Lame-duck Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) has notified the House ethics committee that he is in discussions to take a job with Goldman Sachs, a move that may put to rest any speculation that the Congressman might still find a way to return to Capitol Hill next year.

Andrews filed his paperwork with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, as the ethics committee is formally known, late last week. Pursuant to House rules, Andrews is now required to recuse himself from any official business involving Goldman Sachs that might cause or appear to cause a conflict of interest.

Andrews’ chief of staff, Bill Caruso, would not say whether Andrews has plans to leave Congress before the end of his term.

“Rep. Andrews is exploring all options and has recused himself from any decision affecting any party to negotiations,” Caruso said.

Andrews is coming off an unexpected Senate primary this summer, which he lost to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D). Since then Andrews has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the newly created lieutenant governor position under New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D), a former CEO at Goldman Sachs. The new job will be filled in 2009.

Meanwhile the political situation in Andrews’ 1st district continues to remain in flux.

Andrews’ wife, Camille Andrews, an associate dean at Rutgers University law school, won the Democratic primary to replace him, but she has mostly been viewed as a placeholder whose spot on the ballot would allow local party bosses to hand-pick their own replacement.

Not long after his failed primary campaign, some New Jersey insiders thought that Robert Andrews might be tapped for the slot but, more recently, Donald Norcross, a local labor leader, has become the favorite choice among insiders for the seat.

Norcross is the brother of George Norcross, a Democratic boss in South Jersey. The Republican nominee in the heavily Democratic district is minister and author Dale Glading.

Jennifer Yachnin contributed to this report.