David Dreier Retirement: California Congressman Will Not Run For Re-Election

Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election.

The California Congressman explained why he chose to make his announcement on the House floor. "First, this is where my fellow Californians sent me to represent them. Second, I am a proud institutionalist, and I believe that this institution is as great as it has ever been," he said.

He added that he considered retiring three years ago, but ultimately chose not to for four reasons. "(1) to reverse the very dangerous 82% increase in non-defense discretionary spending that we had in the previous two Congresses; (2) to finally pass the job-creating free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea; (3) to enhance our national security by working to strengthen the legislatures of new and reemerging democracies across the globe through the bipartisan House Democracy Partnership; and (4) to ensure, through the Rules Committee, that both Democrats and Republicans have the opportunity to offer their solutions by proposing amendments on the House floor," he said.

Dreier has served in the House since 1981, representing the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. He has been Chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee for nine of the past 13 years. His decision has been long expected due to a redistricting process leaving him without an obvious district to run in.

Dreier, a bachelor, was passed over for a GOP leadership position in a controversial decision in 2005 that some observers speculated had to do with questions about his sexuality. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is openly gay, was asked if Dreier was passed over because he was too "moderate."

"Yes, in the sense that I marched in the moderate pride parade last summer and went to a moderate bar,” Frank famously responded, adding that he had no knowledge of his sexuality.

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Comments

[Scent]

04:37 PM on 03/01/2012

"People" who swear to serve the people and take money to do the opposite (the law calls that "treason" by the way) do not retire. They just get a better paid wayy to ruin the nation for the profit of the worst humanity has to offer.

[Terri Skau]

03:50 PM on 03/01/2012

gpop824. I feel for ya. But you don't want to live here either. It's over priced. And I'm focusing on getting out. But until I will do everything I can to make them dislike California even more..The Republicans don' like California. ;-) F/F ya.

[Roy Merritt old car guy]

10:38 AM on 03/01/2012

You know if the Democrats were as single minded as the Tea Party they would be the majority in th House and Senate. The Democrats have the White House sewn up but they need to consolidate on winning back the House and increasing their majority in the Senate. If the Republicans keep the house and take the Senate it will be another do nothing because the President will veto anything that is detrimental to the nation and everything that the Tea Party/Republicans do is detrimental to the United States of America.

[MuyTejana]

09:57 AM on 03/01/2012

His party has no use for someone like him. He's a very intelligent man and I believe he did a good job, although I don't agree with him, but he doesn't have a future in the Republican party due to his sexuality. Of course he will take advantage of the lobbying industry where he will become a multi-millionaire if he isn't one already.

[Plissken]

09:28 AM on 03/01/2012

It's more like he just received a huge cash offer to lobby for some corporation. That's what they all do. I'll be a monkey's uncle if this guy isnt working as a lobbyist withing a month of leaving the congress.

[GTFOOH]

09:24 AM on 03/01/2012

Well David, now you are free to come out of the closet and stop supporting policies that go against the lifestyle that you have been secretly leading.

[babybecks]

09:11 AM on 03/01/2012

The moderates are dropping like flies. According to Snowe, the tea party folks harassed her at work and home. What a great group of people to ally yourself with.

[willowtalk]

09:03 AM on 03/01/2012

Now David can finally come out of the closet.

[shewolf2002]

08:59 AM on 03/01/2012

One more incumbent down, how many more to go?

[Mikeeee]

08:58 AM on 03/01/2012

"(1) to reverse the very dangerous 82% increase in non-defense discretionary spending"
If that's not an admission that he's a war monger, I don't know how clearly he could state it. He'd send the country to bankruptcy for the mic, but not to help his fellow citizens.
Shameful.

[baxtron]

10:47 AM on 03/01/2012

he has enough money. screw everyone else.

[den1953]

08:58 AM on 03/01/2012

Aw yes the special interest river of money is drying up, and insider trading has been the drought of congress that they counted on for so many years!

[clarkesq]

08:54 AM on 03/01/2012

I never considered David Dreier to be a moderate. This just shows how extreme the GOP has become.

[smarish]

08:41 AM on 03/01/2012

There must be a lucrative opening on K Street.

[HearMeNow1959]

08:32 AM on 03/01/2012

I'm really gonna miss him.....Barney Frank, that is.

[Jacob007]

07:54 AM on 03/01/2012

David got his money. Thank you Congressman for not voting to Designate a post office for PFC. Hiltz killed in action in his district. Yet he voted yes to designate post offices to others killed in action outside of your district.