Scott Garrett--The Pimiento Kid...

[MrBenchley]

When Garrett was running for office, he said..."It’s disgraceful that our families pay more in taxes than they spend on food, clothing, and shelter combined. New Jersey ranks second in the nation in the amount of taxes we send to Washington, DC, yet only ranks 49th in the amount we get in return. I want to fix this problem –permanently."

And today, thanks in no large part to Garrett, we no longer rank 49th--we rank 50th. Garrett has sponsored only 16 bills in his term in Congress, and only one of them even remotely addressed this concern.

THREE of the 16 he sponsored, though, concerned pimientos. From Thomas' Register:

H.R.4813
Title: To suspend temporarily the duty on certain pimientos (capsicum anuum), prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid.
Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott (introduced 7/12/2004)      Cosponsors (None)

H.R.4814
Title: To suspend temporarily the duty on certain pimientos (capsicum anuum), prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid.
Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott (introduced 7/12/2004)      Cosponsors (None)

H.R.4815
Title: To suspend temporarily the duty on certain pimientos (capsicum anuum), prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid.
Sponsor: Rep Garrett, Scott (introduced 7/12/2004)      Cosponsors (None)

When I think of what this part of the state needs, I don't put "more imported pimientos" up near the top of my immediate concerns. But then perhaps he has some sort of inside knowledge of some looming pimiento shortage that threatens us.

[MallRat]

1. It's part of the little-known, "Leave No Cocktail Olive Behind" Act.

:-)

[MrBenchley]

5. LOL!

I mean, really, THREE bills on pimientos?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. This guy...

Redefines the word "Moron". Quite an accomplishment, considering...

[MrBenchley]

4. I think we should all start asking him about pimientos...

[jerseygirl]

3. Useless and Pitiful

In my former life as a reporter, I covered a GOP state legislative primary during which the *powerful, former party boss challenger seeking career resurrection* accused the *Garrett-like, far-right incompetent incumbent* of being one of the state's least effective legislators because he had been the prime sponsor of less than 50 bills in his first, two-year term. Now I am certainly not a fan of the afore-mentioned incumbent, but that useless and pitiful excuse for a human being had nothing on Scott Garrett. Pimentos?!?!?! Someone needs to check into his FEC reports and compare the receipts with whatever records are available of lobbyist visits/calls/emails to Scottie-boy from the pimento industry, or whatever the umbrella industry for pimentos is. There, I firmly believe, is where we will find what I'm sure are the Honorable Congressman's equally honorable reasoning and intentions.

In the meantime, everyone who is as equally outraged as I am needs to go to www.wolfe2004congress.com, read up, write as big a check as you can to this incredible woman and volunteer as much time as you can to getting her elected!!!

[MrBenchley]

6. I'm unaware of any major pimiento-importing industry

in this neck of the woods...and couldn't we encourage Jersey family farmers to GROW pimientos here at home if there's a shortage?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. B-man, you just KNOW...

That the Honorable Representative, while unable to find the inclination to be arsed to show up out this way, to visit all the people who have been flooded out by Ivan, is certainly capable of making sure that big-time contributors(Who have interests in the importing realm?) get value for dollar.

You will be seeing your little post again, I predict. In many interesting places, too. ;-)

[MrBenchley]

8. Hey, PA already has dough to fix their flooding

and we do not, according to the Star Ledger this AM...so I guess that "New Jersey is up for grabs" crap that was being slung was just horseshit after all.

"As flood cleanup continues along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, officials in Warren County -- the hardest hit county in the state -- are still waiting for federal aid.
"Warren County was declared a state of emergency, but we have yet to have a declaration of a national disaster area," said Abigail Postma, a committee member in Harmony Township. "Although I can stand at the end of the road and throw a stone to Pennsylvania across the river, they woke up Monday morning and had the money available to them."
The storm on Sept. 18 and 19 hit Warren County the hardest, leaving $18.2 million in damages to homes and $23.6 million in damages to public parks and recreation areas, according to State Police figures. Mercer County followed with $1.4 million. Sussex and Hunterdon suffered $1.1 million and $725,000 in damages, respectively. Farms suffered millions in losses as crops drowned on farms in Great Meadows and Harmony Township.
Harmony Township was one of the hardest hit towns. Residents are still reeling, and some have not been able to return to their homes, remaining dependent on volunteers and donations for food, clothing and shelter, said Bonnie-Marie Dakis, the Harmony Township deputy clerk.
A dozen inmates from the Department of Corrections loaded piles of broken dishes, soaked rugs and other flood wreckage, Postma said.
She, along with Dakis, blamed politics for the delay. "

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1096535896161090.xml?starledger?nwr

If I had my druthers, I'd try to make sure everytime anybody hears the name "Scott Garrett" they think of pimientos. It symbolizes perfectly his uselessness as a Congressperson.

