5-Term Senator Won't Seek Re-Election Next Year
Frank Lautenberg will formally announce his decision at a news conference in Paterson Friday.
New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) announced Thursday he will not seek re-election in 2014.
Lautenberg, the oldest serving senator at 89, served in the Senate from 1982 to 2001. After a brief retirement, he returned for a fourth term in 2002 and was elected to a fifth term in 2008.
His term will expire in 2015.
Lautenberg will host a press conference in Paterson, his hometown, on Friday to formally announce his decision not to run again.
Lautenberg issued the following statement about his decision Thursday afternoon:
“This is not the end of anything, but rather the beginning of a two-year mission to pass new gun safety laws, protect children from toxic chemicals, and create more opportunities for working families in New Jersey. While I may not be seeking re-election, there is plenty of work to do before the end of this term and I'm going to keep fighting as hard as ever for the people of New Jersey in the U.S. Senate."
An Army veteran of World War II, Lautenberg is a graduate of Columbia University. Lautenberg sponsored the Toxic Right-to-Know Legislation. It requires chemical companies to disclose the chemicals that they release into the air, water, and ground in residential neighborhoods.
The decision could pave the way for Newark Mayor Cory Booker to run for Lautenberg’s vacated seat, NBCNews.com reported.
Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-09) spoke highly of Lautenberg.
“As a soldier and a U.S. Senator, Frank has fought tirelessly on behalf of hard working Americans across our entire nation,” Pascrell said in a statement Thursday. “Time after time, when others stayed quiet or turned away from tough issues, Frank was always on the forefront working for all of us.”
dj
10:48 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
About time.
I plead the 2nd!
10:48 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Senator,
I accept your resignation with great pride. I suggest you refuse to accept your life time benefits that you and your cronies have voted yourselves over you terms of office. You do not deserve nor can our country afford to pay your entitlements you voted yourself to receive. You have destroyed this country with your socialist policies, and you should not continue to be rewarded for your treason to the Constitution, after you leave office. Maybe you should look towards the former Soviet Union for your retirement compensation and entitlements. You in fact have done exactly what the Soviet Union wanted to achieve during the cold war.
You can come see me and at least apologize to our children in person for the devastation you have staged for her future. explain to them why they owe 180,000 dollars as their share of the nations debt. You have been instrumental in the destruction of this economy, which we have not even begun to feel yet. You know this and I suggest this is why you are leaving office to try and run and hide from the blame.
May God have no mercy on your soul, you know not and will not see the pain and devastation you guaranteed our children. Enjoy your comfortable retirement, but know it is on the back of my children.
Frazure
1:35 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
John - You said it all. This man has been on the public dole far too long.
I plead the 2nd!
10:48 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Home town of Paterson? Doesn't that say a lot?
Gene Osso
12:35 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
He doesnt need ANY of his pension, retirement or benefits of any kind from the government. He was Chairman/CEO of ADP and was already a mega-millionaire off that. Surprised his connection to ADP is not mentioned in the article at all.
Brandon01
4:41 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
The people would elect a Pet Rock as long as it is a liberal Democrat who will give everything away.
b flake
8:22 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Have you seen a picture of him lately, he doesn't look like he is doing so well. He should enjoy himself, maybe go on vacation with his buddy Sleeze Bob Menendez.
VietNam Vet
4:14 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
THANK GOD, this shows there really is a GOD.
Kevin
5:13 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Goodbye Frank. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
stewart resmer
6:35 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
The 2013 CPAC schedule must have come out, and all the conservatives are in a lather?
Chris for Liberty
9:13 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Well said by all, especially John. Actually, Senators of either party, no longer really represent their States. They just bow down, like sheep, and obey the party leadership. Of course, until the 17th Amendment was ratified, the state legislatures elected Senators and the States had a place at the table of the Federal government. It's time to repeal the 17th Amendment!
For now, we should demand that we the voter decide what benefits they receive and how long they serve in office. Yes, term limits!
Mike
11:01 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Nobody listens to Boehner...not even his dog. Term limits for DEMS, for sure!
Suburbanites
9:13 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Prediction, Geraldo is going to upset Corey Booker; you heard it here first.
VietNam Vet
9:43 am on Monday, February 18, 2013
We don't need either one running because they are both worthless just like the Laus-enberg the idiot. He did nothing all the years he was in office and Geraldo will be just as bad as Booker the do nothing Mayor {who was going to clean up the crime in Newark} just ask the people who live there what he really did.
Terry
9:13 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
He is an example of why there should be term limits! His retirement can't come soon enough.
1819
11:51 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Good riddance. A limousine liberal, who helped spend this country's way into bankruptcy, raising the national debt from 10 trillion to 16 trillion in just 48 Obamadisastrous months.
Even Booker would be better. Maybe NJ won't rank 50th on return of our federal dollars. Lautenberg ranks up there as worst US Senator from anywhere ever.
Mike
11:01 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
You'd think someone who made his fortune in business would put business first.
No business, no jobs. No jobs, no demand. No demand, no business. Everyone knows business hires first, then the demand comes later, but not with all the tax and other uncertainty that Lautenberg, Menendez, and Obama have caused.
And 1819 is right: the red states get much more bang for their tax buck than idiotic blue states. Even the liberal rags say so:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/11/states-federal-taxes-spending-charts-maps
I plead the 2nd!
5:19 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Battle of Athens, TN 1946