Local citizens protest government shutdown

NEWTON — Between 40 and 50 people gathered outside the office of Representative Scott Garrett (R-5 District) in Newton on Friday evening, Oct. 4. They were protesting the federal government shutdown and calling on the Congress to pass a continuing resolution to reopen the government without conditions.

Congressman Garrett has been the most outspoken of New Jersey’s congressional delegation in support of linking a continuing resolution to repeal or delay of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress and signed by the President in 2010.

The people gathered on the sidewalk on Spring St. in Newton disagreed with Garrett’s position and demanded that Congress pass a “clean C.R.,” as it is called in Washington parlance.

Among those in attendance were Kenneth Ayers and his son Liam, who are directly affected by the government shutdown. (See story on page XX)

Also attending was Bill Weightman, a Democratic candidate for the State Assembly in the 24th District. He said that he was there because he was opposed to the cuts to programs providing for people’s needs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and that he was “proud to be out here with these folks.”

Litsa Binder of Sparta was also among the people in front of Congressman Garrett’s office. She said, “We expect our representatives to be above party politics and to represent the public good. I expect them to vote on a budget for our country. If they have a problem with a particular issue or law we have a legislative process for members of Congress to follow.”

Bennett and Cathy Bao Bean of Frelinghuysen Township echoed Binder’s views. Cathy Bao Bean said, “The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, signed by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. No part of government has the right to shut down the government because they don’t like one law that has been legitimately enacted by all three branches of government.”

One effect of the government shutdown has been an initial cut-off of food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to about 500 families in the Newton area.

Because of that, a number of people met together after Friday evening’s protest to organize food distribution for them. However, on Oct. 7, the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program (NORWESCAP), which administers the WIC program in Sussex and Warren Counties, confirmed that funds had been restored and that the program was back to normal.