NJ Rep. Josh Gottheimer Faces Protests Over Budget Stance

GLEN ROCK, NJ — For New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer and eight other centrist democrats, the road ahead is simple: no infrastructure bill, no deal.

Gottheimer is leading the charge of nine congressional officials who are threatening to vote against the 2022 budget until an infrastructure bill is signed into law first. That group sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi formalizing their stance, and according to Roll Call, they have more than enough support to block the budget's passage.

But back home in Glen Rock, local political and activist groups are less than thrilled with their representative.

Gottheimer's Glen Rock offices were the site of protests on Wednesday. The protest was led by Make the Road NJ, and organizers from that group were joined by constituents from JOLTRidgewood, Indivisible NJ 5th District, BlueWaveNJ and New Jersey Citizen Action.

The protests were organized to urge Gottheimer to stand down on the infrastructure tie-in, which the groups said represented efforts to "derail the most important legislation in generations that will ensure our country can rebuild after the pandemic stronger."

Watch video of the protest here:

Though the Democratic blockage could stand to derail the budget, Gottheimer and seven of the eight other democrats recently shifted tone slightly, asking that the infrastructure bill get a standalone vote.

Locally, Gottheimer touts the bill as one that would help New Jersey.

"This bipartisan infrastructure package will help repair those crumbling roads on Route 17 and the bridge, clean up the lead coated pipes across our counties, lay new broadband fiber in Sussex and Warren Counties, and finally get the Gateway Tunnel project off the ground," he said recently.

And some notable groups have also voiced approval of a standalone vote, including the Bergen County and Hudson County Building and Construction Trades Council. The presidents of both councils issued statements supporting the standalone vote.

But still, concerns are surrounding his proposed blockage of the bill, which contains a few action items that local activists feel are important, like a boost to jobs, climate items and immigration language.

Today at noon: join us at @RepJoshG office in Glen Rock to demand he stop blocking the most important investment in our country in decades.@RepJoshG don’t block the Biden #BuildBackBetter agenda.

We need action on
JOBS
CLIMATE
CITIZENSHIP

NOW pic.twitter.com/RKosW5oaYN
— Make the Road New Jersey (@MaketheRoadNJ) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/MaketheRoa... 18, 2021

Gottheimer went on MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss how he believes the process should unfold. Watch it here:

How should the House move forward to get our priorities done?

First, the House should vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill so it can be sent to the President ASAP.

Then, we should immediately begin considering budget reconciliation.

Watch here from today's @Morning_Joe: pic.twitter.com/HD7NOANMJd
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/RepJoshG/s... 18, 2021

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