{"id":313865,"date":"2010-02-12T15:39:02","date_gmt":"2010-02-12T20:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"tag:www.opensecrets.org,2010:\/news\/\/8.1371"},"modified":"2010-02-12T18:14:21","modified_gmt":"2010-02-12T23:14:21","slug":"rep-patrick-kennedy-headlines-week-of-prominent-political-retirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/313865","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Patrick Kennedy Headlines Week of Prominent Political Retirements"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"patrickkennedy.jpg\"<\/a>This week has seen a string of high-profile retirements in Washington D.C., including Rep. Vernon Ehlers<\/a> (R-Mich.), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart<\/a> (R-Fla.) and lobbyist Billy Tauzin<\/a>, the president of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America<\/a> (PhRMA). In addition, Rep. Steve Buyer<\/a> (R-Ind.) last month announced his retirement under allegations of ethics transgressions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To cap the week off, Rep. Patrick Kennedy<\/a> (D-R.I.), son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy<\/a>, announced today in a video<\/a> on his website that he would not seek re-election after 16 years in the U.S. House. <\/p>\n

His retirement means that come next year, Congress will be without a Kennedy for the first time since 1962, when his father was first elected to the Senate. Except for 1960-1962 — when JFK vacated his Senate seat to become president — there has been a Kennedy in Congress since 1946, the year JFK was first elected to the House.<\/p>\n

So far, Kennedy is the 14th Democrat to announce his or her retirement this year. Eighteen Republicans have also announced their retirement.<\/p>\n

Kennedy was first elected to the House in 1994 and represented Rhode Island\u0092s 1st District<\/a>, where he was repeatedly re-elected by comfortable margins. Recent polling, however, indicated he was facing his toughest re-election bid yet in 2010, according to Politico<\/a><\/em>. He was, however, still favored to win.<\/p>\n

During his congressional career, Kennedy\u0092s biggest campaign contributors<\/a> were lawyers and law firms. The industry contributed nearly $1.52 million to his campaigns.<\/p>\n

Other supportive industries include real estate ($536,128), health professionals ($528,577) and securities and investment firms ($457,025). Over the course of his career, Kennedy raised more than $14 million in campaign contributions. He is retiring with around $450,000 of campaign cash remaining on hand. (For more information on how he may spend this money, see Federal Election Commission<\/a> rules here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Kennedy also has a leadership PAC, Rhode Island PAC<\/a>, which spent $186,000 during the 2008 election supporting Democratic candidates. Top industries<\/a> contributing to his PAC include casinos\/gambling, building trade unions and law firms.<\/p>\n

While in the House, Kennedy has been a strong advocate for the mentally ill and people afflicted with depression and addiction. He also is a major supporter of health care reform, as his father was. Kennedy’s crowning legislative achievement was helping to push through legislation to improve health insurance for those with mental illness, he recently told Rhode Island Monthly<\/em> in an interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Along with carrying his famous surname, Kennedy publicly battled with personal problems including depression, a drunk driving accident outside the U.S. Capitol and alcohol addiction that landed him in rehab.<\/p>\n

Kennedy\u0092s retirement is expected to set off a fierce primary in the solidly Democratic district.<\/p>\n

\"Reblog<\/a>
\n