Rep. Bart Stupak, the Blue Dog Democrat who was the hold out vote for the health care reform legislation has announced that he will not be seeking re-election. Readers will remember that he is the congressman who was speaking on the floor of the house when he was called a ‘baby killer.’
Bart Stupak probably wants to spend more time with his family rather than deal with the stress of re-election. He was also being targetted for defeat by the Tea Party, according to the Washington Times:TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan tells the Associated Press he’ll retire from Congress rather than seek a 10th term this year.
Stupak has drawn stinging criticism from opponents of the recently enacted health care overhaul after leading a bloc of anti-abortion Democrats whose last-minute support was crucial to its approval by the House.
The Tea Party Express is calling for his defeat at rallies in his sprawling northern Michigan district this week.
But Stupak tells the AP the attacks didn’t influence his decision and he could win re-election if he tried.
He plans to announce his decision at a 12:30 p.m. news conference at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
He says he wants to spend more time with his family and start a new career after 18 years in Congress.
This sort of explains the caliber of people we get running for elected office. Of course, Stupak PO’ed the right and the left. That will teach him to act on his own sense of integrity! [sarcasm alert]
Justice John Paul Stevens has announced he will retire at the end of the session this summer. Justice Stevens is the oldest of the justices and will be 90 active years old on April 20th, according to the NY Times, he still plays tennis. He was appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1975. He has served through the terms of 7 presidents. 