McCrery Opts To Stick Around

[NewJerseyDem]

I think that he only mentioned retiring to secure promises that he will be the next Ways and Means Committee chairman if republicans still control congress in 2007.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/49_86/news/4566-1.html (subscription required)

Louisiana Rep. Jim McCrery (R) is set to announce that he will seek a 10th term at a press conference this morning in Shreveport, according to two informed Republican sources.

McCrery waffled publicly about his political future over the last 10 days as he weighed the potential to become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in 2007 against his desire to spend more time with his wife and young children. He is expected to announce that he will move his family to Washington.

McCrery’s decision is a major victory for the House GOP leadership, many of whom lobbied hard to keep the Louisiana Republican in Congress. He called members of the leadership over the weekend to inform them of his decision, Republican sources said.

It also removes a potentially problematic open seat from the House playing field, although Democrats are still weighing the possibility of contesting the northwestern Louisiana 4th district in November.