Anthony Weiner. (Photo: Getty)

Today's front-page New York Times story detailing Anthony Weiner's lack of congressional accomplishments hadn't been published yet, but last night, Mr. Weiner suddenly found himself defending his record.

It was at a Latino-focused forum and the topic was immigration. And, as he's done before, the former congressman blamed Republicans for the lack of movement on the issue.

"Unfortunately, every member of the Democratic caucus, you can say, didn't get much done during the Bush years while I was on immigration committee," the slender-framed Democrat said, pivoting to a joke. “When I got on that committee, I was six-four, 290 pounds. This is all that is left of me."

Mr. Weiner, who resigned from Congress seat in 2011 after his infamous Twitter scandal, has often been faulted for showboating more than legislating in Washington. At last night's forum, a moderator accordingly pressed Mr. Weiner to elaborate on what he achieved while serving on the Subcommittee on Immigration.

But, while he defended his record of advocacy, Mr. Weiner had no concrete accomplishments to highlight.

"I was the only member of the New York City delegation on the immigration subcommittee during a very difficult time when President Bush was in the White House and he was, in a rare moment for a Republican, trying to do that right thing on immigration," he replied. "One of the things that I found was important-- ... representing a fairly conservative district where the number one negative letters I always got ... said, 'Slam, the door, slam the door, stop the immigrants from coming in'--I stood up and made the argument then that holds true today: solving the problem of the undocumented is not a very difficult problem."

Mr. Weiner then offered several solutions, though the panel of Latino moderators appeared unimpressed as he did so.

"One, we do have to secure the border. Two, we have to make sure that we have people who play by the rules, who're working." he said. "And then we have to make sure they have a national federal I.D. card that allows them to work so the people who that hire them, they don't get in trouble."

He futher compared himself to one of his frequent targets of derision, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in order to make the case for an advocacy-based record.

"I was an advocate," he said, his voice rising. "I was an advocate in a minority Congress, but now I'm going to be an advocate just as Mayor Bloomberg does on guns, I'm going to do on immigration--if I'm fortunate enough to be mayor."

Michael Grimm. (Photo: Getty)

Congressman Michael Grimm is not a fan of his Democratic opponent, Councilman Domenic Recchia.

Indeed, in a blistering, 5-paragraph statement tearing into Mr. Recchia, the Staten Island Republican called Mr. Recchia a "pathetic political hack," "complete empty suit" and "another hypocritical, career politician ... void of an original thought."

Mr. Grimm's fury came in response to a New York Post report in which an organizer accused the pol of withholding support for a bill because he wasn't invited to a press conference. In his statement today, the congressman said he simply didn't support the legislation, which would protect the 9/11 victims' compensation funds from sequestration cuts.

"From day one I said sequester should be avoided and that I would work with the President to replace [sequestration] with more prudent policy and I am still committed to that end," Mr. Grimm stated. "However, my opponent has shown his true colors as a pathetic political hack and has crossed the line!"

For his part, Mr. Recchia also didn't mince words, calling Mr. Grimm's position "self-aggrandizing, petty politics at its worst."

“First, Grimm punished our first responders by supporting the sequestration. And, now, when given the chance to make things right, Grimm’s punishing these heroes once again," Mr. Recchia said yesterday. "This time though he’s making them suffer because he didn’t get his 15 minutes of fame. It’s ridiculous."

Mr. Recchia added, "As a congressman, I will never forget the sacrifice those men and women made for us and I certainly won’t abandon them because an invitation got lost in the mail.”

Needless to say, the back-and-forth is quite heated for an election that won't occur until November, 2014.

Update (2:19 p.m.): A Recchia spokeswoman dismissed the incumbent's remarks.

"Michael Grimm's hyper-defensiveness on this issue is well-warranted given how out-of-touch he seems to be with the people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn," she said. "By doubling-down on not supporting New York's first-responders, he's demonstrated his true colors and values. What's more, he's trying to have his cake and eat it too when it comes to sequestration. If he didn't support it, then he shouldn't have voted for it."

Read Mr. Grimm's full reaction below:

"It is amazing that stories can be written without any regard for the facts; there is only one reason I haven’t cosponsored the legislation and that is because it would be poor policy to pick winners and losers from a list that shouldn’t have any losers. When it comes to funding for 9/11 health, Sandy relief, our troops in harm’s way, or Medicare for our seniors; how can we pick one over the other to exempt from these cuts?

"From day one I said sequester should be avoided and that I would work with the President to replace it with more prudent policy and I am still committed to that end. However, my opponent has shown his true colors as a pathetic political hack and has crossed the line!"

