Members of Congress Head for the Exits, Many Citing Dysfunction

More than three dozen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election next year, some to pursue other offices and many others simply to get out of Washington. The wave of lawmakers across chambers and parties announcing they intend to leave Congress comes at a time of breathtaking dysfunction on Capitol Hill, primarily instigated by House Republicans. “I think I can have more impact on a number of things I care about if I’m not going to be bogged down for re-election,” Mr. Blumenauer said. The trend extends even to the most influential members of Congress; Representative Kay Granger, the 80-year-old Texas Republican who chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, announced she would retire at the end of her 14th term. “I’m going to continue working on the things I care about, but with a renewed commitment to family, friends and fun.”The post Members of Congress Head for the Exits, Many Citing Dysfunction appeared first on New York Times.