We should know in the next several days if Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), chairman of the House Science Committee, will run for another term or retire at the end of this year. One newspaper from Boehlert’s upstate New York district, the Finger Lakes Times, reports that an announcement should come in the next seven to ten days, while the Utica Observer-Dispatch, in an article about the entry of a Democrat into the race for the seat, reported that Boehlert has made a decision but didn’t reveal what it was. (More background courtesy of CQPolitics.com.) Internal House term limits require Boehlert to relinquish his chairmanship of the science committee at the end of this year, which could play a role in his decision whether or not to run again.
Without having done a detailed review of Mr. Boehlert’s House career, this Democrat has been impressed by his visible performance on the Science Committee. I frequently don’t agree with him — in particular about the relative importance of automated spaceflight — but he cuts a thoughtful swath through the rheteric, and he refuses to toe a party line. If he retires, he’ll be missed.
— Donald
Although, if him leaving opens up enough races that we can have some real contests, such that the Dems win, and retake the house (or even Congress in its entirety) I’d be more than happy with that.
Me, too!
— Donald