"As a 9/11 first responder, and the godfather to children that lost their godmother in this horrific attack, I am personally offended by the use of 9/11 for petty, political gain.

"If my opponent wasn’t a complete empty suit and utter hypocrite he would be calling on the President and AG Holder to come clean with the American people on the deaths of US officials in Benghazi, the death of a border agent in Fast and Furious, and the growing IRS scandal.

"The people of Staten Island and Brooklyn need a leader that is driven towards solutions, not another hypocritical, career politician that is so void of an original thought, that he’ll stoop to exploiting a tragedy like 9/11 to get attention."

Frank Lautenberg. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Congressman Charlie Rangel reacted to the death of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg Monday, expressing deep sadness at the loss of a long-time friend and the oldest member of the senate, whom he said America "loved so much."

“Oh shit," he said when told about the news of Mr. Lautenberg's death at 89 by a reporter at a press event outside of Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem. "Oh God.”

Mr. Rangel described Mr. Lautenberg as a legend who embodied the spirits of bipartisanship and camaraderie that seem to have disappeared from Capitol Hill.

“Well, he's a dinosaur, or was. Very seldom does a party reach out to someone that's retired to save the party, as he did," he said.

As he got older and after 9/11, Mr. Rangel said he switched from the air shuttle to Amtrak for trips to and from Washington, D.C.,  giving him "a chance to sit and talk with him a lot more than I did earlier."

"He was so full of life, even when his body wasn't responding. He loved this country so much and he loved Jersey more, if that was possible," he said.

He said that Mr. Lautenberg didn't reach out to the press as frequently as other politicians, "But for those who've had the real pleasure working with him, he made it possible for Republicans and Democrats to work together for a common cause for our country. And, unfortunately, we have lost most of that camaraderie in the last decade."

"My deepest sympathy to his constituents, to America and to his family, who loved him so much," he said.

Senator Ball. (Photo: Observer media file)

GOP State Senator Greg Ball, an outspoken Hudson Valley legislator who repeatedly knocked then-Rep. Nan Hayworth last year--even threatening to run a primary campaign against her--is taking his hat out of the ring. In a statement released late this morning, Mr. Ball said he was focused on his work in Albany and had no overriding desire to defeat the Democrat who ultimately beat Ms. Hayworth, Sean Patrick Maloney.

“I want to make it clear that I am focused on finishing this legislative session and delivering for my current district and not running for Congress," he said. “As for my re-election in the current State Senate seat, I will make a final decision on that as the time nears.”

However, showing his rebellious size, Mr. Ball did manage to heap some praise on the Democratic incumbent, whom he said should be "applauded."

"Indeed, while I disagree with the current Congressman on most issues, we have a great working relationship and he and his office are to be applauded, for they have bent over backwards to mutually assist shared constituents,” Mr. Ball sated.

For her part, Ms. Hayworth has formed a new campaign account for a rematch with Mr. Maloney as Democrats prepare to defend their congressional victories in last year's elections.

Hakeem Jeffries (Photo: Facebook)

Months into his first term, his short time in Washington D.C. has Congressman Hakeem Jeffries convinced the Tea Party is out of control.

"Every day I'm in Washington D.C., I'm focused on two things: battling the Tea Party and standing up for President Obama," Mr. Jeffries, a Democrat, said last night at a Brooklyn fundraiser for his successor, Assemblyman Walter Mosley. "The Tea Party folks, they're off the chain. From my perspective, the right thing to do for the country is to make sure we invest in our economy and we stand up for programs like Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid--and stand up for the most vulnerable people among us."

Mr. Jeffries added that he would take the fight to the whole "crew" of Republican leadership, drawing wild applause from his supporters at the Crown Heights restaurant.

"As opposed to what the other side wants to do, which is to basically balance the budget on the backs of children and seniors, working families and the middle class," he said. "And despite what John Boehner says, despite Paul Ryan, despite that whole crew, we're not going to let it happen."

Since replacing the retired Edolphus Towns, Mr. Jeffries has been appointed to the Budget Committee and Judiciary Committee. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, one of the GOP's rising stars, chairs the Budget Committee and has aggressively pushed for spending cuts as a way to trigger economic growth.

Mr. Jeffries, needless to say, is no fan of that approach.

Congresswoman Grace Meng (Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Women's Campaign Fund)

It's not just conservatives who are critiquing Sen. Chuck Schumer and the rest of the so-called "Gang of Eight" for their immigration bill.

Freshman Congresswoman Grace Meng, a steady liberal hand, is also urging to re-assess the latest version of the proposed federal immigration overhaul. But her warnings come with a unique twist: potential damage to Asian-American immigrant families.

