Barney Frank Quits For 2012
Openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will not seek reelection in 2012.
CNN has confirmed the news with the Democratic congressman's office. Frank addressed his decision to forgo running for another term at a press conference at a press conference in his hometown of Newton, Mass.
Frank said he originally intended to run for one more term, but that his decision was partially due to the fact that the state's new redistricting map will include many people he has never represented before. For nearly three decades, Frank had been protected from moderate and conservative election threats by a district drawn up by Democrats.
Frank said he has had a "busy and stressful" four years dealing with financial reform after the recession. He is credited with passing the reforms, but critics point out it was his direct involvement with Fanny Mae that led to the crisis in the first place. His boyfriend was put on the board of Fanny Mae, and Frank actively prevented lawmakers from reigning in the government insured bank from making risky loans in red-lined areas. Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were the two most expensive bank bail outs in 2008, costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. Frank, however, denies the sweat-heart deal had any effect on his campaigning to prevent earlier reforms.
Now Frank says he plans to write and stay involved in public policy decisions.
Sixteen other Democrats have announced plans not to seek new House terms in 2012, compared with six Republicans.
The Boston Globe reported earlier that according to a close adviser to Frank, the new congressional district in which the Massachusetts Democrat would have run to represent was a big factor in his decision to retire.
While it retained his Newton stronghold, it was revised to encompass more conservative towns while Frank also lost New Bedford, a blue-collar city where he had invested a lot of time and become a leading figure in the region’s fisheries debate.
Frank was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980. He was one of the first lawmakers to announce publicly that he is gay. He is considered one of the most controversial lawmakers in Congress, and leading voice of gay activism there.
More than two decades ago, Frank was reprimanded by the House for using his congressional status on behalf of his boyfriend, a male prostitute whom he had employed as a personal aide, including seeking dismissal of 33 parking tickets.
"I should have known better. I do now, but it's a little too late," Frank said at the time.
Democrats rebuffed Republican calls for Frank's expulsion, and instead, the Massachusetts Democrat resumed a career that far outlasted many of those who had sought his ouster. His "safe" district all but guaranteed he would return year after year. Once the lines to that district were changed, however, Frank saw an uphill battle that he could not win.
See Chick's SIN CITY.
CNN has confirmed the news with the Democratic congressman's office. Frank addressed his decision to forgo running for another term at a press conference at a press conference in his hometown of Newton, Mass.
Frank said he originally intended to run for one more term, but that his decision was partially due to the fact that the state's new redistricting map will include many people he has never represented before. For nearly three decades, Frank had been protected from moderate and conservative election threats by a district drawn up by Democrats.
Frank said he has had a "busy and stressful" four years dealing with financial reform after the recession. He is credited with passing the reforms, but critics point out it was his direct involvement with Fanny Mae that led to the crisis in the first place. His boyfriend was put on the board of Fanny Mae, and Frank actively prevented lawmakers from reigning in the government insured bank from making risky loans in red-lined areas. Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were the two most expensive bank bail outs in 2008, costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. Frank, however, denies the sweat-heart deal had any effect on his campaigning to prevent earlier reforms.
Now Frank says he plans to write and stay involved in public policy decisions.
Sixteen other Democrats have announced plans not to seek new House terms in 2012, compared with six Republicans.
The Boston Globe reported earlier that according to a close adviser to Frank, the new congressional district in which the Massachusetts Democrat would have run to represent was a big factor in his decision to retire.
While it retained his Newton stronghold, it was revised to encompass more conservative towns while Frank also lost New Bedford, a blue-collar city where he had invested a lot of time and become a leading figure in the region’s fisheries debate.
Frank was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980. He was one of the first lawmakers to announce publicly that he is gay. He is considered one of the most controversial lawmakers in Congress, and leading voice of gay activism there.
More than two decades ago, Frank was reprimanded by the House for using his congressional status on behalf of his boyfriend, a male prostitute whom he had employed as a personal aide, including seeking dismissal of 33 parking tickets.
"I should have known better. I do now, but it's a little too late," Frank said at the time.
Democrats rebuffed Republican calls for Frank's expulsion, and instead, the Massachusetts Democrat resumed a career that far outlasted many of those who had sought his ouster. His "safe" district all but guaranteed he would return year after year. Once the lines to that district were changed, however, Frank saw an uphill battle that he could not win.
See Chick's SIN CITY.
posted by chickcomics | 10:03 AM
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