"Know" Your Congressman well



Bullet Points:  Back-peddler i.e., Initiative and Referendum and TARP (taxpayer asset relief organization).   Cap and Trade, Oil Drilling, Term-limits- and unbelievably- the war in Iraq, different page, different song.

A profile in Courage, Frank LoBiondo is not, and never was..............
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Author: KATHLEEN CANNON Staff Writer

Legislation giving voters a direct say in the governmental process was defeated Monday to the dismay of taxpayer and voter groups but to the delight of special interests.

The state Assembly killed two bills asking voters whether they wanted New Jersey to adopt initiative and referendum, a process by which voter-petitioners could put public questions on the ballot.

The Assembly vote was greeted by loud boos from the gallery, as supporters, such as members of Hands Across New Jersey vocalized their displeasure with the result.

....."There was lots of lobbying, lots of PACs and a lot of money promised. They sold out," said John Sheridan of Hamilton Township, Mercer County. Sheridan, a member of Hands Across New Jersey, wore lapel buttons saying "I&R or OUT" and "Read My Lips II."

Most southern New Jersey members of the Assembly voted no on both bills.

But Dolores Corona of the New Jersey Education Association, an initiative and referendum opponent, said the lengthy hearing and debate process that preceded Monday's vote proved that a representative democracy is still New Jersey's best bet.

"You can't have that kind of input, have that kind of give and take, with I&R," she said.

Assemblyman John F. Gaffney, R-Atlantic, said he voted against initiative and referendum because he believes southern New Jersey would lose out to the more powerful central and northern parts of the state.

"I don't think it's possible to write I&R that would prevent South Jersey from being exposed to the relocation of, say, a toxic waste site that can't be located up here due to opposition," he said.

Assemblyman Frank A. LoBiondo agreed, saying issues important to his constituents such as water quality, trash disposal - even hunting - would be given second priority.

a letter to the editor 1992

..........the case in point this November is Assemblyman Frank A. LoBiondo , a Republican from Cape May and Cumberland counties who voted against I&R and is running for Congress this year. LoBiondo defied his party platform by voting no. There is no place in Congress for a man like this.

Since he doesn't think the voters deserve the right to vote on the issues, the voters should respond by voting for his opponent this fall, and then by voting him out of Trenton next fall.

DON LIPPINCOTT JR.

State Chairman, Hands Across NJ
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Profiles in Courage .....

John Vickerey
While recuperating in the hospital from a near fatal episode of infection after a surgery, Senator John F. Kennedy took that time to begin writing about U.S. Senators who had exhibited explicit courage at some point in their political careers. This turned into the Pulitzer Prize wining Profiles in Courage. In the book, Kennedy examines eight senators who followed their own convictions and took what they believed to be the right stances on issues while the pressures of their parties, constituents, and career prospects weighed down on them to do otherwise.
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 Fast Forward:  Our Congressman-now ensconced in Washington- at his crucible in the fall of 2008.  From Sept. 2008

After voting against the bank bailout, Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.) said: "I have heard from an overwhelming number of my constituents who are struggling to pay their own bills and are now being told they would also have to pay the bills of Wall Street."
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LoBiondo votes against revised bailout bill

Press of Atlantic City, The (NJ) - Saturday, October 4, 2008

Author: DANIEL WALSH Staff Writer, 856-649-2074

The congressman says the bill did not reform Wall Street or protect taxpayers.

At least 57 members of the House of Representatives changed their vote Friday to support the revised $700 billion financial industry bailout, but U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo was not one of them.

LoBiondo , R-2nd, again voted against the bill, which passed 263 to 171, saying it lacked legitimate reform of Wall Street or protections for taxpayers.

"The original proposal lacked necessary reforms and needed regulations to ensure we are not again facing this crisis, or one even greater, in the near future," LoBiondo said. "Today's bill continues those failures."

U.S. Senate lawmakers successfully swayed dozens of their House counterparts, including two from New Jersey, by passing Wednesday a revised companion bill that included numerous earmarks and tax incentives. Among these so-called sweeteners were a tax break for motor sports parks such as the one in Millville and NASCAR venues, a revision to the alternative minimum tax, and wind and solar energy tax credits similar to those in the recent off-shore drilling bill.

At least 25 Republicans and 32 Democrats changed their votes since Monday's vote on the bailout, which failed by a 228 to 205 vote. Two vote-switchers are from northern New Jersey: U.S. Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-11th, and Bill Pascrell, D-8th.....


