NJ Environmental Federation Endorses Democrats for Congress, Blasts GOP
Group argues that 2012 election is critical for environment and public health
By Tom Johnson, NJSpotlight.com
The New Jersey Environmental Federation is not showing much love for the GOP these days.
The group, one of the largest environmental organizations active in the state, yesterday endorsed Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep Frank Pallone, a couple of Democrats it has backed in the past.
The federation, long considered a key ally of the Democrats, raised eyebrows when it endorsed Republican Chris Christie for governor three years ago.
It seems to have rediscovered its roots, saving its most blistering criticism for the Republican members of Congress in a statement announcing its endorsements yesterday.
“Since January 2011, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has voted 297 times to weaken public health and environmental protections,’’ the group said, “This is an unprecedented effort to rollback decades of environmental policies that have made our water safer to drink and our air healthier to breathe.’’
In the statement, the group argued that rarely has an election mattered more for the environment at the federal level than the one this November. “And next year, 2013, the stakes will be just as significant at the state level right here in New Jersey,’’ the group said, referring to the gubernatorial election when Christie will seek a second term.
David Pringle, campaign director for the federation, said the statement was more focused on the federal level than on New Jersey, though he did not mute his criticism of Christie, which the organization gave poor or failing marks on a report card on environmental issues earlier this year.
“Nothing has qualitatively changed to suggest he is doing anything better than a D,’’ Pringle said when asked about the criticism of Republicans, specifically the governor.
"We're very unhappy with Congressman [Leonard] Lance's record lately,'' he said, referring to the Republican who once enjoyed backing from environmentalists when he served in the New Jersey Legislature.
Jeff Tittel, director of the [http://newjersey.sierraclub.org|New Jersey Sierra Club], however, argued the same trend that has happened at the national level in undermining key environmental laws is occurring in New Jersey under the Christie administration.
Keith Jensen
6:15 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
ENVIRONMENTAL HYPOCRITS AMONGST US ALL. Congressman Pascrell is the guiding force for draining our reservoirs and paving them over; leaving our drinking water to stagnate in expensive, gigantic, ugly, bathtubs.
If you did not know this is being discussed, rather it has been voted on, approved and is being implemented. That it is because your local representatives, owned by the NJ Environmental Federation lobby want this to stay below the radar.
Nevertheless, the NJ State Democrats; in particular, led by U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell with Senator Weinberg et al. are considered frugal and green. As reported on the contrary with respect to the Congressman by the Bergen Record:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/Reservoir_tank_plans_move_ahead.html?page=all
Take part in the Hackensack Riverkeeper if you want to be green.
http://hackensackriverkeeper.org/
Stop supporting hypocritical politicians like the ones headlining this article.
Most importantly, do not let this issue sit idle like the water which soon will in these mega-bathtubs. We must stand up to reverse their votes, and the way to do that is to cast our own votes in November.
lovethetunes@aol.com
2:10 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
We are still waiting for help!! PLEASE PLEASE HELP! SHARE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW! We need this site Federalized one and for all! Too many decades have gone by and we must make our families, environment and future children safe. Our Hazard Ranking was high in 1982 and still our families are being poisoned! Please help me! Thank you! http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-dupont-chemical-from-poisoning-new-jersey-families