Dennis Shulman for U.S. Congress: Sensible Leadership for New Jersey’s 5th District

September 17th, 2008

Bipartisan compromise bill would responsibly increase drilling while taking away Garrett’s favorite Big Oil tax giveaways in order to fund renewable energy for the 21^st Century

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept 17th, 2008

Contact: Jeff Hauser, (201) 767-8162, jeff@shulmanforcongress.com

Haworth, NJ - The Shulman for Congress campaign condemned Scott Garrett’s latest vote in favor of his Big Oil campaign contributors and against hardworking New Jersey taxpayers.

“Responsible Republicans like Frank LoBiondo and Chris Smith joined problem solving Democrats to try to solve this energy crisis, but Scott Garrett stood in the minority, opposed to progress, along with his fat cat Big Oil contributors,” said Dennis Shulman, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District. “Garrett consistently plays the Washington DC special interest game and chooses his contributors over his constituents - I am running to put an end to that corrupt game, and finally put New Jersey taxpayers first.”

Michael Simonson, an official spokesperson for the group “Texas Oilmen for Garrett” (www.oilmenforgarrett.com ) said that, “Amidst the turmoil on Wall Street and questions about the effectiveness of the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary, it is great that there is one thing we can always count on.  Scott Garrett will oppose all efforts to advance renewable energy alternatives to our oil and will always stand up for those massive tax breaks which make us not only very profitable, but super profitable.”

SOURCES:

Oilmen for Garrett: www.oilmenforgarrett.com

New York Times: “Among other objections, House Republicans joined industry in criticizing the measure because it would eliminate about $18 billion in tax breaks for oil companies, including a manufacturing deduction of particular benefit to large firms. The savings from the oil companies would be diverted to pay for tax breaks and incentives for renewable fuels, vehicles that use alternative energy and other fuel efficiency programs and research.” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/washington/17cong.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

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Dennis Shulman was recently profiled by The New Yorker and Time as momentum for his campaign continues to grow, and recent polling in the district validates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recent decision to upgrade NJ-5 as an “Emerging Race” and to buy advertising time in the district.  Only 31% of likely voters in NJ-5 plan to re-elect Garrett and, by a 68-17% margin, the district seeks change from George Bush’s policies.

Dr. Dennis Shulman has gained international recognition for his 30 years of work as a psychologist, educator, and author.  An ordained rabbi for five years and blind since childhood, he has lived in New Jersey’s Fifth District for more than 25 years with his wife, Dr. Pamela Tropper, an obstetrician. They have two adult daughters.

Additional background on Dr. Dennis Shulman and his challenge to Scott Garrett:

• “Rabbi With the Compelling Back Story Is Not to Be Ruled Out,” Peter Applebome, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/nyregion/14towns.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
• “Garrett faces unique competitor for seat,” Chris Newmarker, Associated Press, http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/NEWS02/808030345/1123

• “A Rabbi in Congress?,” http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1824434,00.html
• “On the Trail: First Timer,” Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/07/28/080728ta_talk_toobin
• “Garrett tells donors he’s concerned about Shulman,” PoliticsNJ, http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/21172/
  garrett-tells-donors-hes-concerned-about-shulman

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