April 30, 2008 - 4:46pm
Questioning oil stock, Andrews calls on Lautenberg to release tax returns
By Max PizarroU.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) may have stood on stage with President George W. Bush at a signing ceremony for the Iraq War resolution, but he questions why U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has a stock portfolio brimming with big oil.
According to the congressman's reading of a U.S. Senate ethics disclosure form, Lautenberg holds stock in Copano Energy, BTA Oil, Anadarko Petroleum, Marathon Oil, and Pacific Energy.
Andrews admitted maybe it isn't alot, but in any case he wants to know if it adds up to a significant flow of money for Lautenberg at a time when New Jerseyans are saddled with soaring gas prices and the country slogs through a seventh year of war in the Middle East.
The senator repeatedly criticizes the Bush Administration for protecting its oil friends while sticking the American people with a higher bill - $4 per gallon by Memorial Day and maybe $5 a gallon by Labor Day - Andrews noted in a Wednesday afternoon conference call with reporters.
"He has an obligation to tell whether he’s one of those friends," said the congressman, an underdog challenger to Lautenberg in the Democratic Primary.
"The senator doesn’t have to hide behind rhetoric," Andrews added. "He needs to release his tax returns so the people of New Jersey can see how much income he derives (from the energy industry)."
Andrews said he has released his own income tax returns, and pointed out Lautenberg’s 2002 demand of general election opponent Douglas Forrester to release his returns.
Lautenberg spokesperson Julie Roginsky said the campaign would be releasing the senator’s tax returns, and in the meantime objected to Andrews’s suggestion of a conflict of interest.
"This is a desperate ploy from a candidate who is running from his record," Roginsky said. "Sen. Lautenberg’s record is clear: he exposed secret meetings between big oil executives and Dick Cheney's energy policy task force. Just this last week, Senator Lautenberg gave the Democratic radio address laying out a comprehensive energy plan to wean us off our dependence on oil and went after oil speculators who are greedily driving up oil prices for consumers."
Roginsky again hitched Andrews up to his authorship of the 2002 war resolution, and his quote to Fox News about how America’s best short-term energy policy would be to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
"No wonder George Bush handpicked him as one of his top congressional enablers on the war," Roginsky said. "They both share a world-view on foreign policy and energy policy -- and we know how well both of those have worked out for the American people."
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July 4, 2008
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Political parties get right down to business― Daily Record
Ex-city official should give all of it back― Star-Ledger
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Frank is an oilman and environmentalist at the same time!
Guess, which one pays more? "Lautenberg holds stock in Copano Energy, BTA Oil, Anadarko Petroleum, Marathon Oil, and Pacific Energy." Very nice Mr. Blue Collar and Working People of NJ man!
I hope that the same blue collar and working people of NJ will take notice of Frank's notorious double standards.
pathetic
this is so typical of a republican, except, in this case, it's a hack democrat. i think a better disclosure would be all the ties andrews has to the norcross machine, how much money norcross has raised for him, how much he has done for norcross, etc. etc., that's alot more important than FL's financial records. I'm sure at the age of 84 FL wants to stay in the Lautenberg to pump up his stocks, that makes A LOT of sense. how about andrews just goes away forever and never comes back. he can bring tea and envelopes to norcross.
Hudson
You've got it. Plain and simple Rob hasnt made one decision in Washington that GEorge Norcross hasnt made for him.
hudsonblue and SJBlue need to read their history books...
I can tell by the previous two comments that the writers have no knowledge of NJ politics over the last decade. It was highly publicized that Norcross and Andrews were split for many years. During that time Andrews recieved no help in terms of general support or money from Norcross. At the same time he wiped his opposition off the map on election day and on at least one occasion had no opposition. So, it's pretty clear that Andrews doesn't need any help and has the ability to get elected on his own.
As far as Lautenberg goes, he needs to be open in terms of releasing his tax returns and debating. He needs to stop hiding.
Let's debate the issues!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m-Ca0jT7zc
NON-GOP: swing and a miss
Jim McGreevy could win Andrews' district with 90% of the vote, as could Mike Gravel, Darryl Strawberry, Bob the builder, a roadie from a Bon Jovi cover band and anyone else who runs as a democrat in the general election. There is no way in this God almighty world that Rob Andrews could do anything in a competitive and/or statewide race without norcross. So yes, when he was running in a safe seat he broke from Norcross, but now?