[MrBenchley]

9. By the way, he's too busy to visit flooded areas...

but he and the rest of this useless GOP Congress have time to meddle with DC's local gun laws...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58095-2004Sep28.html

and pick out a national tree...

and meddle unconstitutionally with the role of the courts...

"The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday approved a bill that would prevent federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, from hearing cases challenging the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. "

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=1ED29645-CDC6-4805-823A8A62B041249F&title=US%20House%20of%20Representatives%20Votes%20to%20Limit%20Court%20Challenges%20to%20Pledge&catOID=45C9C78F-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=USA

But then the GOP has to hide what it's got planned until AFTER the election, because if voters knew they'd give them the boot...

"WASHINGTON — Congress' Republican leaders are postponing politically thorny votes on overtime pay, imported prescription drugs and other issues until after the November elections.
GOP leaders say they are not motivated by a desire to sidestep difficult showdowns on disputes, some of which have pitted Republicans against each other or drawn veto threats from President Bush. With the House and Senate aiming to adjourn Oct. 8 for the presidential and congressional campaigns, they say they are simply running out of time. "

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002049904_congress30.html

and when they say "other issues," they mean a draft...no matter what they say now.

[jerseygirl]

10. They're playing "duck and hide"

It's a time-tested GOP tactic, especially amongst incumbents. They figure that if they don't debate (which would force them to discuss their records) and don't campaign, they can win on name recognition alone. It's deceitful and cowardly. I firmly believe that Tom DeLay needs to be thrown in jail for the vast number of injustices he has committed against this country.

These things are being reported. (Y'all know I have a soft spot for the press corps.) The problem is that voters are not paying attention. Such is the sad state of our once great nation. :(

[MrBenchley]

11. It ought to be pointed out forcefully anyway...

"I firmly believe that Tom DeLay needs to be thrown in jail for the vast number of injustices he has committed against this country."
Your lips to God's ear...have you been following the Indian casino thing? That leads directly to DeLay. In fact, DeLay's former bagman is now on the lam from a Senate investigation...

"Abramoff, a large donor to President Bush who is involved in several Republican groups, appeared before the committee but refused to answer any questions. He cited his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions that would incriminate him. Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, was not present and U.S. Marshals were seeking to serve him a subpoena, said Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., the committee’s chairman.
Milanovich and senators also were troubled by e-mail between Scanlon and Abramoff that described their Indian clients as "monkeys," "morons" and "troglodytes." "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=875095

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=875208

[jerseygirl]

17. Not only the casinos

but also the TX congressional redistricting. He sent federal law enforcement officials to find the TX Dem. state reps when they left the state to avoid the vote. If a Democrat did that (or any of the crap W. has done, for that matter), the Repukes would be all over it, calling for an independent prosecutor, etc. When will Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi become the pit bulls we need them to be?!

[Kire]

12. Garrett is a day late and a dollar short

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2004
Contact: Miriam Allenson, Press Contact
[phone], Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Garrett is a day late and a dollar short with flood relief for Warren County

Wolfe Headquarters, Ridgewood – After days of ignoring the victims of this week’s flooding along the Delaware River, Scott Garrett, current congressman from the 5th NJ District, finally showed up to view the damage caused by Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne. He quickly issued a press release after touring the area.

“The citizens of Warren County, which sustained more hurricane-related damage than any other county in New Jersey, would much rather have had their representative in Washington get them relief money from FEMA, rather than writing yet another press release. The people of Pennsylvania, right across the Delaware have already gotten their FEMA money,” said Christine Mosier, manager for the Wolfe for Congress campaign. Anne Wolfe, Democrat, is running for Congress against Garrett in the 5th NJ District, which includes all of Warren County, parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties.

“How is it you have a representative in Congress who is supposed to be fighting for you but he has no time to get Harmony Township the funds they need,” said Ed Pell of Washington. Pell was speaking of the Delaware River township in Warren County where some residents have still not been able to return to their flood-damaged homes. “He had time to meddle with Washington DC gun laws – the House voted to end the ban on possessing handguns and semi-automatic weapons as well as selling armor-piercing bullets. He had time to vote to make the oak the national tree. But making sure his constituents got financial relief so they could start to put their lives back together? That he didn’t have time for.”

“The people of Warren County deserve better than that,” commented Anne Wolfe. “When I am their representative in Washington, their problems will be my first concern.”

Anne Wolfe is a moderate Democrat who is fiscally conservative, believes in a woman’s right to choose, quality public education, better access to healthcare and smart growth.

-30-

More: http://politicsnj.com/wolfe100104a.htm

[MrBenchley]

13. The real reason PA got funds and NJ didn't?

Because PA is a swing state...and the GOP operates like a shakedown racket...

