Posted on 09/10/2001 5:40:58 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
Monday September 10 8:28 PM ET
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. David Bonior plans to announce on Tuesday he will step down in January as the Democratic whip in the House of Representatives, an aide said on Monday.
Bonior's long-awaited announcement comes a month after he declared his candidacy for governor of Michigan, and will help set the stage for what may be the election of the highest ranking woman ever on Capitol Hill.
Reps. Nancy Pelosi of California and Steny Hoyer of Maryland both claim to be within grasp of nailing down enough votes to succeed Bonior in the number two spot in the House Democratic leadership.
No woman has ever held such a lofty job in Congress.
Bonior plans to say in a letter to colleagues on Tuesday that he intends to step down as Democratic whip on Jan. 15, 2002, a Bonior aide said. He still intends, however, to finish his 13th term as a member of Congress, which ends in January 2003.
Following Bonior's announcement, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat, will set an election to succeed Bonior as whip, likely within a few weeks, a Gephardt aide said.
The job of whip is second in the House Democratic caucus, topped only by the party's leader. A chief task is to count and lineup votes on legislation.
Pelosi and Hoyer have both been busy trying to lineup votes in their respective bids to replace Bonior, who has held the job of whip for a decade.
SECURING VOTES
To win the race, the victor must capture at least 108 votes from the 215 voting members in the House Democratic caucus.
Pelosi returned from Congress's August recess last week, saying she had secured public commitments from 100 members to support her candidacy, plus private commitments from another 20.
Hoyer's office rejected Pelosi's count, however. It contended he had obtained 77 public commitments, plus 24 private ones, and that Hoyer was confident he could still muster enough additional ones to win the job.
Stacey Farnen, a spokesman for Hoyer, said on Monday, ''Someone is not correct in their count and we have felt for a long time it is her.''
Pelosi said last week, ``We do have the numbers.''
Bonior and Gephardt have publicly backed neither candidate.
In a statement set for release by his office on Tuesday, Bonior said, ``It has been a great honor to serve as whip. I've been proud to work with members of the Democratic Caucus to promote social justice, improve the lives of working people and protect the sanctity of our environment. Over the years, we have fought many great battles.''
Bonior and fellow Democrats lost a key one in the 1994 congressional elections when Republicans won control of the House for the first time in 40 years. Republicans have maintained control ever since.
I'll love to see elbows, shoesoles, and a**hole as Bonior leaves.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich., said Monday he will resign as House minority whip on Jan. 15, which will open the way for a fierce battle to fill the Democrats' second-ranking post in the chamber.
Bonior became whip 10 years ago Tuesday and is giving up the job to devote more time to his bid to be governor of Michigan. He plans to finish a 26-year career in Congress at the end of his term in December 2002.
The Democratic whip works to persuade members to support the party's agenda and often serves as a party spokesman.
``It's a wonderful position to have, and I've enjoyed it immensely,'' Bonior said in a telephone interview Monday. ``It's a gift from the caucus.''
As whip, Bonior has been a passionate advocate for labor unions, environmentalists, human rights and other liberal causes. He said he was proudest of being the voice for workers in the debate over free trade agreements; opposing the conservative politics of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.; and helping to pass the Balanced Budget Act of 1993.
Bonior's decision to give up his leadership duties before his term ends presents the party rank and file a choice between two contenders battling to become claim his title of whip.
Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., have been vying for the post for months, since Bonior stoked speculation that he might leave the House to run for governor.
The election to replace Bonior probably will be during the fall, officials said Monday. Bonior refused to say whom he will support.
He faces a tough Democratic primary for Michigan's gubernatorial primary next August. Also running are state Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, former Gov. Jim Blanchard and state Sens. Alma Wheeler Smith and Gary Peters.
Republican Gov. John Engler cannot run again because of term limits. He is pushing Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus as his replacement. Other Republicans running are state Sen. John Schwarz and businessman Ed Hamilton.
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On the Net: http://davidbonior.house.gov
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