Rodney Frelinghuysen

Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, a Republican, has represented the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1995.

Iraq War
Frelinghuysen voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Frelinguysen v. Ficus
In 2000, satirist Michael Moore ran a Ficus tree against Congressman Frelinghuysen for his program The Awful Truth. 

Moore was trying to make a general point that "Most [congress members] run unopposed in their primaries and 95% are re-elected every time in the general election." Ficus was entered in "more than twenty other Congressional districts around the country where the incumbent faces little or no opposition."

Moore targeted Frelinguysen becuase "We think it's time to point out to the Frelinghuysen Family that we live in a democracy, not a dynasty. If no credible human out of the district's 500,000 voters was willing to step forward and challenge Mr. Frelinghuysen, at least the voters now have a houseplant to give them a real choice on June 6."

Bio
Frelinghuysen was born April 29, 1946 in New York City. He is the son of Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen II, great-great grandson of Frederick Frelinghuysen, and great-great-great nephew of Theodore Frelinghuysen, who each represented New Jersey in Congress. After graduating from Hobart College in 1969, Frelinghuysen served in the United States Army until 1971. After his military service, Frelinghuysen worked for the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders until he was elected to serve as a freeholder in 1974.

In 1983, Frelinghuysen stepped down from his seat as a freeholder to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly (the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature), a position he would hold until elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994.

Congressional career
Frelinghuysen is known as a moderate Republican.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Tom Wyka to face Frelinghuysen in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Frelinghuysen retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, Ranking Member
 * Subcommittee on Defense

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Republican Main Street Partnership
 * The Republican Majority For Choice
 * Republicans for Choice
 * Republicans For Environmental Protection

Political Action Committee
Website: www.Rodney2010.com (Reserved)

External resources

 * Official website
 * Rodney P. Frelinghuysen Official Bio
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

SourceWatch Resources

 * The Donatelli Group

External articles

 * Open Letter to Congressman Frelinghuysen, from Challenger Tom Wyka, TomWyka.com, April 17, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Blue Jersey