[Kire]

14. LTTE: Garrett can't even visit us after floods

Garrett can't even visit us after floods
Sunday, October 03, 2004

I am confused by the lack of attention being paid by my congressman, Scott Garrett, to an important local issue. Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne hit me and my neighbors here in Warren County very hard. Flash floods did a great deal of damage to homes, bridges and roads in my area. I'm struggling to figure out how to cover the cost of the damage to my own property. I know there are many people in this area who lost precious possessions and experienced possibly permanent damage to their homes.

I'm glad that Gov. McGreevey took the time to survey the damage so that the people who are suffering can get the help they need from the state. But I would like to know where Garrett, has been. Why didn't he take the time to visit his own district to look at the flooding damage and offer words of comfort and support to the people who are suffering?

Come to think of it, I don't think Garrett has ever spent time in Warren County, except for a few choice photo-ops and a town hall meeting a few months back that just so happened to coincide with his re-election campaign.

More: http://www.nj.com/letters/expresstimes/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1096794327122220.xml

[MrBenchley]

15. Great letter!!

And right to the point.

"I understand he took the time to vote for a pay increase for himself recently. He should be pressing President Bush to declare Warren County a disaster area so we can qualify for some much needed help!
This issue has made it plain to me that Garrett doesn't care about his constituents."

http://www.nj.com/letters/expresstimes/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1096794327122220.xml

[Kire]

16. Garrett can't find Warren County

Garrett can't find Warren County

The only reason U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett came to Warren County, (I'm surprised he could even find Warren County, considering he only knows about Warren County when it's time to campaign) was because political pressure forced him to come here. We can fly across the country in less than four hours, yet it took Garrett nearly two weeks to find us.

Hey, I can buy Garrett a Hagstrom Map for about $20. Maybe then, if he knows how to read a map, he can find Warren County.

I have news for committeewoman Postma from Harmony. Gov. McGreevey was here in Warren County the very next day when the water was so high, you couldn't walk anywhere, unlike Garrett who could "walk through the mud." All one could see was devastation.

But McGreevey, a Democrat, surveyed the damage and got the ball rolling for federal disaster aid, which was stalled by the republicans in Washington, D.C. Talk about partisan politics.

Garrett's late arrival reminds me of Bush's inaction for seven long minutes in Florida when the World Trade Center was attacked. I wonder if Garrett looked as befuddled when the flood came as Bush did when we were attacked.

LISA MANOS

Hackettstown

http://www.nj.com/letters/expresstimes/index.ssf?/base/news-2/109731269253270.xml

[Kire]

18. prescription drugs no, duty-free pimientos yes

For Immediate Release: October 11, 2004
Contact: Miriam Allenson, Press Contact
[phone], Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]


Scott Garrett – Pimiento King

Wolfe Headquarters, Ridgewood – “Prescription drugs no, duty-free pimientos yes – the more you look at what matters to my opponent, the more you realize how out of touch he is with what’s important to the citizens of the district,” said Anne Wolfe this morning in an appearance on Air America Radio’s “Unfiltered.” Wolfe, a Democrat, is running for Congress in the 5th NJ Congressional District, which encompasses all of Warren County as well as parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties, against Scott Garrett, a first term incumbent radical Republican from Wantage.

Wolfe was referring to the fact that 3 out of a mere 16 pieces of legislation introduced by Garrett in his first term were intended to “suspend temporarily the duty on certain pimientos (capsicum anuum), prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid.” Wolfe contrasted Garrett’s pimiento bills with his vote against allowing reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, which would benefit almost everyone in the 5th District with less expensive prescription drug prices.

“Mr. Garrett should know how important it is for the people of the 5th District – like people all over America – to be able to purchase prescription drugs as inexpensively as possible,” said Christine Mosier, Manager for the Wolfe Campaign. “His vote not to allow reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada was shameful. While I’m sure his pimiento bills will benefit someone somewhere in the district, it really calls into question his priorities. When you compare benefits – cheaper prescription drugs…duty-free pimientos – which is more beneficial to the people of the 5th District?”

“Pimientos yes, prescription drugs no – I suppose Garrett has his priorities,” added Mosier.

Anne Wolfe is a moderate Democrat who is fiscally conservative, believes in a woman’s right to choose, quality public education, better access to healthcare and smart growth.

-30-

http://politicsnj.com/wolfe101104.htm

[Kire]

19. The Garrett Gazette

does anybody else think this taxpayer funded "newsletter" looks like campaign material?

http://www.house.gov/garrett/newsletter/04oct.html


Also, he says he voted to fund NCLB with the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, H.R. 5186, on OCTOBER 7TH! Anne Wolfe's campaign material has been putting pressure on this since last year!

Scott Garrett did under-fund it with HR 2660 on 7/10/03. So, we don't need to reprint our palm cards.

[jerseygirl]

20. Of course it does

but every member, on both sides of the aisle, does the exact same thing under the guise of "constituent outreach." It's part of the frustrating incumbency advantage.