Rep. Scott Garrett (R.-N.J.) was our second guest. He picked up on the bilingual ballots issue that Rep. Cliff Stearns (R.-Fla.) spoke about earlier.

Garrett, who represents the 5th District in New Jersey, said he was confounded by the 167-254 vote yesterday in the House against Stearns' amendment to end the federal mandate requiring bilingual ballots. But Garrett also said he thought conservatives could make progress -- and even win -- when they bring the issue up for a vote when the House takes up the Voting Rights Amendment.

Garrett said he asked some members why they opposed the bill, to which he received two types of replies:

1. Some members told him they would take heat back home and didn't think yesterday's amendment was the proper avenue to address the issue.

2. Other members said they haven't focused on the issue. In that case, Garrett said he was working with Rep. Steve King (R.-Iowa) to tell them about a letter circulating among members on this issue of bilingual ballots.

Garrett said the disconnect between the House and Senate is troublesome. In the upper chamber, Sen. James Inhofe (R.-Okla.) managed to successfully push through an amendment to the immigration bill that made English the official language in the United States. Yet, in the House, Republicans couldn't even muster enough votes to put an end to the federal mandate on bilingual ballots.

Maybe it's all apropos that this comes down during the Fourth of July when people are thinking about issues related to the Constitution.

Shifting gears to the political scene in New Jersey, Garrett said Democrats are in a troublesome spot. He cited Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's low approval ratings and the state party's lack of an agenda that appeals to New Jersey voters.

In the much-watched Senate race between Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and Republican Tom Kean Jr., Garrett said the key was for Kean and Republicans to present an agenda that shows New Jersey citizens will be better off under Republican leadership in Washington. He said the GOP can't merely attack failed Democratic policies, but it must also offer workable solutions.