Scott Garrett

1111 Pages·2016·9.14 MB·English

Scott Garrett (NJ-05) Research Report

The following report contains research on Scott Garrett, a Republican member of Congress in New
Jersey’s 5th district. Research for this research book was conducted by the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee’s Research Department between November 2015 and April

2016.

By accepting this report, you are accepting responsibility for all information and analysis included.
Therefore, it is your responsibility to verify all claims against the original documentation before you
make use of it.

Make sure you understand the facts behind our conclusions before making any specific charges
against anyone.
Table of Contents
Top Hits ..................................................................................................... 5

Key Moments On Video .......................................................................... 74

Biography ............................................................................................... 74

Key Headlines .......................................................................................... 76

Anti-Garrett Editorials ............................................................................. 79

Political Outlook ...................................................................................... 92

Political Career – Elections ...................................................................... 99

Political Career – Office ........................................................................ 111

Too Extreme For New Jersey................................................................. 124

Looking Out for Himself ....................................................................... 148

Ethics & Accountability Issues .............................................................. 165

Abortion & Family Planning Issues ....................................................... 181

Agriculture Issues .................................................................................. 203

Arts & Quality Of Life ........................................................................... 227

Budget Issues ......................................................................................... 230

Budget – Government Shutdown ........................................................... 293

Campaign Issues & Election Law .......................................................... 306

Consumer Issues .................................................................................... 314

Crime & Public Safety ........................................................................... 343

Defense .................................................................................................. 365

Earmark Issues ....................................................................................... 377

Economic & Financial Issues ................................................................. 391

Education – Children & Head Start Issues ............................................. 412

Education – K-12 & Higher Ed .............................................................. 417

Education – Vouchers ............................................................................ 439

Education – Student Aid ........................................................................ 442

Energy Issues ......................................................................................... 458

Energy Issues – Drilling....................................................................... 496

Environmental Issues ............................................................................. 507

FEMA & Disaster Relief Issues ............................................................. 549

Foreign Policy Issues ............................................................................. 569

Foreign Policy – Iran ............................................................................ 582

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Foreign Policy – Iraq ............................................................................ 590

Foreign Policy – Israel .......................................................................... 608

Gay & Lesbian Issues ............................................................................ 614

Gun Issues ............................................................................................. 645

Health Care Issues ................................................................................. 657

Health Care - Affordable Care Act ........................................................ 677

Health Care – SCHIP ............................................................................. 696

Housing Issues ....................................................................................... 703

Insurance Issues ..................................................................................... 708

Immigration & Border Issues ................................................................. 714

Labor And Working Family Issues ........................................................ 750

Labor – Unemployment Benefits ........................................................... 769

Labor – Workers’ Rights & Safety ........................................................ 774

Labor – Outsourcing & Buy America .................................................... 788

Legal Reform Issues .............................................................................. 793

Medicare ................................................................................................ 796

Medicaid ................................................................................................ 806

Military Personnel Issues ....................................................................... 810

Native American Issues ......................................................................... 821

Other Social Issues ................................................................................ 823

Religious Issues ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Seniors ................................................................................................... 830

Small Business Issues ............................................................................ 833

Social Security ....................................................................................... 848

Tax Issues .............................................................................................. 859

Technology & Science ........................................................................... 903

Terrorism & Homeland Security ............................................................ 910

Terrorism – Civil Liberties .................................................................... 946

Trade Issues ........................................................................................... 957

Transportation Issues ............................................................................. 974

Veterans’ Issues .................................................................................... 1001

Wall Street & Financial Regulation ...................................................... 1024

Women ................................................................................................. 1031

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Appendix I- Personal Finance ............................................................... 1043

Appendix II – Campaign Finance ......................................................... 1065

Appendix III – Office Expenditures ...................................................... 1070

Appendix IV – Paid Media Summary ................................................... 1078

Appendix V – Sponsored Legislation ................................................ 1081

Appendix VI – Co–Sponsored Legislation ........................................ 1089

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Top Hits

Too Extreme For New Jersey

Herald News: “Political Philosophy Is Nearly Identical To The Tea Party Platform”

In 2011, the Herald News said that Garrett’s “political philosophy is nearly identical to the Tea Party
platform.”

