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

September 29th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept 29, 2008

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

Garrett votes against bill to fund renewable energy

Haworth, NJ — With his latest vote, Scott Garrett sided with Big Oil yet again, opposing legislation to promote a renewable and energy-independent future.  Garrett’s vote against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Friday, was yet another example of Garrett rejecting a bipartisan consensus that was in favor of renewable energy.

The bill would promote wind and solar energy production, and give tax credits for plug-in electric vehicles.  It is fiscally responsible, paid for by cutting taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and by closing oil companies’ foreign tax loopholes.

“I’m running to put a renewable energy future for New Jersey first.  As Americans worry about the rising cost of gas and the threat of global warming, we need a Representative working for real solutions, not his Big Oil cronies,” said Dennis Shulman, the Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District.  “Scott Garrett remains woefully out of touch with New Jerseyans - but in quite close touch with the desires of his oilmen friends, apparently.”
Dennis Shulman has pledged not to accept campaign contributions from Big Oil or any special interest he would oversee in Congress.  The Shulman for Congress campaign has called on Scott Garrett to stop taking money from Big Oil — Garrett has accepted more than $100,000 from the oil & gas and automotive industries.

Jocelyn Krieger, spokeswoman for the group ‘Texas Oilmen for Scott Garrett,’ said: “With all the distractions of the day - Wall Street tanking, gas prices soaring - it would be easy for our allies in Congress to forget about the big needs of us in Big Oil.  Several Republicans did just that, forsaking our needs in favor of their constituents.  Luckily, we have Scott Garrett looking out for us, and his most recent vote shows he’ll always put our oil interests first.”

Sources:

• House OKs extending renewable energy tax credits: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE48P6SJ20080926
• Oilmen for Garrett: www.OilmenForGarrett.com
• Environment New Jersey’s 2008 scorecard gave Scott Garrett’s five New Jersey Republican colleagues an average of 80%; Garrett received an 8% rating: http://www.environmentnewjersey.org/

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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 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

• “A Rabbi in Congress?,” Adam Goodman, Time, 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

• Press Releases