Posted on 10/21/2013 6:55:28 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican
Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) will retire after two terms in office.
The congressman said in a statementthat he's leaving Congress to spend more time with his family, opening up a Republican-leaning district and a coveted spot on the House Ways & Means Committee.
"God has blessed me with a wonderful wife, Elizabeth, and two precious children, and for several months Elizabeth and I have been discussing whether to seek a third term in Congress, especially considering the formative ages of Mary Katherine and John. It has been an agonizing and difficult decision involving much prayer, thought and discussion. We have decided that now is the time for me to focus intently on my top priority, my family, as Elizabeth and I raise our two young children,” Griffin says.
"To that end, I will not seek re-election to a third term. I will complete my second term, but I have made no decision as to my plans after Congress except that I will continue in public service, including as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve."
Griffin was elected to an open seat during the 2010 Republican wave election, and easily won reelection last fall. His district is one of the more competitive in Arkansas — President Obama won 43 percent there in 2012 — and Griffin says he made the decision "sooner rather than later" to give other Republicans ample time to organize a campaign.
Democrats say former Arkansas Lieutenant Gov. Bill Halter (D) and former North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hayes (D) are both giving serious consideration to running for the seat.
This post was updated at 9:40 a.m.
“To spend more time with the family” is his polite way of saying, I want to get out of this sewer they call Washington D.C.
Congressman Griffin on the debt deal: AYE!
See ya!
There’s got be some skeleton(s) in the closets somewhere that are trying to be freed.
PING
We need a conservative Republican from the Little Rock area to run in what should be a very competitive general election. Any ideas?
Years ago, the standard reason for a sudden departure was “health reasons.” Now it’s “spending time with the family.”
Can’t help but think there’s an underlying scandal about to bubble up.
“Can’t help but think there’s an underlying scandal about to bubble up.”
Since he voted aye on the debt deal, he may be anticipating a bloodletting.
Tom Cotton, of AR #4 and an AR Senate Candidate also voted "aye".
Though as was pointed out in the thread on Bill Young few days ago http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3080784/posts (post 41) Washington can be very hard on wives and tends to break up marriages. He may actually be an honest politician who is looking out for the things that really matter—and not being comfortable being an oxymoron, is quitting.
“Tom Cotton, of AR #4 and an AR Senate Candidate also voted “aye”.”
Yeah, I know. Big disappointment. So did Capito in WV, which really isn’t a surprise.
We’ll get more of the same with these types. They’re easily co-optable.
Well, he’s not stepping down right away, and says that he’ll serve until January 2015, so maybe it isn’t a big scandal or anything. But, I agree, retiring after only two terms in order to “spwend more time with the family” does sound suspicious.
spwend = spend. Gosh, it’s as if Bwarney Fwank infiltrated my keyboard.
Yeah, the crook Spencer Bachus (R-AL) is also retiring. Thank GOD! I just hope some REAL conservative runs to take his place. Haven’t heard or seen anyone yet.
I would say “sanity check”.
I have not kept up with his voting record, but the entire R-Arkansas delegation seem to lean moderate, status quo.
Cotton wants to run for the Senate. He was a ‘darling’ candidate in 2012, but he, too, has been wishy-washy with his Congressional votes.
Exactly right — two terms (4 years) does not equal “retire” because he didn’t do a career. Of course, career politicians were anathema to The Founders so he’s actually doing as they envisioned. The recent vote also doesn’t stand him in good stead for a contested election fight, either.
My son told me that the head of the NSA is resigning to spend less time with your family.
“To spend more time with the family” is his polite way of saying, I want to get out of this sewer they call Washington D.C.”
Or, “they’ve got the goods on me and I better leave”.
God bless him! This is how the people’s representation was always SUPPOSED to work.
Representing the people was not a thirty year lucrative career, it was a sacred duty. You sacrificed your real career and family life for a few years AND THEN YOU WENT HOME TO THEM and someone else took over.
>> the NSA is resigning to spend less time with your family.
Now that there’s funny!
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