Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, last seen facing off with Rep. Jerry Nadler over whose Jewish deli was superior, has expanded his competitive food interests to pizza. And at a New York event this weekend for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Mr. Israel presented a chocolate-covered pizza to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to argue the Empire State’s pizza is, in fact, better than her native California’s. Read More
With the $85 billion in automatic so-called “sequester” budget cuts set to take affect tomorrow, the National Republican Congressional Committee has released a series of press releases blaming the situation on President Barack Obama’s fondness for “martian menus” and “robotic squirrels.” According to the NRCC, President Obama and House Democrats are more interested in funding wasteful programs and “scaring American families” than protecting the country from the impending, drastic cuts, so they highlighted a series of initiatives, including plans to develop food for astronauts and funding for a “Robosquirrel” used to research rattlesnake behavior. Several versions of the NRCC statement were released pairing President Barack Obama with different Democratic members of Congress.
“Most Americans will never get to order off the ‘Mars Menu’ that their taxpayer dollars are funding, but instead of cutting wasteful programs like that one, President Obama and Jim Himes are allowing cuts to important programs and services,” NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek said in the statement targeting Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes. “Rather than trying to scare Americans, Obama and Himes should agree to responsible cuts to wasteful Washington spending.” Read More
Two Long Island congressional finance reports just popped up on the Federal Elections Commission’s website: Democrats Steve Israel and Carolyn McCarthy.
Mr. Israel, who netted north of $400,000, is less notable, however, as he is a more entrenched incumbent. Ms. McCarthy, on the other hand, won reelection with about 54% in 2010 and could see a potentially competitive election against same opponent as last time, GOP Nassau County Legislator Fran Becker. She raised just over $274,000 in the last three months. Read More
New York Congressman Steve Israel, who heads up the House Democrats’ campaign efforts, made an interesting pitch to NY1′s Errol Louis on Inside City Hall last Friday. He argued the most New York is now in play with the judge’s new congressional redistricting plan.
“Right in New York, as a result of the map the courts have approved, we have races all over the state that will be competitive,” he said, before ticking down a laundry list of newly competitive seats. Read More
Steve Israel, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, appeared on CNN this morning in order to explain why he is confident that the Democrats will retake the House in 2012–and why it is okay for them to take SuperPAC money.
The answer is that in 2010 the Democrats didn’t so much lose to the Republicans as they did to GOP money men and masterminds like Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers, who were able to flood the zone with unrestricted SuperPAC dollars. Read More
Long Island Congressman Steve Israel just sent out word that he is voting with the Republican majority to raise the federal debt ceiling.
Israel is in something of a tricky spot. He is a moderate Democrat, but, as the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, he is also one of the leaders of the Read More
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is standing up for her friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Yesterday, Florida Republican Allen West took exception to some comments from Wasserman Schulz on the House floor about how he was forsaking South Florida’s seniors, and he sent an email calling her “vile, unprofessional, and despicable” and “not a Lady,” among other things. (Ironically, West lives in her district.)
This afternoon, Gillibrand sent an email to supporters with the subject line: “nothing is more ladylike than fighting for your values.” Read More
After a nationally watched campaign in upstate New York, Kathy Hochul made her New York City debut Monday morning at the stately University Club on West 54th Street.Hundreds of guests attending the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Breakfast milled around a breakfast buffet of muffins and fruit salad, while their host, Nora Brenes, introduced Mrs. Hochul as the winner of a special election “that came about as a result of our male New York congress members who keep taking their shirts off,” according to one attendee.
The crowd laughed, because an Anthony Weiner joke at a Democratic political function is one that needs no explanation. He is, much to the chagrin of his New York colleagues, everywhere: overshadowing their message, imperiling a safe congressional seat, and affecting their redistricting plans. Read More
The Democratic congresswoman from Long Island, Carolyn McCarthy, wants Anthony Weiner to resign. She joined her colleague from Long Island, Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the DCCC, who called Saturday for Weiner’s resignation.
Here’s McCarthy’s statement, which was posted on her web site this weekend and reported by Newsday on Sunday: Read More
Internet Revolution: Obama wants to help dissidents access the internet to undermine repressive regimes. [James Glanz and John Markoff / NY Times]
2013: Without Anthony Weiner, Christine Quinn and Bill Thompson are the front-runners. Scott Stringer is boosted. With Thompson, John Liu can’t run. Also, Liu and Bill de Blasio occupy too similar a niche. [David Seifman / NY Post]
2013: “Alec Baldwin ‘s campaign for New York City mayor must be serious. He’s just snagged the endorsement of Chevy Chase.” [Ellis Henican / Newsday]
Pressure: Rep. Israel called Weiner to demand he resign. [Ray Hernandez and Michael Barbaro / NY Times]
Photos: Reportedly took self-pics in the congressional gym. [Kelly Collins / Glittarazzi via TMZ]
Context: “This nation focuses on sexual conduct far more than it does on other ethical, legal and moral issues.” [Gary Baumgarten / ReporterGary.com]
Outrage: “[W]e haven’t heard feminist organizations condemn the 46-year-old Democratic congressman.” [Ruben Navarrette / Real Clear Politics]
Precedent: “One possible explanation for her swift reaction is that she is attempting to set a precedent for any Republican scandals down the road.” [Adam Sorensen / Time]
Backlash: A Weiner supporter is unhappy Dems are abandoning him. [Graham Murphy / Twitter]
Tactics: “Even in trying to come clean, Weiner’s communication strategy was seriously flawed…broken so many basic professional communication rules, it’s mindboggling.” [Steve Adubato / NJ.com]
Social Media: Cory Booker isn’t impressed with Weiner’s Twitter skills. [Michael Feeney / Daily News]
Great Taboo: More on Weiner’s racially-tinged flyer from 1991. [Alexander Hart / Vdare]
Jobs: He could do TV, like Spitzer. [Jonathan Lemire / Daily News]
Jobs: “no sane employer would hire him.” [Michael Goodwin / NY Post]
Jobs: “It’s only a matter of time before flirtation texting leads to sexting.” [Ashely Dupre / NY Post]
Same-Sex Marriage: Leading opponents have $13 million sources say; funders unknown. [Douglas Feiden / Daily News]
Visits: Obama to see Sister Act on June 23. [Page Six]
Immigration: Editors disappointed “Cuomo bowed to special-interest pressure” by withdrawing from Secure Communities federal program. [NY Post]
Tobacco: City official blames Newport maker for supplying bootleggers by oversupplying Indian reservations. [Gary Busio / NY Post]
Housing: Silver could benefit financially by loosening rules at building where lives. [Candice Giove / NY Post]
Congressman Hiring Lobbyists: Eliot Engel gets Spano, Brian Higgins hired Lynch, and Joe Crowley gets Meara. All working on redistricting. [Jon Campbell / Democrat and Chronicle] First reported by Maggie Haberman at Politico.
Jobs: Former GOP Rep. Sweeney now a lawyer, specializing in labor, congressional investigations and federal employees. [Carol Demare / Times Union]
Disclosure: $30,000 for pizza, by Rochester city officials. [Brian Sharp / Democrat and Chronicle]
Campaign Finance: “No reason” not to move forward with public financing of campaigns, as DiNapoli proposed. [Jay Jochnowitz / Times Union]
Campaign Finance: Editors unhappy Lew Fidler spent nearly all his $88,550 matching funds in 2009 against nominal GOP rival. [Daily News]
Crime: Adams wants increased penalties for assaulting lawmakers. [Jacob Gershman / WSJ]
Sunset: Vito Fossella influence on GOP comes to an end. [Tom Wrobleski / SI Advance]
