News
Apr 16 2008
Andrews backs funds for wife's school
[New Jersey] Rep. Rob Andrews, busy with his campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic primary in June, found himself under attack from another quarter Tuesday.
Dale Glading, the Republican candidate for the congressional seat Andrews is vacating, accused the 10-term congressman of a conflict of interest for steering funds to the school that employs his wife. Andrews responded that he had submitted his request to a House committee, which ruled in April 2007 there was no conflict.
Andrews earmarked some $624,000 in federal funds in a Department of Labor appropriations bill in 2007 to support student scholarships and internships at the Rutgers Law School in Camden, from which Camille Andrews is currently on leave as the associate dean in charge of admissions.
"Hand-delivering our tax dollars to his wife's department at Rutgers is immoral and unethical," Glading said.
But Andrews defended the grant as entirely appropriate, noting that it will help some law students with tuition and help them and others provide free legal assistance to the needy.
Andrews asked for and received approval from the House Committee on Standards before submitting the request.
He also disclosed the request when he made it, a spokeswoman for the congressman noted Tuesday, following his practice of disclosing all his earmark requests to the press and public.
Earmarks are appropriations that legislators attach to bills or reports, directing departments in the executive branch to fund specific projects in their districts.
Camille Andrews, who now serves as counsel to a private equity firm in Pennsylvania, filed as a Democratic candidate for her husband's seat after he announced his intention to challenge Lautenberg.
She said she filed because of the short time left between her husband's announcement and the filing deadline and said she will step down after the primary if party leaders reach a consensus on another candidate.
Andrews has said he will not run again for Congress, regardless of the outcome of his Senate bid.
Glading, 48, of Barrington, is founder and director of the Saints Prison Ministry, an evangelical Christian group that reaches out to prison inmates through athletic competition such as softball, basketball and volleyball.
Reach Richard Pearsall at (856) 486-2465 or rpearsall@courierpostonline.com
Dale Glading, the Republican candidate for the congressional seat Andrews is vacating, accused the 10-term congressman of a conflict of interest for steering funds to the school that employs his wife. Andrews responded that he had submitted his request to a House committee, which ruled in April 2007 there was no conflict.
Andrews earmarked some $624,000 in federal funds in a Department of Labor appropriations bill in 2007 to support student scholarships and internships at the Rutgers Law School in Camden, from which Camille Andrews is currently on leave as the associate dean in charge of admissions.
"Hand-delivering our tax dollars to his wife's department at Rutgers is immoral and unethical," Glading said.
But Andrews defended the grant as entirely appropriate, noting that it will help some law students with tuition and help them and others provide free legal assistance to the needy.
Andrews asked for and received approval from the House Committee on Standards before submitting the request.
He also disclosed the request when he made it, a spokeswoman for the congressman noted Tuesday, following his practice of disclosing all his earmark requests to the press and public.
Earmarks are appropriations that legislators attach to bills or reports, directing departments in the executive branch to fund specific projects in their districts.
Camille Andrews, who now serves as counsel to a private equity firm in Pennsylvania, filed as a Democratic candidate for her husband's seat after he announced his intention to challenge Lautenberg.
She said she filed because of the short time left between her husband's announcement and the filing deadline and said she will step down after the primary if party leaders reach a consensus on another candidate.
Andrews has said he will not run again for Congress, regardless of the outcome of his Senate bid.
Glading, 48, of Barrington, is founder and director of the Saints Prison Ministry, an evangelical Christian group that reaches out to prison inmates through athletic competition such as softball, basketball and volleyball.
Reach Richard Pearsall at (856) 486-2465 or rpearsall@courierpostonline.com
