Budget Cuts, LoBiondo, and the AFL-CIO

The House of Representatives recently approved a measure that cuts $39 billion from programs that help Americans improve their lives — programs such as Medicare, welfare, student loans and enforcement of child support.The measure passed by a vote of 216 to 214. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, had a real chance to represent the interests of us, his constituents, because if he had voted against it, the vote would have been tied and this measure would have failed. Instead, he voted with his party leadership, as he has 88 percent of the time since he was first elected to Congress. When he has not voted with his party, those votes were safe anyway, and he could claim he was breaking ranks and standing up for his constituents.The truth is that he has no trouble giving tax breaks to the wealthy, while cutting programs that help children and families. Furthermore, I am shocked by the endorsement of the AFL-CIO for his re-election, considering that over his tenure in office, he has only supported labor about 43 percent of the time. I cannot believe the union leadership would support LoBiondo, against its own interests.The only way we can stop the scandals, stop the reverse Robin Hood policies of Bush and the congressional Republicans and begin to move our country in the right direction again is to elect progressive and forward-thinking candidates, such as potential LoBiondo challenger Robin Weinstein.

BRIAN MOORE

Bridgeton

Letter published in Press of Atlantic City, February 12, 2006