“He takes a strict constitutionalist view of government power and draws a hard line on government
spending, opposing relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina or extending benefits for the unemployed,” the
paper wrote. [Herald News, 8/11/11]

Agreed With Constituent On Reviewing President Obama’s Birth Certificate

When A Constituent Suggested The President “Show His Birth Certificate,” Garrett Said “I
Agree.”During a Congressional open house event the following interaction occurred, [4:48] “Constituent:
Have him show his birth certificate, it’s as simple as that. None of this talk about it, talk about it, just let’s
see the birth certificate. Garrett: I agree.” [Garrett Birther Video, 11/05/09]

NOTE: The DCCC has saved a copy of this video

Refferred To Other Ethnicities As Untrustworthy

Garrett: Other Ethnicities Are Not Straight Forward, “They’ll Say Yes To You Constantly And
Then You’ll Realize They Really Didn’t Mean It.” “Director Richard C. Spanier gave Garrett a tour of
the 30,000-square-foot building and then the pair sat down for a lengthy discussion on international
business. Rudolph sells its products to 40 countries, and Spanier travels around the world with the Garden
State-based company’s products. Spanier said the best people to do business with are those in the
American Midwest because of their ‘straight-forward’ attitude. ‘Other ethnicities are not that
way,’ Garrett said. ‘They’ll say yes to you constantly and then you’ll realize they really didn’t mean it.’
Garrett said after the meeting he meant people in other countries.” [Express-Times, 10/24/11]

Said That He Wouldn’t Contribute To The National Republican Congressional Committee Because
It Actively Recruited Gay Candidates

Said He Wouldn’t Contribute His Member Dues To The National Republican Congressional
Committee Because It Actively Recruited Gay Candidates. “A Hensarling ally who chairs a prized
Financial Services subcommittee, Garrett has angered GOP leaders and many members of the committee.
He voted against Boehner’s bid for another term as speaker, bucked leadership on a critical procedural
vote and has refused to pay National Republican Congressional Committee dues. Garrett first responded
that his procedural vote against leadership was a matter of conscience. Then he stunned the room with this
explanation: He had not supported the NRCC in the past, he said, because it actively recruited gay
candidates and supported homosexuals in primaries.” [Politico, 7/16/15]

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EDITORIAL: “This Is Only The Latest Proof That Garrett Is Not Only A Shameless Bigot, But
Also An Unskilled Liar”

Star-Ledger: “This Is Only The Latest Proof That Garrett Is Not Only A Shameless Bigot, But Also
An Unskilled Liar.” “In other words, he will gladly support gay bachelor politicians, as long as they
cheerfully embrace semi-personhood. But if they want to marry, that’s a deal-breaker. This is only the
latest proof that Garrett is not only a shameless bigot, but also an unskilled liar. Leave aside that his PAC
often contributes to other Republicans who oppose platform issues. Revisit the backstory from Politico:
Last June, the website reported that Garrett was meeting with the National Republican Congressional
Committee, and he threatened to withhold hundreds of thousands of dollars from the caucus in protest of
its support of gay candidates. Bob Yudin, the chairman of the Bergen County GOP, confirmed it as one of
several reasons cited by Garrett.” [Star-Ledger Editorial, 3/28/16]

EDITORIAL: “There Is Something Disingenuous About His Claim … When He Adds The Caveat
That That Candidate Would Have To Oppose Same-Sex Marriage”

Record Editorial: “There Is Something Disingenuous About His Claim … When He Adds The
Caveat That That Candidate Would Have To Oppose Same-Sex Marriage.” “The congressman has a
right to financially support candidates of his choosing. And he has a right to fight with his own party’s
leadership on other parts of the Republican agenda. But there is something disingenuous about his claim
that he could support a gay candidate, when he adds the caveat that that candidate would have to oppose
same-sex marriage.” [The Record Editorial, 3/25/16]

EDITORIAL: Garrett “Will Gladly Support Gay Bachelor Politicians, As Long As They Cheerfully
Embrace Semi-Personhood”

Star-Ledger Editorial: Garrett “Will Gladly Support Gay Bachelor Politicians, As Long As They
Cheerfully Embrace Semi-Personhood.” “In other words, he will gladly support gay bachelor
politicians, as long as they cheerfully embrace semi-personhood. But if they want to marry, that’s a deal-
breaker. This is only the latest proof that Garrett is not only a shameless bigot, but also an unskilled liar.
Leave aside that his PAC often contributes to other Republicans who oppose platform issues. Revisit the
backstory from Politico: Last June, the website reported that Garrett was meeting with the National
Republican Congressional Committee, and he threatened to withhold hundreds of thousands of dollars
from the caucus in protest of its support of gay candidates. Bob Yudin, the chairman of the Bergen County
GOP, confirmed it as one of several reasons cited by Garrett.” [Star-Ledger Editorial, 3/28/16]

