OK, so on a normal day, this news isn't something that would pass over my radar or 99.9% of the people around here, but I just wanted to report it and give you the skinny on what it means to me....
Congressman Ralph Regula, my former opponent, was passed over today for Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Representative Jerry Lewis of California will be the new Chairman.
More after the fold....
So, why is this important to me? Well, here's the deal.
Regula is 80 years old. Most say he's been running on fumes for about 3-4 years (and that's the word from friends I have in Congress, one of whom sits on Appropriations with him). He's been hanging on because he has wanted this chairmanship for a LONG time and was hoping to serve in this powerful position for 2-3 terms and then retire.
Lewis will now hold this seat until Regula is 86 years old. There is no way under the sun that Regula will spend another 6 years in Congress just to get the seat he believes he should have right now.
Look for this term to be Regula's final term. He's been a moderate Republican (up until about 4 years ago when he started "playing ball"), but he's been wearing out. Some would actually be shocked if he finished this term, but he's an honorable man, so I think he will.
What this does mean is that in '06, there will be an open seat in my district. My biggest weakness in my '04 election was name recognition. 102,000 votes for Jeff Seemann later, I don't believe I still have that problem.
Therefore, next week I will make my official declaration. I will be running for Congress in 2006.
I hope to have your support as I did in 2004. My official announcement will be made on the blogs (Kos first, of course).
Thank you,
Jeff Seemann