TRENTON — A Republican campaign committee put out a statement today criticizing Sen. Robert Menendez (D- N.J.) for his recent comments about filibuster reform. Menendez recently told The Jersey Journal editorial board that he thinks limits should be placed on using the filibuster. "I want to change the rules so you have to earn it," Menendez said. "You want...
Se. Robert Menendez, pictured in a March file photo, has upset Republicans with his recent opposition to filibusters.TRENTON — A Republican campaign committee put out a statement today criticizing Sen. Robert Menendez (D- N.J.) for his recent comments about filibuster reform.
Menendez recently told The Jersey Journal editorial board that he thinks limits should be placed on using the filibuster.
"I want to change the rules so you have to earn it," Menendez said. "You want to use that filibuster right you have as an individual senator? Get up on the floor of the Senate, make your case."
The National Republican Senatorial Committee pointed out that in 2005, as a congressman Menendez argued against ending the filibuster when Republicans controlled the Senate.
Menendez, according to the NRSC, compared eliminating the filibuster to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, saying the GOP was "trampling on the rights of millions of Americans."
"Senator Menendez owes the people of New Jersey an explanation — is he so desperate to retain the Democrats’ power in the Senate that he’s now embracing the same Castro-like tactics that he condemned just five years ago? Why such a dramatic change in position, other than the fact that Democrats are no longer in the minority?” NRSC spokesman Chris Bond said today in a statement.
“As he prepares to face a re-election battle next year, the voters of New Jersey will have to decide if they can trust a professional politician like Sen. Menendez, whose so-called principles fall by the wayside when it comes to retaining his own personal power in Washington,” Bond said.
Menendez spokesman Afshin Mohamadi said the Republican Party has abused the filibuster.
"Apparently, this Washington-based party organization didn't actually read the senator's comments before launching its partisan attack," Mohamadi said in a statement. "'Earning it and owning it' is not the same as ending it, but is instead about accountability and responsibility for your actions. The fact is that, as millions of middle class families have struggled in the tough economy, Republicans abused the filibuster rule in order to protect CEOs who ship jobs overseas and to prevent laid off workers from providing for their families."
Menendez is up for re-election in 2012.