Rep. Henry Waxman: The reason I’m leaving Congress

Washington Post ^ | 02/01/2014 | Rep. Henry A. Waxman

[SeekAndFind]

I announced this past week that I will be retiring after having the honor of serving my Los Angeles constituents in Congress for 40 years.

Immediately, speculation began that I am leaving because I am frustrated with a broken institution. But the exact opposite is true: I am leaving Congress with my conviction intact that the legislative branch can be a powerful force for good.

Of course there are aspects of the current Congress that I abhor. This past week, every Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where I have served most of my career, voted to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon pollution that is causing climate change. When my colleague Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) offered a simple amendment affirming that climate change is real, they voted against that, too.

That kind of mindless denial of science is an embarrassment.

Voting over and over to repeal the Affordable Care Act, shutting down the government and threatening default are other deplorable examples of the extremism of tea party Republicans.

[Jack Hydrazine]

[nascarnation]

[Jack Hydrazine]

[Jack Hydrazine]

[Jack Hydrazine]

[depressed in 06]

Nostralidus: I think after 40 years my constituents deserve representation.

[exit82]

He’s leaving because he finally sucked all the air out of the room.

[VeniVidiVici]

I knew what Waxman was going to say before I even read it.

[jmaroneps37]

Good reddens to a liberal piece of crap. He’s leaving because he thinks he has done enough damage to America and he’s proud of it.

[House Atreides]

The REAL reason Waxman is retiring is simply because he has maxed out on how much he can get from his Congressional retirement plan (80% of 174,000 = $139,200).

Since he’s limited to no more than 80% of his salary and Congress (for political reasons) is not raising their current $174,000 annual salary he likely figures he’s better off not staying in Congress and simply collecting his $139,200 annual pension (which WILL get annual COLAs) anyhow. He can then also get additional income peddling his influence and/or being a paid lobbyist.

[ZULU]

I think Waxman is a mental case. Good riddance. Too bad he didn’t take his buddies with him.

[VRW Conspirator]

By some miracle the Dems spent their whole two years with triple control of govt on Obamacare and forgot to pass Cap N Tax.

And amnesty.

[nascarnation]

You may be correct, but I’d guess that pension is pretty small stuff compared to the dough he makes in other ways.

However as you say, he’ll immediately be in demand at lobbying outfits, hedge funds, etc.

[nascarnation]

and card check

Nancy really did a shabby job didn’t she...

[LyinLibs]

[Kit cat]

I live in CA. JUST REPORTED NEWS FLASH Anthem Blue Cross
to raise healthcare rates 60% to start in April!!!! A very unhappy
public is going to emerge just in time for the election!!

[50sDad]

The crap is going to hit the fan and I’m outta’ here.

[samadams2000]

” I am leaving to spend more time with my ill gotten gains.”

[stocksthatgoup]

Has already stolen all the cheese!

[Mastador1]

I also live in California but am not optimistic, there are too many idiots that believe whatever the demons say and vote for them repeatedly despite the evidence. Just look at them putting moonbeam back in as governor despite his abysmal record in every public office he has held, and then there is pelosi, boxer, feinstein, sanchez, waxman, etc. Also there are too many illegals voting demon so as to keep their freebies and sanctuary state. No, I lost my optimism a long time ago for this state.