I’m not happy to learn that liberal lion Rep. George Miller (D-CA) is retiring from Congress after this term. In particular, it makes me unhappy because it means that Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) will now have seniority on the House Education and Workforce Committee. You might remember that Andrews impertinently challenged Frank Lautenberg in the 2008 primary and used his wife as a placeholder to keep his seat in the House. Andrews has the distinction of being named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics as one of the most corrupt members of Congress in both 2012 and 2013. He not only voted for the invasion of Iraq but he co-sponsored the bill. He also voted for the Bankruptcy Bill and tried to amend the Constitution to ban flag desecration. He signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. He voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
In other words, Miller’s retirement will have real consequences, regardless of who replaces him in Congress.
Wow. Miller is one of the good guys and will for sure be missed.
Now to go look at what this means in his district. That’s a big opportunity for someone.
In particular, it makes me unhappy because it means that Rep. Rob Andrews (R-NJ) will now have seniority on the House Education and Workforce Committee. You might remember that Andrews impertinently challenged Frank Lautenberg in the 2008 primary and used his wife as a placeholder to keep his seat in the House. Andrews has the distinction of being named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics as one of the most corrupt members of Congress in both 2012 and 2013.
And he’s the puppet of George Norcross. The same Norcross that was helping Christie pass anti-worker legislation through the New Jersey legislature. So yeah, Andrews is a DINO.
a TPM reader’s input that josh frontpaged re: Norcross, et al.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/welcome-to-jersey
All that stops Andrews’s inevitable seniority is a primary with 170,000 voters (and possibly substantially fewer) voting for an alternative and 170,000 voters voting for that same alternative in the general election.
And yet it’s just inevitable in part because of the corruption.
The sad tale of American democracy. People are just lying down and wishing the bad candidates would go away.
Someone really rich would have to primary Andrews. They’d also have to be self-aware to know they might get attacked in the Philly papers, if Norcross is still involved with them.
Norcross is is part of the ownership group of the Inquirer.
No shortage of brave or rich, it’s the combo that’s lacking. Anyone taking on Andrews would have to be willing to call out Norcross by name and make it about him (basically calling Andrews a puppet).
Still takes finding around 170,000 votes to make it happen. Too bad that we don’t have spontaneous eruption of angry voters in those numbers.
I don’t argue with the number. It’s what is the focal point for the anger? You have congressman who is owned by a guy many people aren’t aware of and those that know of him may not be aware of the extent of the corruption. Nuance is harder when getting thar magic 170K.
Well, since Andrews hasn’t been a solid supporter of Dem caucus positions and carries corruption baggage, I hope Nancy SMASH passes him over as Ranking Member of the HELP Committee. She and her leadership team have done it before; I recall they passed over Pete Stark for Chair of Ways and Means when Rangle stepped down due to his own corruption problems.
BooMan, who would be next in seniority?
i’m sad to see him go too. he was one of the good ones