Posted on 10/18/2013 5:42:50 PM PDT by shortstop
Republican Rep. C.W. Bill Young, Florida's longest-serving member of Congress has passed away.
On Thursday, the family of the 82-year-old lawmaker said that he was gravely ill.
Young's family released the following statement Friday:
"U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young (FL-13) passed away this evening at The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the company of his family. The cause of death was complications related to a chronic injury. Information on services will be forthcoming."
Young was influential on military spending during his 43 years in Washington, and in October announced his decision to retire.
In recent years, Young had become increasingly frail and relied on a wheelchair. He was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying that his decision was based on both his health and a desire to spend more time with his family.
Young had been seeking treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., due to back problems that stemmed from a 1970 small-plane crash.
After Young made his announcement to retire, praise of his service from his fellow Florida politicians emerged.
"Congressman Bill Young is an American patriot," tweeted former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush. "We appreciate his service!"
Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio praised Young for his support for the military. "No one has fought harder for the servicemen and women in this country and for returning veterans than Bill and his wife, Beverly," wrote Rubio in a news release.
Said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat: "He was always someone who approached solutions in a bipartisan way. He will be missed."
Young's term in office was slated to end next year.
Young was born in Harmarville, Pa., and later moved to Indian Shores, Fla., a small Gulf Coast community in Pinellas County.
He served in the Army National Guard from 1948 to 1957, then became an aide to U.S. Rep. William Cramer from 1957 to 1960. From 1961 to 1971, he served in the Florida Senate.
He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1970. Young and his wife, Beverly, have three children. His son, Bill Young II, has expressed interest in the past in running for office.
The congressman was a longtime member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he focused on military spending. He and his wife frequently visited ailing service members at hospitals in the Washington area.
As one of the strongest defense hawks in Congress, Young made headlines in 2012 when he said the United States should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.
Young told The Associated Press at the time that "we're killing kids who don't need to die," and reflected the growing weariness with a conflict that had dragged on for more than a decade.
Young brought hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks back to the Tampa Bay area, and built up a defense contracting industry in the region, creating jobs and stirring the economy.
Former State Rep. Larry Crow (R) quits the special election race and endorses Lobbyist and former Congressional aide David Jolly. Young’s widow and son are reportedly not interested. A few locally elected Republicans are still considering. Filing deadline is the 19th.
I was disappointed to hear the widow won’t run. I hope Jolly can pull it off.
Jolly doesn’t seem like a very inspiring or formidable candidate. Sounds like he’ll be able raise funds though.
I think Alex Stink is scaring local Republicans. I hope some popular local elected official jumps in.
Check this out, Jolly gave lots of $$$ to rats
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/david-jollys-generosity-to-democrats/2150616
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