Two members of the Senate Ag Committee have announced they will not seek re-election in 2014.
Both of the Senators are former Chairmen of the Agriculture Committee. In making his announcement - Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin cited his age, 73, and a promise to his wife to retire while they are still in good health.
Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss - however - emphasized his frustration with life in Washington. He noted frustration at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the lack of meaningful action from Congress.
According to Chambliss - the debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst. He said he doesn’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. For the nation to be strong and the country to prosper - Chambliss said we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy.
Both of the Senators are former Chairmen of the Agriculture Committee. In making his announcement - Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin cited his age, 73, and a promise to his wife to retire while they are still in good health.
Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss - however - emphasized his frustration with life in Washington. He noted frustration at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the lack of meaningful action from Congress.
According to Chambliss - the debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst. He said he doesn’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. For the nation to be strong and the country to prosper - Chambliss said we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy.
When the current Congress is over - Harkin will have served a total of 40 years in the U.S. Congress. Some of that time was in the House. He chaired the Senate Ag Committee when the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills were passed. In his own statement - President Barack Obama noted that Harkin has served in the Senate longer than any Democrat in Iowa’s history.
When Chambliss completes his term - he will have served in Congress 20 years. He was elected to the House in 1994 and to the Senate in 2002. Chambliss served as Senate Ag Chair in the 109th Congress and as Ranking Member in the 110th Congress and 111th Congress.
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