Second Major Republican Retiring. Is This An Indication Of The Party's Future?

House Ways and Means Chairman Camp to Retire

Monday, 31 Mar 2014 07:50 PM

By REUTERS

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Michigan's veteran GOP Rep. Dave Camp, the chairman of the powerful House tax-writing Ways & Means Committee, is retiring at the end of his term — a bombshell announcement that comes amid his push for a major tax code overhaul.

The 60-year-old, who battled cancer last year, assumed control of the committee when Republicans retook control of the House in 2011.

First elected to the House in 1990 — and an ally of Speaker John Boehner — Camp's recently introduced tax reform plan may be stuck in the House for the rest of the year as Republicans and Democrats focus on the midterms, Roll Call noted.

The announcement, reported first by The Hill, is the latest in a string of veteran lawmakers from both sides of the aisle retiring from Congress, including House Intelligence Committee head Mike Rogers (R-Mich.).

He becomes the 13th Republican member of the House to retire this year, bringing the total number of retirements to 23, Roll Call reported.

From 1976 to 2012, the average and median number of retirements was 22, Roll Call said.

"Today, I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives," the lawmaker said in a statement, The Hill reported.

"Serving in Congress is the great honor of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to the people of the 4th Congressional District for placing their trust in me. Over the years, their unwavering support has been a source of strength, purpose and inspiration."

Both Rogers and former Senate Finance Committee head Max Baucus (D-Mont.) had worked on a bipartisan overhaul of the tax code; Baucus, however, left Congress earlier this year to become Ambassador to China.

Still, Camp said he hasn't given up on getting the overhaul moving.

"During the next nine months, I will redouble my efforts to grow our economy and expand opportunity for every American by fixing our broken tax code, permanently solving physician payments for seniors, strengthening the social safety net and finding new markets for U.S. goods and services," his statement vowed.

The Washington Post reported the fight to succeed Camp as chairman of Ways and Means will be between Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan and Texas Republican Rep. Kevin Brady, the more senior of the pair on the panel.

The former 2012 vice presidential nominee has made no secret that he wants to take over the gavel but he's also been mentioned as a possible contender for the race to the White House in 2016.


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