The legacy built by Bill Pascrell, a 'scrappy Paterson guy until the end'

[NJCher]

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A wiry octogenarian who squabbled with Republicans at hearings, lambasted former President Donald Trump online and could still bounce with reporters in congressional hallways from one topic to the next, Pascrell, through his enthusiasm and cutting humor, seemed to mask his age.

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This article recounts Bill Pascrell's legislative accomplishments, but does so in a way that connects with the times. It also reflects on his personality and how it connected with his work. I smiled at the part where Bill cut through the red tape to say, look we've got to move on this now. People are dying.

I remember once I wrote a letter to the editor of what was then known as the Bergen Record. He called me at home that night to comment on it!

A number of pictures of him are featured.

More excerpts featuring his accomplishments:

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Pascrell died with 11 federal laws to his name in which he was the lead sponsor, including measures about brain injuries, protecting first responders, bulletproof vests and one that created the Great Falls National Historical Park, where, in 1792, the first planned industrial city in America was built, ushering in a boom of mechanical production.

Yet he fell short in his efforts to reinstate a state-level tax deduction, make the market for event and concert tickets more transparent and close the “carried interest” section of the federal tax code, a provision that helps investment firms pay lower taxes than other taxpayers. “If he were committed to an issue, he stood up for that issue and he didn’t sit down until he was done,” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th), who served in the House with Pascrell starting in 2015, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “He could get mad, but he didn’t stay mad,” she said. “He had a lot of energy.”

A keen reader of books on history and government, Pascrell knew the technical contours of Congress and was eager for a new Congress to start in January. When he was hospitalized this summer, Pascrell’s staff issued a statement that the congressman was gathering as much news about Vice President Kamala Harris, then the newly named Democratic candidate for president, from his hospital room.

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Read more of this retrospective at: NJ Spotlight News.

[Mossfern]

1. He was amazingly assessible

and extremely supportive while I held elective office.
Two of my kids interned for him and learned quite a bit about how government works. (and should work)

He even apologized to me when I challenged him on his vote to enter the Iraq war, explaining
why he needed to vote that way. Apparently Congress had been given false information.

His passing is indeed sad - he will be greatly missed.
I don't know if anyone can fill his shoes.