EDITORIAL: “Revisionist History Has Always Been A Garrett Expertise”

Star-Ledger Editorial: “Revisionist History Has Always Been A Garrett Expertise.” “Revisionist
history has always been a Garrett expertise. After Sandy struck, Garrett was the only member of the New
Jersey delegation who refused to sign a letter imploring then-Speaker John Boehner to act promptly to
provide federal funds, and he initially balked at supporting the aid package.” [Star-Ledger Editorial,
3/28/16]

2015: Held First In – Person Town Hall As Member

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May 7, 2015: Held First In-Person Town Hall

May 7, 2015: Scott Garrett Held His First Town Hall After Seven Terms In Office, Discussed His
Lack Of Support For Bill Authorizing Additional Spending For 9/11 First Responders. “Rep. Scott
Garrett, responding to questions from a group composed mostly of supporters on Thursday night,
discussed trimming the federal budget and ways to bolster the economy, and briefly touched on his lack of
support for a bill to authorize additional spending for first responders suffering from medical conditions
tied to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. More than 60 people were in the audience at the Lafayette
House restaurant as Garrett, in his seventh term as a U.S. representative, held his first town-hall meeting.”
[The Record, 5/07/15]

Hotline: In 2015 Garrett Held First Town Hall Since Taking Office In 2003. “Rep. Scott Garrett (R)
will hold ‘his first town hall since taking office in 2003 … Until now, Garrett has steered clear of the town
hall format given a degree of national prominence by Gov. Chris Christie (R), in contrast to other House
members from New Jersey.’ The New Jersey Herald asked Garrett to hold the event, and helped facilitate
it. (New Jersey Herald).” [The Hotline, 5/07/15]

The Record: Garrett Doesn’t Hold In-Person Town Halls, Instead Holds Telephone Town Halls
Where Numbers Are Dialed And Constituents Are Told “How And When They Can
Participate.” “Like many incumbents with lesser-known challengers, he has avoided candidate
forums. In 2010, for example, he participated in only one debate. He also does not hold the kind of in-
person town hall meetings where aggressive Tea Party supporters made such a mark in the summer of
2009. Instead, Garrett's office disclosure forms reveal, he holds telephone town halls through which
phone numbers in the district are dialed and constituents are told how and when they can participate.”
[The Record, 9/20/12]

The Record: Garett Rarely Discloses Where He Will Be. “Garrett does not hide where he stands,
but he also does not go out of his way to advertise it to North Jersey voters, beyond voicing his
support for lower taxes and spending. Unlike other politicians who clamor for news coverage when
they are campaigning, Garrett rarely discloses where he will be.” [The Record, 9/20/12]

Garrett: “My Approach To Dealing With These Issues Is … The Folks At Home Have A Lot Better
Perspective On What Needs To Be Done” Than People In Washington. [3:12] Garrett: “My Approach
to dealing with these issues is … [3:28] The Idea The Founding fathers had is simply that the folks here at
home have a lot better perspective on what needs to be done and handle your own lives than people down
in Washington.” [Garrett Town Hall, accessed 8/19/15]

Garrett Agreed To Hold Town Hall At Urging Of New Jersey Herald Editors. “Rep. Scott Garrett
will hold his first town hall meeting ever when he fields questions for an hour Thursday in Sussex County.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Lafayette House restaurant in Lafayette. A
Republican from Wantage serving his seventh term in a district that is dominated by voters in northern
and central Bergen County, Garrett agreed to hold the event at the urging of the editors of the New Jersey
Herald, the daily newspaper in Newton. ‘We’d been talking to him over the years, asking, isn’t he ever
going to do a town hall meeting?’ said executive editor Bruce Tomlinson. ‘And he said if we could come
up with a venue and a date that works, he’d do it.’” [The Record, 5/06/15]

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HEADLINE: Garrett To Hold First Town Hall Event. [The Hotline, 5/07/15]

HEADLINE: Rep. Garrett To Hold First Town Hall Meeting Thursday. [The Record, 5/06/15]

