The Week Just Passed:

Unemployment Rate Falls, But Recovery Sputters Along

Obamacare Makes the One-Doctor Practice an Endangered Species

A Dose of the Real World Wakes Up a Former Democratic House Leader

House Select Committee Established to Probe Benghazi Terrorist Attacks

Voter Fraud is Real: We Need for Photo I.D. at the Polling Place

Salute: The Montclair Art Museum Marks 100 Years

Salute: WW II Vet Ken DeGhetto Honored by Metro YMCA

Salute: Bloomfield Middle School – A “NJ Schools to Watch Spotlight School”

Unemployment Rate Falls, But Recovery Sputters Along

The announcement today that the unemployment rate dropped last month to 6.3 percent is a rare and welcome piece of good news on the economic front.  Unfortunately, however, it is about the only bright spot among plenty of other measures that show that the economy continues to barely sputter along.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The labor force participation rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 62.8 percent in April…and [t]he number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was little changed at 7.5 million in April. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find full-time work.”

On top of that, the economy grew just one-tenth of one percent (0.10 %) in the first quarter of the year.  Such anemic growth is further evidence that the President’s current economic policies are helping to perpetuate the weakest recovery since the Great Depression.

The House has passed and sent to the Senate more than 200 bills to stimulate the economy and help create jobs and opportunity.  It is long past time that the Senate acts on these bills.  For millions still out of work, the Senate’s inaction is inexcusable.

Obamacare Makes the One-Doctor Practice an Endangered Species

The U-T San Diego’s deeply troubling article about the impact Obamacare is having on one-doctor practices uncovers yet another disastrous consequence of this deeply flawed law.  According to this report, “[A]lready the law, coming on top of previous legislation, is speeding the demise of an American small-business institution; the one-doctor medical practice.”  I have heard similar reports from doctors in Morris, Sussex, Essex, and Passaic counties.

Higher premiums; higher deductibles; less patient choice; employers eliminating jobs and cutting back others…the list of flaws built into the law just grows and grows.  And thanks to the President’s numerous delays of the laws mandates, the full affect hasn’t even been felt yet.  The worst, I fear, is yet to come.

A Dose of the Real World Opens Eyes of Former Democratic House Leader

My former colleague, David Bonior of Michigan, left Congress a decade ago after compiling a record that many would characterize as hostile to small business.  In the years since, he’s become an entrepreneur, opening two restaurants in Washington, D.C.  In a fascinating article, Bonior complains to the Washington Post about the burden on small business owners of excessive regulation, taxes, and fees.

 “The biggest surprise is how you have to hustle,” former House Democratic Whip, David Bonior, told the Post. “It was an eye-opener. I always heard this when I was in Congress. ‘You should try and own a business someday, Bonior.’ So I own two small businesses with my stepson and daughter-in-law. It’s tough to make it, in terms of profit margins. But somehow you get by and you figure it out.”

According to the Post, “Bonior said if he had the power, he would lighten up on pesky regulations. ‘It took us a ridiculous amount of time to get our permits. I understand regulations and the necessity for it. But we lost six months of business because of that. It’s very frustrating.’”

I wish some of my current colleagues would learn the same lesson former Democratic leader, David Bonior, has learned: Congress needs to reduce the burden of regulation and high taxes and fees on small business.  Small business is the engine that drives America’s economy.  We need to help it go faster, not overload it with unnecessary baggage that just slows down job creation and economic growth.

House Select Committee Established to Probe Benghazi Terrorist Attacks

I applaud Speaker John Boehner’s decision to establish a select committee to get to the truth about the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, that resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the American ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens.

The Obama Administration’s stonewalling about what the President and senior officials in his Administration knew about the attack and when they knew it has frustrated for far too long Congress’ efforts to get to the truth. 

I hope the White House finally will begin to understand that the American people deserve the truth about this attack and about any Administration efforts to divert the attention of the American people away from the real story or “make it go away.”

I called for this for this action nearly a year ago, in this op-ed which was published in The Record­. 

The Speaker’s announcement can be found here. 

Salute: The Montclair Art Museum Marks 100 Years

The Montclair Art Museum celebrated its 100th Anniversary on Saturday, April 26^th and I had the pleasure of attending their dinner celebration.  The Museum has a national reputation, built on the strength of its American and Native American art collections, as well as on its success in linking art to contemporary life through its exhibitions and educational programs. 

Among the many highlights of the evening was a solo performance by Kimani Freeman, a talented Montclair Kimberley Academy student who beautifully sang Gershwin, Etta James, and Alicia Keyes. 

To plan a visit to this cultural gem, first visit them on the web at montclairartmuseum.org/

Salute: WW II Vet Ken DeGhetto Honored by Metro YMCA

The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges couldn’t have picked a better person to honor as its “Lay Person of the Year” than Livingston resident Kenneth DeGhetto, a friend of mine for many years.  He has lived a life of service to others, dating back to his time as a cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and then in the United States Navy, seeing action during World War II in the Pacific theater. 

The retired chairman of the Foster Wheeler Corp., his support for the Metro YMCA, includes serving on its Board of Directors since 2003 and sponsoring, along with Helen, his wife of almost 70 years, this year’s Metro YMCA SPLASH water-safety program.

As a sign of his extraordinary leadership and philanthropy, both the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation and the Metro YMCA have named awards after Ken, which are given to people who embody his generosity and ideals.

Ken deserves every accolade that comes his way.  Read more about Ken DeGhetto and this award here.

Salute: Bloomfield Middle School – A “NJ Schools to Watch Spotlight School”

I had the pleasure of visiting the Bloomfield Middle School (BMS) earlier today and I was so impressed by the seventh grade students I met.  BMS was recently recognized by the New Jersey Association of Middle Level Education as a “New Jersey Schools to Watch Spotlight School.”  Spotlight Schools are selected because they are found to be academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially equitable.

I visit schools across the 11^th Congressional District every year, and I always come away with a sense of pride and optimism – pride in the education our schools are offering our children and optimism in the future knowing the rising generation is being well prepared to take their place in our communities in the years ahead.

You can learn more about the exciting things happening at the Bloomfield Middle School here.