Ben Nelson

Nelson, Landrieu Say Election Results Do Not Diminish Their Health Care Goals

Brian Beutler | November 4, 2009, 1:44PM

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Today is a day for thumbsucking. After Republicans won gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and Democrats picked up two House seats, everyone in Washington is spinning away, hoping to change the conventional wisdom, and, perhaps politics on Capitol Hill. But will it work? Today, two of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate said yesterday's election results won't have any effect on their votes on health care.

"There are no lessons in there for me, other than a lesson that I already had and that is we need to be very cautious and careful on spending," said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) . "[W]e need to redirect a lot of our attention right back to the basic economy and trying to figure out ways to help with the economic woes that we have, and that may mean that we have to readjust some of the other priorities around here."

So this doesn't have an effect on the limits you'd like to impose on reform, I asked.

"No," he said.

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Steve Rothman

Congressman Blasts Rumors Of Retirement As 'Creative Writing Assignment'

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:53PM

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) was quick to respond, and to do so in some pretty strong terms, after PolitickerNJ speculated that the Congressman might retire in light of his low fundraising this past quarter:

I wonder who gave out the creative writing assignment to suggest that I was retiring from Congress? After all, I love helping my constituents, bringing an unprecedented amount of federal dollars back to many regions in New Jersey (as our only Democratic Appropriations Committee member); and working with my House colleagues and the Obama White House in matters of our national security and foreign affairs. And I'm running for reelection in 2010, and for many years more.

Rothman also said that his political standing in New Jersey "is as good as anyone's, maybe better," and that he has more total campaign funds on hand than all but one other member of the state's congressional delegation, and he is 10th highest overall among the House Democrats.