Chamber Train Trip Part of NJ’s Political Fabric

Today elected officials, lobbyists, and business leaders will be heading to Washington D.C. for the Chamber of Commerce’s “Walk to Washington” annual event. New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel released the following statement:

“Every year, the people involved in government and politics in New Jersey gather on the “Walk to Washington.” The Chamber Train is an important event for everyone who directly and indirectly affects government action. I’ll be on the train because that’s where the political, social, and economic leaders will be. Whether you agree with the train trip or not, this is where most of the leaders of New Jersey are going to be and that’s why it’s good to be there. If you’re not on the train, you’re left standing on the platform.

“I go on this trip every year to be there as a counterbalance to some of the others on the train, including special interests. I show that environmentalists are an important part of the political and legislative process. It’s a place where people network and meet our Congressional Delegation. For many of them, it’s the only time they take mass transit. As an environmental advocate, it’s important to be there so that lobbyists and government officials understand how important the environment is to the people of New Jersey. We believe the best way to protest the train is to actually be on it and have your voice heard.

“The train trip is open to all different groups and people involved in government or politics in New Jersey. If you don’t want to go on the train, you can also go down to Washington D.C. to meet elected officials and leaders at the dinner. However, it’s important for someone like myself to be there to fight for the environment. Most of the time, when I get into cars people are glad to see me and understand that the environmentalist is part of the social fabric of Trenton and Washington. Some people call this the Swamp but environmentalists like swamps; we call them wetlands.”