In her first such letter to lawmakers on a major piece of legislation, Ms. Meng, New York’s first Asian-American Congresswoman, told Mr. Schumer, New York's most politically powerful voice in Washington, that she has concerns about certain provisions of the sweeping reform bill, which is set to be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.

Specifically, she pointed to provisions she said would limit family reunifications by effectively eliminating the ability of U.S. citizens to sponsor their adult siblings and married adult children for permanent residency.

“In its current form, the Senate plan contains a number of provisions that are particularly disadvantageous to the Asian American community and detrimental to our immigration system and the American economy at large,” wrote Ms. Meng, who has been building ties with fellow female lawmakers. “The Asian American community faces unique challenges that are not addressed in the current proposal and deserve further consideration.”

She noted that 60 percent of the current foreign-born population from Asian, and argued that helping families re-unite would cut down on money sent out of the country to family members who can't immigrate.

“The need for family reunification is foremost in the hearts of the Asian American community, and the underlying assumption that these particular relationships are attenuated is simply false,” she said.

The letter was endorsed by a host of immigration advocacy groups, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Greater Chinatown Community Association.

Mr. Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a call for comment on Ms. Meng's concerns.

Charlie Rangel (Photo: Getty)

Octogenarian Congressman Charlie Rangel staved off a vigorous primary challenge from State Sen. Adriano Espaillat last year, but he has yet to gear up his operations for what could be another tough re-election fight. According to his latest filings, Mr. Rangel spent more than he raised and has negative $4,800 cash on hand and $36,000 in debts and obligations.

Furthermore, Mr. Rangel only received a handful of individual contributions, oddly all from Puerto Rico-based donors, which, along with some political committee cash, amounted to just $34,000. Meanwhile, Mr. Rangel spent about $44,000, including $28,000, to his attorney Jay Goldberg.

Politicker reached out to Mr. Rangel's office to ask if this might be taken as a sign that Mr. Rangel is contemplating retirement. Hannah Kim, Mr. Rangel's spokeswoman, said Mr. Rangel was simply focused on his official duties.

"The Congressman has been just reelected and the 113th Congress started only four months ago. He has been extremely busy holding numerous events in the newly-drawn district," Ms. Kim said in a statement. "He is also focused on working to reform the tax code as well as helping to enact sensible legislation on immigration, guns and a balanced budget that will create jobs, strengthen the economy, and ensure that we keep moving our country in the right direction."

Mr. Espaillat, who has not signaled his own electoral intentions, raised only $2,000 during the same period. However, he reported having a little more than $67,000 cash on hand. Additionally, former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who has said he would run if Mr. Rangel doesn't seek re-election, raised about $45,000.

(Photo: Getty)

The U.S. Senate voted down a bipartisan deal to expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales today, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't happy.

“Today’s vote is a damning indictment of the stranglehold that special interests have on Washington," Mr. Bloomberg declared in a statement condemning both parties for their inaction. "Democrats – who are so quick to blame Republicans for our broken gun laws – could not stand united. And Republicans – who are so quick to blame Democrats for not being tough enough on crime – handed criminals a huge victory, by preserving their ability to buy guns illegally at gun shows and online and keeping the illegal trafficking market well-fed."

Mr. Bloomberg, who has become a national spokesman of sorts for gun control in the aftermath of last year's infamous Connecticut elementary school massacre, further suggested that he'd continue to put millions of dollars into affecting future congressional elections on the basis of this issue.

"But even with some bi-partisan support, a common-sense public safety reform died in the U.S. Senate at the hands of those who are more interested in attempting to protect their own political careers – or some false sense of ideological purity – than protecting the lives of innocent Americans," he continued. "The only silver lining is that we now know who refuses to stand with the 90 percent of Americans – and in 2014, our ever-expanding coalition of supporters will work to make sure that voters don’t forget.”

Update (5:58 p.m.): Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who rose to some national prominence for his tough gun control measures passed earlier this year, also weighed in:

"The Senate’s failure to pass a bipartisan measure that is supported by the vast majority of American people is a sad statement on the power of extremists to stand in the way of reason and common sense. Background checks for firearm sales is a reasonable measure that would help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and help keep Americans safe from gun violence. In the wake of the seemingly unending cycle of tragedy involving gun violence, the Senate’s inability to pass even a watered down, minimal gun safety bill is simply unacceptable."

Rand Paul. (Photo: Getty)

Earlier this week, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul reportedly endorsed a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. And although Mr. Paul disputes that exact phrasing to describe his speech, it was a notable announcement from the Tea Party conservative as the U.S. Congress debates the issue. Indeed, New York's own Senator Chuck Schumer, part of a bipartisan octet negotiating a comprehensive immigration bill, praised the move last night.