.......LoBiondo spokesman Jason Galanes said the sweeteners prompted LoBiondo 's consideration....

......The motor sports tax break would extend by one year a seven-year depreciation table for race tracks, accounting for a $100 million tax break over 10 years. ...............

In the end, LoBiondo stuck to his first vote and was one of five New Jersey congressmen -- two Democrats and three Republicans -- to reject the Bush administration's plan.

"In my assessment, we failed to protect the taxpayer in our hasty efforts to find a silver bullet to remedy an issue that has no single solution," LoBiondo said. "Congress must enact significant reforms to the operations of Wall Street which undeniably affect Main Street. Our financial stability and long-term economic prosperity cannot and shouldn't wait until a new administration is sworn into office."
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He voted "no" when he should have voted "yes" -and backed his President- and saved the credit markets.  But incredibly, he almost voted "yes" when the "sweeteners" were dangled!. In other words, he almost took the  BRIBE to make the proper vote, and then fell back on his survival instinct and voted wrong- a no vote- because his phones were burning up with calls by very emotional voters.  Good citizens, but they weren't elected to anything, or entrusted with any responsibility. Frank LoBiondo got it wrong on so many levels; but it gets worse, he then contradicted himself in 2009 and voted against reforms on Wall Street!!!   WHAT THE HEY, FRANK?

HR 4173

Date: 12/11/2009
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney (D-MA)


A vote to pass a bill that amends and creates various statutes relating to regulation and oversight of activities within the United States financial system.

Voting "NO" Frank LoBiondo

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The Final Irony


What most of us in the 2nd district don't know is that Congressman Frank LoBiondo was on board in 1999-  voting YES- when Congress failed horribly in their collective duty by repealing a law called The Glass-Steagall Act, setting the stage for the near collapse of the entire banking in 2008, and the subsequent need to save it.  Please read below and weep.  The  history books will tell how in the decade that followed, Wall Street went nuts, with their new found money- the new found deposits in secure federally regulated and insured banks- previously off limits to them.  That's when the likes of Bear Stern, Leeman Brothers, Merrill Lynch etc. got a hold of it.

Our Congressman had the nerve in 2008 to not help the administration of President, George W. Bush, fix the mess legislators like Frank LoBiondo  helped create in the first place i.e, 1999. Worse yet, Frank was very vocal badmouthing Wall Street boogieman.  That' is sneaky in my book, sorry Frank. 

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Glass-Steagall Act: The Senators And Economists Who Got It Right

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/11/glass-steagall-act-the-se_n_201557.html

The footage of him speaking on the Senate floor has become something of a cult flick for the particularly wonky progressive. The date was November 4, 1999. Senator Byron Dorgan, in a patterned red tie, sharp dark suit and hair with slightly more color than it has today, was captured only by the cameras of CSPAN2.

"I want to sound a warning call today about this legislation," he declared, swaying ever so slightly right, then left, occasionally punching the air in front of him with a slightly closed fist. "I think this legislation is just fundamentally terrible."

The legislation was the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act (alternatively known as Gramm Leach Bliley), which allowed banks to merge with insurance companies and investment houses. And Dorgan was, at the time, on a proverbial island with his concerns. Only eight senators would vote against the measure -- lionized by its proponents, including senior staff in the Clinton administration and many now staffing President Obama, as the most important breakthrough in the worlds of finance and politics in decades.

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Post Script.  He got it wrong in the fall, and he was heartless that previous summer.  Frank, you helped set up the real estate bubble back in 1999, you should have had a heart!

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From the Atlantic City Press

July 28, 2008     For the fourth time recently, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo took a position opposite the White House party line.

LoBiondo , R-2nd, voted last week against a bill authorizing a $300 billion bailout for bad mortgages and federal investment in the troubled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac corporations.   "Taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for reckless borrowing", ......he said.

It was the fourth issue on which LoBiondo , who is up for re-election, parted ideological ways with unpopular President Bush. LoBiondo had also come out against offshore oil drilling, for a G.I. benefits bill and to override the president's veto of a bill to cut Medicare reimbursement for doctors

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     Frank LoBiondo, your  YES vote (1999) to repeal Glass-Steagall, and your NO vote (2008) to save the nasty- now predictably wrecked- banks  (I don't like them either, I said so on my web site in 2008 and in the debates, but I also said I'd hold my nose and vote yes).....was essentially, I hate to say it.......feckless.and not a Profile in Courage