Lee Zeldin Making Friends All Over Congress
Rep.-elect Lee Zeldin has only been around Capitol Hill for a few days, but he’s already making quite the impression among the New York delegation.
At freshman orientation in DC w fellow incoming NY Rep @EliseStefanik the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. pic.twitter.com/leltdfWzw6
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) November 12, 2014
As originally reported by Newsday , the incoming Republican huddled with Democratic Sen. Charles E. Schumer earlier this week for a strategy session about all things Empire State. At one point during that exchange, Zeldin reportedly asked Schumer if Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel was actually Jewish, to which the senior senator replied, “I think so.”
When word got back to Israel, the House lawmaker gave Zeldin some guff online.
.@leezeldin @TomBruneDC Lee- did my Mazel Tov mean nothing? Am I just chopped liver? Yeah…I’m Jewish!
— Steve Israel (@RepSteveIsrael) November 19, 2014
Zeldin attempted to smooth things over by floating a “manischewitz summit” — an offer that’s still hanging out there.
“It has not been scheduled yet,” an Israel aide said of the proposed sit-down. As evidenced by all the smiling faces in the multiple-person selfies (aka ussies) plastered across Zeldin’s Twitter feed, mingling with newly minted colleagues appears to be a breeze.
Getting ready for an evening freshman orientation meeting tonight w @MiaBLove @SteveRussellOK pic.twitter.com/CZ3oiKt7sm
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) November 13, 2014
Touring Capitol tonight w @SteveRussellOK @WillHurd @carloslcurbelo On Speaker’s Balcony w some great new colleagues pic.twitter.com/2Yt9yALVsj
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) November 14, 2014
A Zeldin aide said the freshman lawmaker has also met with House Republicans Peter T. King, Chris Gibson and Chris Collins, and has touched base either via phone or by email with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Grace Meng.
No word, however, on when he’ll get together with distant relative Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.
“I have known for years that there was a family relation to Congressman Engel,” Zeldin told HOH about the marital ties. And Engel is Jewish to boot!
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