Republican Pa. congressman Platts says he won’t seek re-election, citing belief in term limits

The Washington Post ^ | January 17, 2012 | AP

[Timber Rattler]

A six-term Pennsylvania congressman said Tuesday he would not seek a seventh term, calling himself a believer in term limits.

Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Platts said he planned to “remain an engaged servant of the people” through the end of the year.

Platts, 49, said he has sponsored bills that would have capped terms at 12 years since he arrived in Congress in 2001.

His south-central Pennsylvania district is reliably Republican, and Platts, a York native, was a formidable campaigner, thanks to a dedicated cadre of family, friends and other longtime supporters.

Platts’ district includes York and Adams counties and extends to a large swath of Cumberland County near Harrisburg,

Platts, married with two school-age sons, has regularly commuted the 100 or so miles between his home and Washington, D.C. He said in a phone interview he estimated he has stayed overnight in Washington only about a dozen times while serving in Congress.

[Timber Rattler]

A couple of things about Platts:

1) His personal ideology is "moderate" and he is a friend and supporter of McCain's but serves in a staunchly Conservative rural district. Consequently, he generally votes Conservative, but is also one of Boehner's "team players."

2) He told me to my face in 2009 that McCain should have chosen Lieberman instead of Palin as his VP running mate.

3) Platts also tried to jump ship in 2009 by applying for the job of Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office.

4) Needless to say, Platts' tendency to put party first has gotten him into trouble with the local York County TEA Party. This is probably the real reason he's retiring, and not his belief in term limits. Plus, he's ready to cash in with the revolving door on K Street.

Now, the question will be whether we can get a TEA Party candidate to replace him, or if Pennsylvania's GOP machine installs a party hack.

[Bronzy]

Near sleep last night, I heard someone on the John Batchelor show speak of a lot of republicans leaving possibly due to sweetheart deals from Country Wide. Apparently an investigation in the works.

[Bronzy]

From the Tuesday 17 January 2012 John Batchelor show:

Tuesday 1020P (720P Pacific Time): Jim McTague, Barro’s Washington, in re: Despite garlic and crucifix, Angelo Mozillo returns: 150 Fanni execs got VIP loans. Influence-peddling writ large. Every one says he didn't realize he was getting a special favor, that Angelo initiated the loans without their asking. Chris Dodd won't run for the Senate again because of this, as won't a passel of legislators. The Congressmen must be so used to lavish favors that they expect special treatment. They all applied to Countrywide for a mortgage; Angelo decided they needed special treatment and the poor lambs didn't realize it. A Deep Throat working for Darrell Issa hasn't yet spoken - that’ll clarify a lot. Names so far: Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (chair, Armed Svcs, extremely powerful); Ed Townes, and Pete Sessions (House leadership).