"I think the bottom line is having Rand Paul come out for something not that far away from our group of eight is really helpful," Mr. Schumer said on Inside City Hall. "After all, he's the hard right. He's the Tea Party. And if he can be for it, so can most Republicans. And that gives me a lot of hope we can pass a bill in both the Senate and the House. And the House will be even tougher than the Senate."

In the same interview, Mr. Schumer also said he was "heartened" by the Republican National Committee's recent call for an immigration policy overhaul. He did cast doubt, however, on whether the party's congressional leadership will follow the organization's suggestions.

"I was heartened to see that in the Republican report, they called for immigration reform," he explained. "The bottom line is this, that no party can win if it appeals to only one segment of America. We are a big, broad, diverse nation and the parties that try to help a broad cross-section of people have a built-in advantage. Any party that writes off 25, 30, 35 percent of the American people is not going to be a winner. So I thought the Republican National Committee was right to issue the report, but the $64,000 question is will the Republican leadership follow through or will they sort of stay in their foxholes and ignore the lessons of 2012?"

(Photo: Getty)

Last year, Mark Murphy ran a sharply negative campaign against Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm that focused on an ongoing federal investigation into the incumbent's 2010 fundraising efforts. The drumbeat was relentless; Mr. Murphy held regular press conferences about the investigation, worked it into his everyday messaging and even sent out direct mail with a faux mugshot of Mr. Grimm's face on it. Despite these intense attacks, Mr. Murphy went on to lose 46 percent to 53 percent to the Republican Mr. Grimm in a swing district narrowly carried by President Barack Obama.

Councilman Domenic Recchia, who is planning to take on Mr. Grimm next year, is charting a different course for his campaign.

"Listen, I don't get involved with people's private lives," Mr. Recchia told us as we sat down outside his government office earlier today. “This is not about Michael Grimm and his personal life, what he might have done or might not have done. I don't know. This is about myself running for Congress to support the people of Staten Island and southern Brooklyn so I can really help them."

Though he indicated he won't make personal attacks against Mr. Grimm, Mr. Recchia has plenty of criticism for the incumbent congressman's politics. Mr. Recchia claims his campaign was inspired by the Republican-controlled Congress' initial stalling of the Hurricane Sandy federal aid package. Mr. Recchia was previously been fundraising for an unnamed 2013 citywide race--probably comptroller or Brooklyn borough president--but said he decided to run for federal office after watching Speaker John Boehner stall the Sandy package. Though Mr. Grimm initially blasted Mr. Boehner, he later supported the Speaker in his confirmation.

"In my days in working with Superstorm Sandy ... I had to worry about my own district, worry about what was going on in the city. Then the [Council] Speaker called me, said, 'We have to get moving. We need money. Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan. We need to fund hospitals, we're out schools.' We had to move money around. So I'd be working the district, meeting with her at night, going over funding," the councilman said. "I just came to realize, 'How are we going to make up this much money?' We're relying on the federal government. Then with the Republican Congress, they cancelled the vote. Then John Boehner started to use the [Republicans] of New York so he can get his support to be the speaker. That was unacceptable. I thought that was horrible that somebody would do that. To hear Michael Grimm say, 'I'm not going to support him.' Which is great, I'm glad. But then he goes and supports him. That's unacceptable."

Along with his concern about the handling of the hurricane, Mr. Recchia touted his legislative experience as another reason for his run. Referring to himself as a "numbers guy," Mr. Recchia cited unemployment as his "greatest concern" and touted his work as the chair of the City Council's Finance Committee as evidence he's ready to take on economic issues.

"I have to work with Washington right now!" he exclaimed at one point. "We had the preliminary budget hearing on Monday. There are many questions asked about the storm, financing, where the money's going to come from. What the impact's going to be. How much are we going to be reimbursed? We're still waiting to be reimbursed! ... We really need someone from Congress that can make a difference. That understands the budget. That really knows how to get things done."

Of course, Election Day 2014 is a long way out, and Mr. Recchia's messaging could change with time. Though Mr. Recchia maintains he will focused on substantive financial and policy issues, he didn't completely rule out the possibility he would bring up Mr. Grimm's fundraising controversy in the future.

"The campaign is a year and a half away, alright?" Mr. Recchia said when we asked if he might change his tune. "I'm sure many issues are going to come up. I really want to keep this about what I have done, my track record. I have a good track record on serving communities, building consensus, working with both sides of the aisle. That's what we need. I want to do what's necessary, not what's easy. That's why I'm running for Congress."