What Voters Need to Know
Updated 5/02/24
Women and young voters in Union City, North Bergen, West New York, Elizabeth City, Newark City, Weehawken and Bayonne need to read in the mail and view digital and cable news advertisements that Congressman Rob Menendez is part of the same old insider New Jersey politics:
Menendez’s campaigns are funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from the pharmaceutical companies and the Washington D.C. corporate lobbying industry. Then he turned around and voted against a bill that would have prevented hospitals from sending patients surprise medical bills.
Menendez Has Raised Nearly $180,000 From the Lobbying Industry.
Menendez Has Raised Over $57,000 From the Pharmaceutical and Health Products Industry.
Menendez Has Raised Over $75,000 From the Insurance Industry.
Menendez voted against the Hern Offset Amendment, which would implement rules cracking down on surprise medical billing, which passed by a 411-14 margin.
“An amendment numbered 111 printed in Part B of House Report 118-272 to ensure the Department of Health and Human Services implements consumer protections passed in the surprise billing law that provides patients with an advanced cost estimate for their healthcare services.” [Roll Call 666 HR 5894, 11/15/23; H.Amdt.778 to H.R.5894, 11/14/23]
Senator Bob Menendez handpicked his son to run for this seat in Congress, clearing the field of other candidates and directing his Wall Street and corporate donors to fund his son’s campaign. Bob Menendez’s PAC even contributed twenty thousand dollars to his son’s campaign.
Politico: Menendez Effectively Installed His Son, Rob Menendez, A Lawyer With No Political Experience, In Congress With No Opposition And The Full Backing Of State Party Leaders.
“And in perhaps the clearest example of his sustained influence after the trial, Menendez effectively installed his son, Rob Menendez, a lawyer with no political experience, in Congress with no opposition and the full backing of state party leaders.” [Politico, 9/27/23]
New Jersey Globe: Menendez’s Ascension To The 8th Congressional District Was Facilitated In No Small Part By His Father.
“Political trouble, however, is a different question entirely. Menendez’s ascension to the 8th congressional district last year was facilitated in no small part by his father, who had held the same seat 16 years earlier; with the elder Menendez facing such intense legal difficulties, it’s at least conceivable that state Democrats might want to cut his son loose as well.” [New Jersey Globe, 9/22/23]
New York Times: This Political Neophyte Is A Lock For Congress. His Names Helps.
“Before December, Mr. Menendez was known mainly as the affable son of Senator Menendez — who, five years after facing federal corruption charges that ended with a mistrial, has emerged as one of Washington’s most powerful Democrats. Unlike his father, who climbed New Jersey’s political ladder rung by rung — from the Union City school board to that city’s mayor’s office to the State Legislature to Congress — Mr. Menendez has no voting or policy record to scrutinize. Yet as soon as Representative Albio Sires indicated he was stepping aside, a cascade of powerful Democrats, including the governor, quickly endorsed Mr. Menendez even though he had not officially entered the race. One editorial decried the process as “gross,” and another said the quick endorsements for a candidate who had “never run for dogcatcher” were a symptom of the state’s political dysfunction.” [New York Times, 7/19/22]
Menendez Has Raised Nearly $270,000 From Business Affiliated PACs.
Menendez has taken $20,000 from his father’s PAC, New Millennium PAC.
2022: Menendez took $5,000 from New Millennium PAC. [FEC, 3/14/22]
2022: Menendez took $5,000 from New Millennium PAC. [FEC, 3/14/22]
2024: Menendez took $5,000 from New Millennium PAC. [FEC, 12/1/23]
2024: Menendez took $5,000 from New Millennium PAC. [FEC, 12/1/23]
The tone of advertisements and mail pieces should be sober, factual, and supported by citations.