ECW
10-11-2007, 08:19 AM
Seems like working for living is a real bitch to those who aren't used to real working conditions. That three days a week crap the GOP used to do did not take care of the people's business if you were serious about taking care of the people's business. Apparently, some in the GOP aren't willing to make the sacrifices needed to conduct business the correct way and they are hitting the road. See ya! Wouldn't want to be ya!
House Republicans say there is a growing list of reasons to call for congressional career quits, from tighter travel restrictions to lobby-reform requirements and the likelihood of continuing minority status.
Yet only nine members of the GOP caucus have so far announced retirements. If you were a House Republican, would you run for reelection?
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), 61, one of those who announced he’s packing it in, said that the Democrats’ new five-day workweek made traveling back home that much more difficult.
“I do think the schedule and the flying is a huge pain for people, particularly those who are from the Midwest or even further West,” he said, adding that it’s “probably the worst part of the job.”
“I think that has played into these retirement announcements,” said the seven-term congressman from Peoria.
Former Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas), who chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 1996, said it’s tough to stop retirements. “You have to constantly try to prop people up,” he said. “You lose staff. Sometimes you lose committee assignments. You lose committee staff.”
To a member in the minority, a number of options are attractive, he said, including runs for governor or the Senate or a more lucrative career lobbying. “The ink was hardly dry on [Pete V.] Domenici’s statement before [Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.)] jumped in the race,” said Frost, referring to the Republican senator from New Mexico who recently announced his retirement.
Money comes into play, too. “That’s a real issue for a lot of members who are concerned about planning for their own retirement or who may have children who haven’t gone to college yet,” he said.
In 1996, there was no mass exodus of congressional Democrats after the party lost the majority in 1994 following 40 years of dominance, which impressed long-serving Republicans. “We thought there would be [a mass departure], but there wasn’t,” said Republican Rep. Sam Johnson, a nine-term Texan who turns 77 this week.
more...link (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6249.html)
House Republicans say there is a growing list of reasons to call for congressional career quits, from tighter travel restrictions to lobby-reform requirements and the likelihood of continuing minority status.
Yet only nine members of the GOP caucus have so far announced retirements. If you were a House Republican, would you run for reelection?
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), 61, one of those who announced he’s packing it in, said that the Democrats’ new five-day workweek made traveling back home that much more difficult.
“I do think the schedule and the flying is a huge pain for people, particularly those who are from the Midwest or even further West,” he said, adding that it’s “probably the worst part of the job.”
“I think that has played into these retirement announcements,” said the seven-term congressman from Peoria.
Former Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas), who chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 1996, said it’s tough to stop retirements. “You have to constantly try to prop people up,” he said. “You lose staff. Sometimes you lose committee assignments. You lose committee staff.”
To a member in the minority, a number of options are attractive, he said, including runs for governor or the Senate or a more lucrative career lobbying. “The ink was hardly dry on [Pete V.] Domenici’s statement before [Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.)] jumped in the race,” said Frost, referring to the Republican senator from New Mexico who recently announced his retirement.
Money comes into play, too. “That’s a real issue for a lot of members who are concerned about planning for their own retirement or who may have children who haven’t gone to college yet,” he said.
In 1996, there was no mass exodus of congressional Democrats after the party lost the majority in 1994 following 40 years of dominance, which impressed long-serving Republicans. “We thought there would be [a mass departure], but there wasn’t,” said Republican Rep. Sam Johnson, a nine-term Texan who turns 77 this week.
more...link (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6249.html)