LoBiondo's bad for southern New Jersey

As Election Day approaches, I question Rep. Frank LoBiondo's frequent declarations of independence from President Bush. It was on the war in Iraq when LoBiondo, R-2nd, voted to give away Congress' responsibility to declare war to President Bush and approved every emergency appropriation to pay for Iraq with little accountability for disbursements. To provide recruits for the war, LoBiondo voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, which contains provisions that make 18-to-25-year-olds vulnerable to military recruiters by the creation of a special Department of Defense database. LoBiondo stood with President Bush on a prescription drug plan for seniors, which is more complex than the tax code. He also voted to prohibit re-importation of drugs from Canada. LoBiondo, who receives the endorsement of several labor unions, has sided with Bush to allow the take-back of health and pension benefits, the loss of overtime pay for millions of workers and the denial of a minimum wage increase until this election year. LoBiondo likes to declare that this election is about representing southern New Jersey issues and not about national issues. But his national votes in Congress do not represent us. He votes against southern New Jersey because he votes with Bush 83 percent of the time. He has failed southern New Jersey for the last 12 years. He lied when he signed his Contract with America and said he would not run for more than six terms. So, should we re-elect Frank LoBiondo? Let's help LoBiondo keep his promise. Vote to fire LoBiondo and hire Viola Thomas-Hughes. Karen Padmore, Cape May Court House - Published in the Atlantic City Press, October 24, 2006