NJ's 4 new House Democrats start fast. SALT cap repeal, Gateway funding, Pelosi decision

Herb Jackson | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption New NJ House members reflect on orientation Reps.-elect Tom Malinowski, Mikie Sherrill and Andy Kim, all D-N.J., discuss their experiences Nov. 15 from their first week of new member orientation.

WASHINGTON – New Jersey's four new Democrats in Congress mixed the mundane with the majestic during freshman orientation this week, learning what would happen if they lose the special identity pin they get and also getting to set foot for the first time on the House floor.

"I always try to remind myself in places like that: Don't lose your sense of awe," Rep.-elect Tom Malinowski of Rocky Hill, who defeated Rep. Leonard Lance in the 7th District, said Thursday.

The four, who captured Republican-held seats and helped power Democrats into the majority next year, were thrown into the deep end of Washington politics, facing lobbying from colleagues and questions from the Capitol Hill press corps over whether Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi should be chosen as speaker again next year.

Pelosi hosted the new Democrats and their spouses for dinner Wednesday night, and was holding more private meetings with some of them. The internal intrigue was playing out while members were learning the nuts and bolts of the jobs voters chose them to do for the next two years.

Rep.-elect Andy Kim of Bordentown, whose election went into overtime last week because provisional ballots had the potential to erase a lead he had from machine and absentee votes, became the undisputed winner on Wednesday.

He said he got a concession call from Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-Toms River, and they agreed to "a smooth and orderly transition" focused on continuity with constituent issues, especially open case files.

Staffing up

First Kim has to get a staff on the pubic payroll, however, something he and more than 80 other incoming House freshmen from both parties learned how to do during a series of meetings this week. The training will continue the week after Thanksgiving, and will end with a lottery to choose office space in the three House office buildings that line Independence Avenue across the street from the Capitol.

Kim said he was "kind of frazzled" this week for another reason.

"I got a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old," he said. "We brought them down to D.C. with us this week and both of them are running fevers now. ... I want to make this transition right, but I need to do it in a way that's going to be good for my family as well."

Rep. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May Court House said he had productive discussions and may even hire some of the staff of the Republican congressman he will replace, Rep. Frank LoBiondo of Ventnor, who is retiring.

Hopes for Jersey influence

With 11 New Jersey Democrats in the majority party next year, several of the new members said they hoped the state would get a better share of federal spending, and more attention on issues such as Amtrak's Gateway tunnel project and a repeal of the new $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.

"We have a very keen sense that New Jersey gets the short end of the stick," Malinowski said.

Had the honor of hosting a NJ delegation meeting in my DC

office to discuss our 2019 priorities and how to make sure NJ gets our

fair share in DC. pic.twitter.com/qjE8XQjtYA — Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) November 14, 2018

Van Drew said there also has to be a focus on bipartisanship, and that voters in his district do not want the new majority to focus solely on investigations.

"We have a significant caucus now, it does matter. But there's also a Senate to deal with, and there's a president to deal with," Van Drew said.

Pelosi politics permeates

Van Drew was the most strident in opposing Pelosi for speaker, saying he promised during the campaign he would not vote for her, either during Democrats' private caucus after Thanksgiving or on the floor in January when the new Congress convenes.

"Not that I have any personal dislike for her, or she didn't do a good job in her time. But sometimes it's good to have a fresh new face and to have change and go forward with some new ideas," Van Drew said.

Rep.-elect Mikie Sherrill of Montclair, who is filling the open seat left by the retirement of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen of Harding, said she also promised during the campaign to support a different leader.

"I won't be supporting her," Sherrill said of Pelosi, who so far is running unoppposed. "I'm excited to see who comes forward in the next couple of weeks to see how we take this party to the future."

Kim said the party needs new leadership, but he was learning the "granular" details of the various leader positions and their roles.

"Then I'll be making up my decisions based on that," Kim said. "But right now, I'm not making any commitments."

Malinowski said on the campaign trail he wanted to see a competition for speaker and would decide how to vote after getting promises for action on Gateway and the SALT deduction cap.

Committee decisions loom

Part of becoming a new member is requesting committee assignments, and the New Jersey members said they were looking at the interests of their districts in making their choices.

Van Drew said he was interested in the Natural Resources Committee because of the importance of fisheries, and at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee because of the large Federal Aviation Administration training center in the district. He conceded, however, that getting the transportation slot might take time, because it is in demand.

Sherrill, a Navy veteran, said she was seeking a spot on the Armed Services Committee because Picatinny Arsenal is the district's largest employer. She also said she was interested in transportation.