. “Every decision he makes is calibrated very carefully to further his own political interests,” said Buono, who has also criticized Christie for choosing to hold an October special election rather than a concurrent November vote to fill the Senate seat of the late Frank Lautenberg.

Christie pans DOMA ruling as a “bad decision”
By Jillian Rayfield//Salon
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R, slammed the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, calling it a “bad decision” that’s just another example of “judicial supremacy.” “It’s just another example of judicial supremacy rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for,” he said on NJ 101.5 FM, the Star-Ledger reports. “I thought it was a bad decision.” He continued: “I thought that Justice (Anthony) Kennedy’s opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton. They basically said the only reason to pass that bill was to demean people.” Christie, who last year vetoed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey, said Wednesday that he would do so again if a similar bill reached his desk.

Gov. Christie blasts 'overreaching' Supreme Court decision on DOMA, defends anti-gay marriage position, 'Let the people decide'
By Beth DeFalco and Carl Campanile//New York Post
… Christie rapped the Supreme Court ruling that tossed out the federal Defense of Marriage act -- which defined marriage as between a man and a woman and limited certain federal benefits to heterosexual couples. “It’s just another example of judicial supremacy rather than having a government run by the people we actually vote for,” Christie said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rips Supreme Court DOMA decision
By Adam Edelman//New York Daily News
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted Thursday the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. "I don’t think the ruling was appropriate," Christie said Thursday on his "Ask the Governor" radio show. "I think it was wrong." In the 5-4 vote that essentially tore up the 1996 law, the high court ruled that it was unconstitutional to provide Social Security and other federal benefits to opposite-sex couples while denying them to same-sex couples.
Christie called the majority opinion "incredibly insulting" to President Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law, and the “members of Congress who voted” for the bill.

MSNBC, Hardball: Christie on DOMA

MSNBC, The Last Word: Christie on DOMA

U.S. SUPREME COURT EFFECTIVELY OVERTURNS GOVERNOR CHRISTIE

Fror Immediate Release:
June 26, 2013

Aberdeen, NJ – Allison Friedman, Esq. And Matthew Morehead applaud the United states Supreme Court on its decision to strike down provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act pursuant to our Constitution's Equal Protection clause,proving once again that equality under the law is always the right course of action.

Matt Morehead & Allison Friedman

Governor Christie has vetoed the right to same-sex marriage. The State Senate passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on February 13, 2012. It passed in the Assembly on February 16th. Governor Christie vetoed the bill the very next day and even called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Friedman and Morehead issued the following joint statement, "The Supreme Court has rendered Christie's actions unconstitutional”. “The Declaration of Independence guarantees all citizens the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today's decision brings us one step closer to the goals set forth by our founding fathers. " said Friedman.

While New Jersey was not a party in the Supreme Court matter, “the fact that they overruled DOMA based upon constitutional, equal protection, concerns will effectively bar Gov. Christie from restricting these rights in the future;” said Friedman, and attorney who practices in Freehold, NJ.

Allison Friedman and Mathew Morehead are the democratic nominees for New Jersey State Assembly, Legislative District 13. The district includes the following areas of Monmouth County: Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright and Union Beach.

The Other 60 Percent

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:



Since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School brought renewed national attention to preventing gun violence, at least 2,200 people have died by gunfire in homicides and accidental deaths, according to an analysis by the Huffington Post. Yet even this horrific figure does not fully describe the toll of gun violence. At least as many people have died by their own hands: nearly 60 percent of all gun deaths are suicides.

Mostly, the people who die by gun suicide would not have died but for their access to firearms. In fact, the urge to die by suicide is often overwhelming but brief. According to one study of people who attempted suicide but survived, more than two-thirds took action within an hour of deciding to kill themselves.

Someone who has access to a gun within that hour-long window and who uses it is very likely to die: about 85 percent of suicide attempts by firearm result in death. Other attempts by other means are much less likely to be fatal. For example, attempted drug overdoses are fatal only 2 percent of the time.

If you have a gun in your house, I urge you to take careful responsibility for ensuring that it is locked away from anyone who might use it in a suicide. And if you or someone you know ever considers suicide, please call 1-800-SUICIDE for help.

Equal Protection Under the Law

As a member of Congress, I begin each term by swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I take this obligation very seriously and keep a copy of the Constitution in my pocket at nearly all times.

