August has an almost scary capacity for emptying out neighborhoods and slowing down calendars here in NJ-11. Friends and family in other regions of the country may be getting the kids ready to return to school by mid-month, but in the Garden State we are deeper than ever into summer-break territory. And so is Washington, D.C.

With Congress out on recess, the remaining minibus spending bills remain parked in the Appropriations shed, to be revved up afresh when the representatives return on Sept. 5. Recess, as we know, is a classic time for representatives to make in-district appearances, as Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen did by popping in to Morristown’s National Night Out on Aug. 2. Drop us a line on our Facebook page if you spot him in your neighborhood, will you?

And meanwhile, here is some summer reading to keep you occupied in your hammock or on your beach towel:

Rep. Frelinghuysen trails in early NJ 11th Poll.

Independent Poll: Healthcare vote costs Republican incumbent an additional 9 points in next year’s election.

With the seeming collapse of the Affordable Care Act repeal process in the Senate, members of the House who voted in support of a highly unpopular bill have been left with a lot to defend, and little to show for it. The potentially catastrophic effects of these votes for Republicans in swing districts are evident from new results in a ReconMR poll of registered voters in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district, sponsored by the independent grassroots group NJ 11th for Change.  Republican Rep. Frelinghuysen trails by 9.4 points, 36.7% vs the Democratic Nominee 46.1%

Cross Tab Results

Frequency Results

This week: 

• The cuts that built the wall
• The amazing vanishing amendment
• Lower grants for higher ed
• That military policy tweet
• Rodney gets his wish (just not the way he wished it)

The Bricks In The Wall: Priorities Emerge

How to view the $1.6 billion the House threw at the border wall Donald Trump’s been building in his mind since the primaries? An expensive pacifier? A fraction of the projected overall cost?

Independent Poll: Repeal/Replace, Medicaid Cuts, Planned Parenthood Defunding All Deeply Unpopular In District

In a result that mirrors longstanding concerns of nonpartisan group NJ 11th For Change, voters in the Garden State’s 11th congressional district emphatically oppose repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to an independent poll conducted last week.
 
Overall, only 24.7 percent support an outright repeal, while 58.7 percent want Congress to improve the existing law, and 10.5 percent say the ACA should be left alone. When asked specifically about the vote of their representative, 12 term congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, to replace the ACA with the House AHCA, voters rejected his actions with a similar 23.5 percent approval versus 59.7 percent disapproval of his vote for the bill in May.
 
The findings contrast starkly with assertions by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, that his constituents largely oppose the ACA. Frelinghuysen, whose support was key in moving a repeal/replace measure to the Senate, has not released data on constituent feedback. 

The independent poll commissioned by NJ 11th For Change surveyed 800 voters on key district issues. The representative sample reflected the district’s overall demographics, such as party affiliation, gender and age. NJ 11th For Change is one of the first local grassroots groups to conduct statistically valid Congressional District opinion research. The group is continuing to analyze the data and plans to share findings on additional policy issues besides health care.

“We advocate for accountability, transparency, and responsive representation for our entire district,” said Debra Caplan, Board Member of NJ 11th For Change. “Repeal/Replace has always felt out of step with our understanding of district values. These numbers certainly affirm that view.”

In another contrast to Frelinghuysen’s voting record, federal funding for Planned Parenthood had strong district support, with 72.6 percent backing continued support of non-abortion health services to women, as opposed to 22.7 percent wanting it eliminated. In addition, 66.7 percent oppose future cuts to Medicaid, while 20.7 percent support cuts.

The findings parallel the feedback heard at NJ 11th For Change events. Since January, members have expressed worries about the impact posed by drastic healthcare proposals – loss of vital services; financial burdens from lost or reduced health coverage; and the impact of Medicaid cuts on 70,000 district residents.
 
“Our members have held vigils, taken buses to Washington, D.C., and organized five district town halls, which Mr. Frelinghuysen refused to attend,” said Elizabeth Juviler, Board Member of NJ11th For Change. “This poll only adds credibility to eight months of their feedback. Our thousands of members truly reflect the overall feelings of New Jersey’s 11th district.”

Additional details on survey questions and polling methodology below.