Your Legislators: Lautenberg Doesn't Think Fox Channel is 'New Jersey Enough'

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), the Republican Congressman reintroduced legislation on the Madoff case. The propsed Equitable Treatment of Investors Act would shield individual investors who were defrauded by Bernie Madoff from further “clawbacks” by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) Trustee, Garrett says. He released the following statement regarding the legislation:

"I introduced this legislation because I am increasingly concerned that the trustee in the Madoff case is ignoring the law and failing to provide prompt assistance to those who have been thrust into financial chaos.  He is taking positions on a wide range of issues that are contrary to SIPA, the Bankruptcy Code, and federal and state laws that are intended to protect investors against bad acts on the part of their brokers.  This legislation is intended to clarify congressional intent in these areas."

Meanwhile, in the senate, Democratic senators brought home a to hire staff, as well as other fire departments in the state. The grant, a SAFETY grant, will expire in two years but departments will have to keep the staff for three years.

Senator Robert Menendez also called for the establishment of the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act on Monday which would raise the current $75 million cap on liability claims from offshore oil well spills to an unlimited amount of money.

Menendez said:

"The best – and perhaps only – way we are going to prevent major oil spills in the future is if oil companies know they will pay for every cent of the damages they create. It’s time to stop coddling oil companies. It’s time to hold them to the same standard that average citizens – you make the mess, you clean it up."

Sen. Frank Lautenberg issued a statement in response to the FCC's announcement that they are investigating FOX 5's renewal application for WWOR, Ch. 9.

"Channel 9 is required by law to cover New Jersey news, but when you turn on the TV all you hear is what’s happening in another state.   Time and again, Fox refuses to provide adequate coverage of issues important to New Jersey families and our local communities.  This issue must be resolved quickly so that New Jerseyans can finally have access to news about their communities and issues that impact their lives."