Capital Games

Energy bill splits NJ delegation

The New Jersey delegation split in interesting ways in the House vote last night on a bill that would lift the ban on drilling for oil and gas more than 100 miles offshore and allow states to authorize drilling 50 to 100 miles offshore. Voting 'yea' were three Democracts and two Republicans; voting 'nay' were four Democrats and four Republicans.

Andrews, D-Haddon Heights: Y
LoBiondo, R-Millville: Y
Pascrell, D-Paterson: Y
Sires, D-West New York: Y
Smith, R-Hamilton: Y

Ferguson, R-Westfield: N
Frelinghuysen, R-Harding: N
Garrett, R-Wantage: N
Holt, D-Hopewell Tsp: N
Pallone, D-Long Branch: N
Payne, D-Newark: N
Rothman, D-Fair Lawn: N
Saxton, R-Mount Holly: N

Pascrell praises transit study

The Record's web site carries my story today about a report by an arm of the National Research Council, the Transportation Research Board, that lays out where the difficulties facing the New York region when it comes to evacuating people in emergencies.

The study, which was requested Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-Paterson, looked at 38 major urban areas with populations over 1 million, but it also included a specific case study of the New York region.

"I want the Department of Transportation to give priority to those public transit projects which add to our system of national security," Pascrell said at a news conference this morning.

The report's likely to be used to help put a homeland security spin on requests for more transit funding next year when Congress has to pass a five-year transportation funding bill. Pascrell said he believes "jurisdictional infighting" kept Congress from dedicating more transportation money for security needs in the last funding round.

More of Pascrell's comments are on his newly redesigned web site.

Pascrell paean to Italian artist passes

Rep. Bill Pascrell's effort to honor the Italian-born artist whose work is among the most spectacular in the Capitol is headed toward the president's desk.

The House passed a resolution this afternoon awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi, whose fresco "Apotheosis of Washington" [above] is covers the inside of the Capitol Dome. Brumidi also painted the Frieze of American History around the base of the dome, and the works in the West Corridor, commonly known as the Brumidi Corridor.[right]

Pascrell and Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., led the effort to honor Brumidi with one of the nation's most exclusive awards.

“As the grandson of Italian immigrants, I am proud that Congress has joined me in posthumously awarding Constantino Brumidi with an honor reserved for the most distinguished individuals and institutions,” Pascrell said.

The son of a Greek father and Italian mother, Bumidi immigrated to the United States from Italy on Sept. 18, 1852. He died on Feb. 19, 1880 at age 74, four months after slipping and nearly falling from a scaffold while working on the Rotunda frieze. A full bio is on the Senate's web site.

Pascrell's safety record

An independent agency of Congress honored Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. this week as one of just three dozen members of Congress with offices that passed a checklist and are totally safe for staff and the public.

Pascrell, D-Paterson, was the only New Jerseyan among 25 House members and 12 senators to receive the Congressional Safety Award from the Office of Compliance for having no health or safety hazards.

Makes you wonder what's going on in the other 498 congressional offices.

New top aide to Garrett

A Kansas native who served in the Bush administration as a deputy assistant treasury secretary handling banking affairs has taken over as chief of staff to Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage.

Amy D. Smith had been a veteran House and Senate aide whose first congressional job was for former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole before she joined the administration in 2001.

But she later left treasury and worked as a lobbyist a while, then decided to go back to school in Emporia, Kan. to get her Master's Degree in business administration. But Washington beckoned again.

Pascrell brain injury bill advances

A House committee approved Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.'s bill on Thursday to increase federal support and funding for victims of traumatic brain injuries and their families. 

The Traumatic Brain Injury Act, H.R. 1418, would authorize funding to coordinate policy on prevention, education and research at several federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources Administration. It was approved in a voice vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001.

Dems plus LoBiondo back ethics panel

Just one Republican -- Rep. Frank LoBiondo of Millville -- joined the seven Democrats in New Jesey's House delegation this week in voting to create an independent Office of Congressional Ethics that could initiate investigations.

Five New Jersey Republicans, including Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen of Harding and Scott Garrett of Wantage, voted against the bill.

The ethics committee has been criticized for past inaction on allegations about lawmakers who later were charged and convicted for crimes.

"I agree our current system is broken," Garrett said. "Unfortunately, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi failed to bring a bi-partisan solution to the table and chose to put forward a Commission that does not solve the current problems.  Instead, it would allow anonymous partisan complaints to clog the system and lead to increased mud-slinging."

The overall bill, H.Res. 1031, passed 229-182, with 196 Democrats and 33 Republicans supporting it.

Sires gets Transportation slot

New Jersey is in line to get another seat on the important House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee after a steering committee recommended Rep. Albio Sires, D-West New York, to fill a vacancy.

The committee is pivotal in shaping the multi-year legislation that determines how billions in funding for highways and transit are divided among the 50 states. The current authorization bill expires in August 2009, so it will be a hot topic in Congress next year.

Only a brave congressman

Would send this photo a reporter.

That's Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn.

For what he's doing, read the accompanying release below.

Rothman on Renzi ethics panel

Rep. Steve Rothman was chosen today to serve on a special House ethics panel investigating an Arizona congressman who was recently indicted.

Rothman, D-Fair Lawn, was named to an investigative subcommittee that will be determining if the House code of conduct was violated by Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz.

Renzi, 49, a three-term lawmaker whose district covers much of rural Arizona, was indicted on 35 counts including charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, insurance fraud and extortion. The Justice Department accuses him of engineering a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner and stealing from his insurance company's clients.

Renzi announced last year that he would not seek re-election. He has denied wrongdoing and resisted suggestions from his own party that he should consider resigning.

The subcommittee will be led by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., with Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas heading the Republican side. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., also will participate.

The ethics committee can issue a report that rebukes a member for violating laws or standards of conduct or can recommend that the full House consider expulsion.