Virginia’s Rep. Moran to retire after 12 terms

Thursday, January 16, 2014

McLEAN, Va. - Veteran Rep. Jim Moran, a Democrat who made headlines as an early, outspoken opponent of the Iraq war and for saying during the Monica Lewinsky scandal that he might like to punch President Bill Clinton in the nose, announced Wednesday that he will retire from Congress after 12 terms representing northern Virginia.

The 68-year-old former mayor of Alexandria, Va., was first elected in 1990. He has been a staunch supporter of federal civilian employees who have a heavy presence in his district.

Moran, one of two longtime lawmakers whose retirements were made public Wednesday, said he wants to leave “on a high note” and sees the recent bipartisan budget deal as an achievement that may be difficult to replicate in the next few years, given the level of partisan rancor.

“I think from a personal and professional standpoint, things are as good as they’re going to get,” Moran said. “Now is the time to leave head first rather than feet first.”

Moran’s retirement is unlikely to affect the battle for control of the House in November - his district in Washington’s inner suburbs is heavily Democratic and considered safe for the party. The open seat is likely to draw a crowded field of local Democratic officeholders.

Moran was in line to be the dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation after Republican Frank Wolf announced last month that he would be retiring after 17 terms.

In a statement Wednesday, Wolf praised his colleague from across the aisle.

“Jim is more than a colleague in the House. He is a friend,” Wolf said. “He has been a true partner in working for Northern Virginia and will be missed.”

Moran is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Interior subcommittee and a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Moran said he chose a role as an appropriator in Congress and has witnessed changes in the process over the years.

He defended his work in that role and said he is proud of the projects he was able to deliver under the old system of earmarks, including children’s health clinics and environmental rehabilitation projects that were funded by earmarks he shepherded through the budget process.

“I had always wanted to know that I had made a difference in the lives of my constituents,” he said. “I can drive or walk or bike into nearly any neighborhood in my district and know there is something there I contributed to in a positive way.”

Moran was a vocal opponent of the Iraq war, and said it is one of the votes he looks back on with pride. He also looked back fondly on his opposition in 1996 to the Defense of Marriage Act, which passed overwhelmingly at the time but was partially struck down by the Supreme Court last year for violating the constitutional rights of same-sex couples.

In 1998, he was strongly critical of Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal, but ultimately voted against impeachment. In venting his anger after Clinton’s admission, Moran said he told Hillary Rodham Clinton that if she had been his sister, he would have punched her husband in the nose.

Moran said Wednesday that while he has few regrets, his comments about Clinton were wrong and he is now a strong supporter of the Clintons.

Meanwhile, Republican officials said Wednesday that Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon of California, who as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee has struggled to protect defense spending against deficit hawks, also has decided to retire after 21 years in Congress.

The 75-year-old McKeon was expected to announce his plans today at a Capitol Hill news conference. His office declined to confirm the news, with spokesman Alissa McCurley simply saying, “The congressman will make an announcement when he is ready to make the announcement.”

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss McKeon’s plans ahead of the formal announcement.

McKeon’s Armed Services counterpart in the Senate, Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan, also plans to retire after this year.

The soft-spoken McKeon campaigned for Republican candidates in 2010 and took over the chairmanship of the committee that oversees military policy, war operations and authorizes budgets for the Pentagon. During his time in charge, McKeon has fought congressional efforts to slash spending as defense hawks increasingly were outnumbered, even in the Republican Party.

He has represented a California district north of Los Angeles that is home to a number of defense contractors.

McKeon’s decision to retire after 11 terms was expected and Republican candidates had already taken steps to seek the seat.

Fifteen House members - nine Republicans and six Democrats - have announced plans to leave Congress after their terms end.

Information for this article was contributed by Donna Cassara of The Associated Press.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 01/16/2014