I love Google:
"He is known for his independence, exemplified by a feud with South Jersey political leader George Norcross 3d. The two have since found common ground and much of Andrews' support is coming from the Norcross machine"
"But party boss George Norcross, a major figure throughout Andrews’ career and the Congressman’s top strategist, has had success in the past with last-minute surprises."
"This is not about Lautenberg & Andrews. It's about Norcross gaining more power, & NJerseyans know it. "
"Norcross is heavily invested in Andrews’ campaign, which means that Stack is likely to help Andrews organize a credible off-the-line slate in Hudson,"
"The real dissapointment here is due to machine politics Which is that the only "serious" candidate for Andrews' congress seat is HIS WIFE. There are some smart South Jersey pols who could win this seat but clearly South Jersey boss Norcross told them not to run"
So non-gop, while you may think you have a grasp on "political history" you clearly have NO IDEA what is going on now. Time for you to wake up and get with the program.
Anything
Anything...Anything that comes from Camden County if it in anyway has public dollars connected to it, involves Norcross. Make no mistake. Norcross has the money to influence nearly every public official in SJ. He has even gotten to Jim Whelan (A man that I once respected) There can be no mistake, Norcross built Rob's career. My knowledge of political history needs no such tutoring. If you believe that Rob isnt boosed you are sadly mistaken. Rob is by far the most bossed Congressman in the State-perhaps the nation. Yes, the problem is that severe.
Reed Gusciora
Looks like he would rather be in the dentist's char than talking to Andrews. ha ha
Debates
I know this a bit out of context but perhaps someone can answer it. Why do they need to debate? I understand that to have some is important. But when Frank ran against Fenwick-she was a Republican...and they had very different opinions. It was the general election. As far as Rob is concerned Frank and he have just about the same opinion on every issue. So are they going to debate about how much they have in common. The only thing he wants to try to do is make FL look old and feabile (old yes feabile hardly) and get name recognition in the North-which he does not have. Rob is a bossed Congressman that has achieved no distinction in the House (over the course of 20 years no less!) I hope Frank debates him, and shows everyone just how sorry of a Congressman Rob is. When Rob loses this and starts his bid for Gov in 09 it will be a nother blemish on his record and hopefully we will then be finished with him forever.
Funny
how sometimes i feel like SJBlue is my long lost twin. Well said.
thou doth protest too much
Wow you really told me! Ok so when you said that that George Norcross made all his decisions for him in Washington and then in your next post you admit that they split for a while, you're retracting that? Cuz I'm really confused with your contradictions. Are you admitting that you were wrong or are you admitting that you purposely went out on the trail looking for things that kinda sorta back up your false claims? Please, enlighten me. And since I seemed to have touched a nerve forcing you both to reply a combined 4 times to my one short comment, feel free to type many more comments in reply to this one. Cuz, you know, the more words you type the more your story seems to make sense and all...
still wrong
i never said that Norcross made all his decisions for Andrews while he was in DC.
good try, but once again, another swing and a miss. you make no mention that once again andrews and norcross are together.
thanks for playing.
Non Gop = Non Sense
Hey Non Gop I will save Hudson and SJ Blue from having to deal with you further. What makes no sense is your rambling without any information to back it up. Why would Andrews be coerced to run by Norcross, Lesniak and Adubato? They want a servant in the US senate. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to split the party at a time like this and risk your future political career (because when Rob loses the primary, he will never serve in public office again as a result of his lack of loyalty to his party)to run against a well-liked incumbent who has a one of the finest legislative records in Congress. Then he puts his wife in his seat to save it for him when he loses to Frank or so she can be his (and Norcross's) puppet and do their bidding. The whole thing reaks of influence, power mongering and corruption and anyone, other than you, knows it. This is not some sort of conspircay theory, it's the damned truth! If you knew anything about NJ politics you would know what the South Jersey Policital Machine is all about. Do you want a candidate that can't keep a promise to his own party and goes to work for political bosses? Andrews is going to lose in June and then we'll be rid of him for good. Keep up the good work Hudson and SJ...