Montclair Fundraiser For Congressmen Frank Pallone And Barney Frank

As the political debate heats up ahead of the midterm elections, Montclair residents had a chance this weekend to quiz some key Democratic Party lawmakers about the hot issues of the fall campaign.

"We need to have informed citizens so we can have an intelligent debate on the issues," said Marcia Marley, Montclair resident and host of Sunday's political fundraiser for local congressman, Rep. Frank Pallone, and Massachusetts lawmaker, Rep. Barney Frank, a key backer of financial reform in Congress.

"We need to start making some sense. There's a lot of people out there who aren't making sense," Marley told Patch.

Marley is the director of the grassroots political organization, BlueWaveNJ, although she said the fundraiser was not a BlueWaveNJ event. "I wanted to provide an opportunity for people to hear their congressional representatives speak," Marley said. "It's important to get to know why they support certain issues. I know Congressman Pallone personally, so he asked me to host this fundraiser."

About 60 people attended the invitation-only event, which took place on the outside deck of Marley's home in Montclair. Guests paid between $100 and $1,000 for a chance to speak with Pallone, the chairman of the Health Subcommittee and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

Afterwards, there was a Q&A session for attendees. "People asked a gamut of questions, from immigration to tax cuts for the wealthy to military spending. People asked some very good questions," said Marley.

Marley added that she hosts political events "two or three times a year," often related to the work of BlueWaveNJ, which promotes legislative issues on state and national levels. "We've done free events with Rush Holt, Senator Menendez, and Congressman Pascrell," said Marley. "I've had everyone from Howard Dean to national and state figures at my house."

Marley added, "I believe in promoting people who have integrity in what they believe in.  I believe in clean elections and clean politics.  Mr. Pallone  is facing a tea-party supported candidate this election."

Pallone, who represents the 6^th Congressional District of New Jersey, is being challenged in the upcoming election by Anne C. Little, who has been promoted by the Tea Party movement.