Steven R. Rothman (born October 14, 1952), American politician, is a member of the United States Congress for New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District (map). First sworn into the United States House of Representatives on January 3, 1997, he now is serving his fifth term and is an influential moderate Democrat who serves as Assistant Democratic (Minority) Whip. Rothman also sits on the powerful Committee on Appropriations in the House. Before being elected into congress, Rothman served as Mayor of Englewood for two terms (1983-1989), a Bergen County Surrogate Court Judge (1993-1996), and practiced law as a private attorney while providing free legal services to the poor, disabled, and elderly (1978-1993). Rothman now lives in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Rothman defeated Republican Kathleen Donovon to win election to Congress in New Jersey's 9th District in 1996, replacing Representative Robert Torricelli, who was elected to the Senate.
In Congress, Rothman has been a supporter of Israel and a Middle Eastern peace plan. Locally, Rothman helped secure money for improving transportation and relieving highway congestion, improving local homeland security, police and firefighting technology, improving education, providing relief to the unemployed, and sponsoring a bill to stop large airplanes from taking off at Teterboro Airport because of the excessive noise in residential areas. Rothman is also credited for saving the New Jersey Meadowlands from urban construction and securing millions of dollars for the protection and study of the environment and wildlife.
Rothman strongly opposes President George W. Bush's tax-cut plans, his health care issues, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil drilling plan, and various other Republican Party and Bush Administration backed plans.
