U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga) announced today that he will not run for a reelection in 2014, blaming “lack of leadership” and congressional gridlock for his decision.
"After much contemplation and reflection, I have decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2014,” said the three-term Senator in a statement.
In today’s press release, Chambliss said that his decision not to run has nothing to do with a possibility of a tough primary challenge in 2014. The Senator assured that his support in Georgia is stronger than ever, and that he’d have no problems winning re-election.
“Instead, this is about frustration, both at a lack of leadership from the White House and at the dearth of meaningful action from Congress, especially on issues that are the foundation of our nation’s economic health,” he said. “The debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst and, sadly, I don’t see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon. For our nation to be strong, for our country to prosper, we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy.”
Chambliss goes on to say that he had never anticipated to stay in Washington for so long; he’s served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, and in the U.S. Senate from 2003.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal confirmed today that Chambliss told him on January 15, 2013 about his retirement.
Deal said that he asked the Senator to serve out the rest of his term so that the Governor wouldn’t have to appoint a replacement.
“There are two years left in my term, and there is lots left to do. I am in good health, and I plan to continue working hard to represent the best interests of Georgians, and to do my utmost to help restore America to its economic greatness,” said Chambliss.
The news of his retirement might be surprising but certainly not shocking. Chambliss received some bad press from conservative outlets during the recent “fiscal cliff” debate when the lawmaker worked on a compromise with Democrats.
After the “fiscal cliff” agreement was finally reached in the first days of January, many conservative pundits and politicians vowed to vote Chambliss out of office in 2014.
Click here to read the full press release.
Comments