In order to uphold this oath, I recently joined more than 200 of my colleagues in urging the courts to overturn the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a matter that, today, had its moment before the Supreme Court.

DOMA, which was passed into law in 1996, prevents the federal government from recognizing even those same-sex marriages that were lawfully performed in one of the states. The law has fractured our legal system and led to bewildering complications for same-sex spouses.

Among the many problems: DOMA may prevent a legally married woman from fully inheriting her wife’s property upon death, an issue in today’s Supreme Court case. It may prevent a legally married man from applying for citizenship on behalf of his foreign-born husband, as happened to a Princeton couple recently. It may prevent the same-sex spouses of federal employees from gaining access to health insurance.

In short, DOMA forces the federal government to choose among legal marriages, treating some as worthy and some as unworthy. And it requires federal officials to treat loving, committed couples as though they are strangers in the eyes of the law. These hurtful consequences are all the result of DOMA’s insistence upon treating some citizens as less equal than others – a clear violation, it seems to me, of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Rush Holt Newsletter: Dollar by Dollar

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

In most cases, federal agencies do a good job of ensuring that people receive the money that they are owed. But sometimes, people find that they have fallen through the cracks or simply haven’t received fair treatment from their government. Many come to me for help, thousands this year.

Congressman Rush Holt

I help people from many backgrounds – from people who are living below the poverty line to those of comfortable means, including many seniors, veterans, soldiers, and new citizens.

They have a wide range of problems, from Social Security or veterans’ benefits that have been wrongly denied, to IRS penalties that have been inaccurately assessed, and more.

I do my best to help. Not every result is a positive one, but I am pleased to report that, as of this week, I have helped secure more than $1,000,000 for Central New Jersey residents this year.

Among the constituents I’ve helped:

• A South River resident, a victim of identity theft, could not receive his tax refund because a hold had been placed on his IRS account. After my inquiry, he received a check for $3,627.
• A West Windsor resident’s deceased husband, a 100% disabled veteran who died from service-related injuries, had applied for disability benefits that were never awarded. With my help, she received a total of $116,105 in retroactive benefits, burial benefits, and other payments.
• A Manalapan resident was denied an insurance payment for the costs of ambulance travel to an emergency room. After I reached out to his insurer, he was reimbursed $924.

In addition to assistance that produces direct financial benefits, I also work to help constituents who have encountered non-financial problems with federal agencies, such as delays in passport or visa applications, difficulty in recovering lost discharge papers or military medals, and much more.

If you have encountered problems in your dealings with any federal agency, please contact me by visiting http://holt.house.gov/contact or calling 1-87-RUSH-HOLT (1-877-874-4658). I will do my best to help you get answers.

Preparing for Hurricane Sandy

The National Weather Service is reporting that a confluence of weather systems, including Hurricane Sandy, is now approaching the mid-Atlantic coast. The forecast remains uncertain, but the system could bring very high winds, significant rain, and even snow to New Jersey. This has the potential to be a serious, even historic, storm, and the time to prepare is now.

The Red Cross has prepared a helpful checklist of steps that you can take before and after a hurricane to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. In particular, please be sure that you have a three-day supply of water and non-perishable food on hand (including for any pets), as well as a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kid, and any necessary medications.

Should you lose power, please report the outage to 1-800-436-PSEG (1-800-436-7734) if you are served by PSE&G or to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) if you are served by JCP&L.

Please continue to pay close attention to weather forecasts in the days ahead. Stay safe!

Stop Defending the Indefensible

Last week, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. I had joined 144 of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in a brief urging the court to reject DOMA, which prevents the federal government from recognizing lawfully performed same-sex marriages.

The 2nd Circuit Court’s decision is the latest in a string of victories in the legal battle against marriage discrimination. Indeed, DOMA appears to be on the verge of being overturned entirely: the Obama administration has determined the law to be unconstitutional, and federal courts have agreed in six consecutive decisions.

The only reason that DOMA is being defended in court at all is that Speaker Boehner and House Republicans have insisted upon supporting the wrong-headed law. So far, Speaker Boehner has spent more than $1.5 million taxpayer dollars on this losing legal battle.

It is time to stop spending taxpayer money defending DOMA. The law is indefensible.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt