Scott Garrett.jpg
U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.)
(Sue Beyer | lehighvalleylive.com)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett refused to contribute to the House Republicans' fundraising arm because some of its money would be used to back gay candidates, a published report said Thursday.
Politico, citing unnamed multiple sources, reported that Garrett (R-5th Dist.) told House Republicans behind closed doors that he was withholding contributions to the National Republican Congressional Committee because the group recruited gays to run for the House.
Garrett spokesman Chris Carofine did not respond to requests for comment from NJ Advance Media on Thursday.
Like other lawmakers who hold positions of leadership, Garrett, the chairman of the House Financial Services subcommittee on capital markets, is expected to share some of his campaign cash with the NRCC, which in turn uses the money to help elect other Republicans. Likewise, House Democrats back the DCCC.
RELATED: 2 N.J. lawmakers back denying services to gay couples on religious grounds
Politico said Garrett instead agreed to donate to the NRCC's building and recount funds, which are not used to elect candidates.
Garrett is one of more than 100 U.S. House Republicans sponsoring legislation enabling groups and individuals to deny service to gay couples on the basis of their religious beliefs. The bill was was drafted in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is looking to unseat Garrett in the 2016 elections, sent out an email attacking him Thursday.
"This is absolutely unacceptable and voters are not soon to forget," DCCC spokesman Jeb Fain said.
Garrett was re-elected in 2014 over a well-funded Democratic opponent, Roy Cho, who spent $1.3 million. Josh Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for President Clinton, is considering challenging Garrett in 2016.
Garrett has challenged the House Republican leadership in the past. He voted against re-electing House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and helped form the Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican lawmakers.
He has gone his own way on several other votes. He was the only member of the New Jersey congressional delegation to vote against funding the Department of Homeland Security when the bill did not also roll back President Obama's executive orders allowing millions of unauthorized immigrants to remain in the U.S., and one of only 19 Republicans to vote no on legislation providing for a congressional review of any nuclear deal with Iran.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.