McCrery (R-La.) Announces Retirement Plans

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McCrery Announces Retirement Plans
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff

Louisiana Rep. Jim McCrery , the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, will not seek election to an eleventh term in 2008.

“Twenty years is a long time to serve in Congress,” McCrery said in a Friday night statement announcing his decision. “I believe it is time for me to step aside and let someone with fresh enthusiasm and new ideas step in to represent the 4th District.” McCrery, 58, had been in line to become chairman of the powerful tax-writing panel before Democrats won control of the House for the first time in a dozen years in the 2006 election.

Republicans have the early edge to retain control of the conservative-leaning district that takes in Shreveport and most of the state’s border with Texas. President Bush took 59 percent of the district vote in the 2004 election, winning narrowly in and around Shreveport but more decisively in most of the other parishes (Louisiana’s equivalent of counties) outside that city.

The 4th District has a heavy Republican tilt and McCrery had long enjoyed large winning percentages that regularly topped 70 percent. He ran unopposed in 2004.

But as was the case for many Republicans, 2006 was a different story for McCrery. He was held to 57 percent of the vote against three rivals in an all-party primary that included another Republican and two Democrats. Under Louisiana election law at the time, McCrery was not forced into a runoff because he won a majority in the primary.

In addition to a scramble for his House seat, McCrery’s impending departure will surely touch off a battle for the top GOP spot on Ways and Means.

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