HEADLINE: Garrett Takes Rare Spotlight At First Town Hall. [New Jersey Herald, 5/08/15]

2012: Garrett Refused To Meet With The Bergen Record Editorial Board

2012: Garrett Refused To Meet With The Bergen County Record Editorial Board In 2012. “A six-
term Republican from Sussex County, Garrett had declined to meet with the newspaper’s editorial writers
during the 2012 campaign” [The Record, 10/23/14]

Travel Spending

2015: Garrett’s House Office Spent More Than $30K On Travel. According to House disbursement
records, in 2015 Garrett spent $30,714.34 on travel expenses. [Q4 2015 Statement of Disbursement,
accessed 3/28/16]

2014: Garrett’s Office Spent More $44,000 On Travel. According to House disbursement records, in
2013 Garrett spent $44,528.13 on travel expenses. [Q4 2014 Statement of Disbursement, accessed
8/17/15]

2012: Garrett Received One Of The Largest Travel Payment Amounts. “Two members, Smith
and Garrett, personally received by far the largest amounts in travel payments, $17,971 for Smith and
$16,967 for Garrett during the past year – from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, according to an
analysis of the Sunlight Foundation data … In Garrett’s case, most of the money covered commercial
transportation, but some also covered mileage, taxis and tolls, meals and lodging – he received $2,020
last April 26 reportedly to cover lodging from Jan. 23 through Jan. 25. Smith’s largest travel-related
payment was also on April 26, $855 for private auto mileage on March 22. Smith’s office did not
return a phone call. A spokeswoman for Garrett said she wanted to see the data prior to commenting
then did not call back.” [NJ Spotlight, 10/11/13]

Voted For Daniel Webster For Speaker

Voted Against John Boehner And For Dan Webster For Speaker

Garrett: There Should Be New Leadership In The House, “I Support Representative Daniel
Webster For The Role Of Speaker.” “With a new Republican majority in the Senate, a large number of
my constituents have called on me to demand new leadership in the House. I hear you, and I
agree. Accordingly, I support Representative Daniel Webster for the role of Speaker of the House.” [Rep.
Garrett Press Release, 1/06/15]

Supported Daniel Webster In “Tea Party Effort” To Unseat John Boehner As Speaker. “New
Jersey Congressman Scott Garrett wanted a change in House leadership, the Republican said Tuesday
as his party formally took control of both houses of Congress in Washington, D.C. However, the Tea
Party-backed effort to unseat Speaker John Boehner, of Ohio, fell far short … Garrett, whose district
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includes Warren County, tossed his support to Webster. ‘With a new Republican majority in the
Senate, a large number of my constituents have called on me to demand new leadership in the House. I
hear you, and I agree,’ Garrett said in a statement shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday.” [Express-Times,
1/06/15]

HEADLINE: Garrett Wants To Dump Boehner. [PolitickerNJ, 1/06/15]

HEADLINE: N.J. Rep. Garrett Backs Unsuccessful Alternative To Boehner As House Speaker.
[The Record, 1/06/15]

Voted Agaisnt John Boehner For Speaker, Instead Voted For Alternative Candidate Offered By
“Conservative Wing” Of Republican Party

Joined “Unsuccessful Revolt” Against John Boehner For Speaker, Voting Instead For Rep. Daniel
Webster. “Joining an unsuccessful revolt by 25 conservatives against House Speaker John Boehner, Rep.
Scott Garrett of Sussex County voted Tuesday to make Florida Rep. Daniel Webster speaker instead.
Boehner won a third term as House leader with 216 votes, but the opposition from his own party was the
most ever for a sitting speaker.” [The Record, 1/06/15]

Didn’t Comment On Opposition To Boehner. “Garrett, R-Wantage, did not comment on why he
opposed Boehner, but as the most conservative member of the New Jersey delegation, he has opposed
many Boehner-supported compromises that fueled the call for a new leader from members of the Tea
Party wing. ‘With a new Republican majority in the Senate, a large number of my constituents have
called on me to demand new leadership in the House,’ Garrett said in a news release issued shortly
after the vote. ‘I hear you, and I agree.’” [The Record, 1/06/15]

