The Democratic non-retirement list

The Politico ^ | 12/15/09 | Josh Kraushaar

[Born Conservative]

Democrats, looking to tamp down speculation about a wave of additional retirements, are getting assurances from some of their most senior members that they’ll be sticking around for another term.

Democratic leadership sources report that some of the members most frequently rumored as retirement possibilities are, in fact, running for re-election.

Reps. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), and Tim Holden (D-Pa.) have all told Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen that they’re not retiring.

Five of those six members -- Kanjorski being the lone exception -- represent districts that John McCain carried in last year's presidential election.

Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) is also expected to run for re-election, even though he’s been named on many retirement lists.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) even publicly announced he’s definitely running again, and bashed Republicans for spreading rumors that he was thinking of stepping down.

"I don't know why anyone would give credibility to these Republican rumors. I'm running for re-election and anyone who knows me knows that what I'm doing now is what I've always done,” Peterson said in a statement. “My paperwork is on file and in February I'll make an official announcement.”

[Born Conservative]

With any luck, Paul Kanjorski of PA-11 will be put into forced retirement after the election.

[FrankR]

There is a whole lot of folks in America being "retired" against their will because of the actions of some of these "retirement deniers"...maybe they should see what "forced retirement" feels like.

It would sure be a warning shot across the bow of any new, incomeing congresscritters that if you don't play it straight, we hope you didn't sell the farm to come to Washington.

I mean, with the pension plan the Congress has, it ain't like they'll go on food stamps or anything...they'll make more in 5 years of retirement than most of us did in our entire working career.

Let's help them make the decision, let's help them out the door in 2010.

INCUMBENTS OUT!

[YankeeReb]

AMEN! Wouldn’t it be perfect if the GOP picked up Teddy the Swimmer’s seat in MA. If that happened this retirement list will get a lot longer.

[OSHA]

Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) is also expected to run for re-election, even though he’s been named on many retirement lists.

Like MB has a choice in his retirement!