Star-Ledger: “Separated Himself” From Most House Republicans; Voted For Alternative
Candidate Offered By “Conservative Wing Of The Republican Party. “U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, long
considered New Jersey’s most conservative member of Congress, voted against John Boehner for House
speaker, separating himself from most House Republicans. Garrett (R-5th Dist.) voted instead for Rep.
Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) one of several alternatives offered by members of the party’s conservative wing,
which has objected to any efforts to compromise with President Barack Obama. ‘With a new Republican
majority in the Senate, a large number of my constituents have called on me to demand new leadership in
the House,’ Garrett said in a statement after the vote. ‘I hear you, and I agree.’” [The Star-Ledger,
1/07/15]

Almost Lost Chairmanship Of Subcommittee On Capital Markets After Voting Against Boehner
For Speaker. “Rep. Scott Garrett’s penchant for bucking the Republican House leadership and voting his
own way almost cost him his chairmanship of a House subcommittee, according to a report by Politico.
But Garrett told The Record he hasn’t been approached about his voting by either Speaker John Boehner
or Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee. But he also went out
of his way to mention he was pleased another conservative who did lose his chairmanship got it back on
Thursday.” [The Record, 6/25/15]

Applauded Decision To Let Mark Meadows, A Conservative Member Who Was Stripped Of His
Chairmanship, Get “His Gavel Back.” “Garrett said he was pleased that another conservative who
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was stripped of his subcommittee chairmanship for opposing the leadership on a procedural vote on
trade - second-term Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina-- got it back on Thursday. ‘What I have
heard is that Mark Meadows is getting his gavel back, and so I applaud the decision that was made
there. Mark Meadows is a great guy,’ Garrett said.” [The Record, 6/25/15]

When Asked If He Would Contribute To NRCC, Garrett Said He Helped “Out The Team
Substantially By Helping Out Other Members.” “Garrett also opposed the party on ‘fast-track’ trade
authority and voted against Boehner’s re-election as speaker in January. He has also riled some of his
colleagues because he did not contribute during the past two election cycles to the party’s political arm,
the National Republican Congressional Committee, Politico said. Garrett’s campaign account has $2
million in cash on hand on March 31, and when asked if he would contribute to the NRCC, he said: ‘I
help out the team substantially by helping out other members.’” [The Record, 6/25/15]

Only Member Of NJ Delegation

Garrett Was The Only Member Of The New Jersey Delegation When He Voted, For Or Against,
Legislation At Least 25 Times Between 2003 And 2015

2015: Record Editorial: Garrett Was The Only Member Of Delegation To Vote Against
“Bipartisan” Transportation Bill, Passed “Both Houses Of Congress With Overwhelming
Majorities.” “Congress passed a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill that, importantly for New
Jersey, spares NJ Transit from a $50 million budget cut, scales back attempts to relax trucking regulations
and orders Amtrak to spend more of the fares collected on the Northeast Corridor on improvements in the
region. The bill passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming majorities, and in a bipartisan
manner. Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, was the only member of the New Jersey delegation to vote
against the legislation. President Obama has indicated he will sign the bill.” [H.R. 22, Vote #673,
12/03/15; The Record Editorial, 12/07/15]

2015: Only Member Of The NJ Delegation To Vote Against Three Month Funding Patch For
Highway Trust Fund, Veterans Affairs Department. In July 2015, Garrett voted against “a three-month
extension of highway funding Wednesday, just two days before the Highway Trust Fund was set to run
out of money to help states build roads, bridges, and mass transit projects.” The bill “also would authorize
the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) to use $3.4 billion to pay for veteran care through non-VA
providers and instruct the VA to consolidate all non-VA programs into a single program.” The bill passed
385 to 34. [HR 3236, Vote #486, 7/29/15; USA Today, 7/29/15; CQ, 7/29/15]

2015: Only Member Of New Jersey Delegation To Vote Against Providing $9.3 Billion For Medical
Research, Revamp Of The Drug And Medical Device Evaluation Process. In July 2015, Garrett voted
against a bill that “would provide $9.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug
Administration over five years while revamping aspects of the FDA's drug and medical device evaluation
processes. The cost would be fully offset, and the measure also would reauthorize NIH for three years.”
The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, 344 – 77, and then referred to the Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. [HR 6, Vote #433, 7/10/15; CQ News, 7/10/15]

2012: Only Member Of New Jersey Delegation To Allow Drilling Off New Jersey Coast. In 2012,
Garrett was the only member of the New Jersey delegation to open waters off the coast of New Jersey to
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